In 1940, the same amount of labor needed to produce one senior Packard (160/180) could produce a startling 15-17 juniors -- yet the seniors sold for at most 5-6 times as much! Small wonder that 92% of 1940 model year production consisted of junior cars. By that year, luxury cars had really become only a sideline for Packard, a brand-builder, a vanity project -- and one whose very existence certain Packard executives had come to resent. They could clearly read the economic handwriting on the wall for the company. The turning point came in Spring 1941, with the introduction of the mid-priced Clipper model, whose dashing modern styling would soon overtake the whole line. After WWII luxury Packards were rare sights indeed, the company having firmly become a producer of cars from the lower-middle price point (stripped Clippers) to the upper-middle (Patricians et al.). Packard had effectively abandoned the luxury market to Cadillac, Lincoln, and Imperial.
"Thank goodness THIS car has running boards!" Talk about making a silk purse... Most other middle-and-above brands had begun offering a no-cost "running board delete" option by 1940, or shrinking their visible running boards to only about 4" in depth, but not Packard.
where is the rest of it? the beginning had some men in a clubhouse in a room with expensive wood paneling reading the newspaper and talking about the car.
These cars really did save Packard. Maybe they weren't as grand (or pretentious) as the earlier cars but they were built better than anything in the same price range. It's surprising how many still are on the road. Luckily few have been ravaged by the clods in the street rod community.
Without them, though, the company would have died in the Recession of '38, so pick your poison. It's clear in retrospect that NONE of the independent automakers could have survived given the oligarchic economic advantages of the Big Three -- incld. massive economies of scale and the cash flow to enable major design changes every other year or so .Packard did no better nor worse than the average in its decline.
In 1940, the same amount of labor needed to produce one senior Packard (160/180) could produce a startling 15-17 juniors -- yet the seniors sold for at most 5-6 times as much! Small wonder that 92% of 1940 model year production consisted of junior cars. By that year, luxury cars had really become only a sideline for Packard, a brand-builder, a vanity project -- and one whose very existence certain Packard executives had come to resent. They could clearly read the economic handwriting on the wall for the company. The turning point came in Spring 1941, with the introduction of the mid-priced Clipper model, whose dashing modern styling would soon overtake the whole line. After WWII luxury Packards were rare sights indeed, the company having firmly become a producer of cars from the lower-middle price point (stripped Clippers) to the upper-middle (Patricians et al.). Packard had effectively abandoned the luxury market to Cadillac, Lincoln, and Imperial.
How do vent windows “provide a he-man look”? The Packard copy writers were really reaching with this one! 😂
"Thank goodness THIS car has running boards!" Talk about making a silk purse... Most other middle-and-above brands had begun offering a no-cost "running board delete" option by 1940, or shrinking their visible running boards to only about 4" in depth, but not Packard.
where is the rest of it? the beginning had some men in a clubhouse in a room with expensive wood paneling reading the newspaper and talking about the car.
Wow, surprised at all the negative comments.
These cars really did save Packard. Maybe they weren't as grand (or pretentious) as the earlier cars but they were built better than anything in the same price range. It's surprising how many still are on the road. Luckily few have been ravaged by the clods in the street rod community.
Luckily street rod Craftsman know quality when they see it which is why they love to rod out Packard's. You sure seem like a jackass to me 😅
@@lesglover6515 Obviously I hurt someone's little feelings...
There's another minute or two to the beginning.
Now the plant is an eyesore and being torn down.
THE GRAYT PACOR LOVE IT COOL CARS
The medium priced 120 Packards ultimately killed Packard.
Without them, though, the company would have died in the Recession of '38, so pick your poison. It's clear in retrospect that NONE of the independent automakers could have survived given the oligarchic economic advantages of the Big Three -- incld. massive economies of scale and the cash flow to enable major design changes every other year or so .Packard did no better nor worse than the average in its decline.
Still think they should have named it something other than PACKARD.