Gorgeous car! Thank you for the history lesson. I did not know about the public knowledge of the Packard president's indiscretions. (Wow that would have been a big scandal in the late 1940's / early 1950's There wasn't social media then but I am sure that the supermarket tabloids -- If those existed then, had a field day with the scandal!)
Very good! I'm happy that you brought up Max Gilman, and Alvan Macaulay's reaction to his car accident. Big mistake. You also alluded to George Christopher's unfortunate selection as Packard's president. The irony is that Alvan Macaulay hired both men. George Christopher came from Pontiac Division of GM and was largely responsible for Packard's very successful mid-priced cars in the 1930s. Trouble was, he didn't care about anything except mass- production, and wanted to kill off the expensive Packards. Max Gilman was a great salesman who came from Packard's distribution center in Manhattan. He knew what customers wanted, which Alvan Macaulay did not by that point.
@@tellum2 That is supposed to have been one of the best old style straight Eights ever used in a production car,with screw in weights that could be put into the crankshaft counterweights in order to hand balance the rotating assembly. But I think the engine weighed close to 1/2 ton which of course would be seen as a major problem today. I think even the smaller Pontiac straight eight of the era weighed just a couple pounds less than 700.
The 1951 model is a beauty.
Gorgeous car!
Thank you for the history lesson.
I did not know about the public knowledge of the Packard president's indiscretions.
(Wow that would have been a big scandal in the late 1940's / early 1950's
There wasn't social media then but I am sure that the supermarket tabloids --
If those existed then, had a field day with the scandal!)
My mom worked at the Packard factory in Compton and the only fighter plane (P-39 & T - 400) that had a cockpit door had those doors built by Packard.
Very good! I'm happy that you brought up Max Gilman, and Alvan Macaulay's reaction to his car accident. Big mistake. You also alluded to George Christopher's unfortunate selection as Packard's president. The irony is that Alvan Macaulay hired both men. George Christopher came from Pontiac Division of GM and was largely responsible for Packard's very successful mid-priced cars in the 1930s. Trouble was, he didn't care about anything except mass- production, and wanted to kill off the expensive Packards. Max Gilman was a great salesman who came from Packard's distribution center in Manhattan. He knew what customers wanted, which Alvan Macaulay did not by that point.
That car had a Straight Eight engine,not a V8.
I know my fathers Patrician was a flat head straight 8.
@@tellum2 That is supposed to have been one of the best old style straight Eights ever used in a production car,with screw in weights that could be put into the crankshaft counterweights in order to hand balance the rotating assembly. But I think the engine weighed close to 1/2 ton which of course would be seen as a major problem today. I think even the smaller Pontiac straight eight of the era weighed just a couple pounds less than 700.
Those who know Packard know that scandal. The 300 was a handsome car, but not the top model. That for 51 wS a Patrician 400.