Why Packard went out of business

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(This posting is a continuation of an exchange relative to why Packard went out of business. The exchange can be found in a post titled "1952 Russian Pobeba Smuggled" that can be found here: <A HREF="http://www.aaca.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003035" TARGET=_blank>http://www.aaca.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003035</A> )<P>Peter H,<BR>I actually enjoyed your response! (Miracles do happen!)<P>I can use an education though, when you defined "fine cars" i assumed you ment the car that generally matched the requirements of a "full classic" as defined by the CCCA. Granted, a 1950 Cadillac isn't a "full classic". However, can it really be compared to one, at least in price? Weren't the Cadillacs of the early 1950's cheaper than the high-end cars of the mid 1930's like Packard, Duesenburg and even the V12 and V16 Cadillacs of the same era? The high prices cars of the post war era didnt survive the war as i see it. Even a car like the 1955 Continental were inexpensive compared to high dollar pre-war cars, was it not?<P>Looking forward to your response.<p>[ 08-18-2002: Message edited by: peterg ]

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Havent you ever worked on a "Cheapie"Packard (circa 1938) ?

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For Gariepy and Unregist:<P>While I sometimes use the term "cheapo Packards" myself (to describe Packard's attempt to break out of the then vanishing high price market, into the middle price market), but those "120"'s of the mid-to late 1930's were a smashing sucess...for good reason. They were a tremendous buy for the money. Unfortunately for Packard, technology continued to advance. Packard produced from a mechanical standpoint, those 1935 "120"s, clear up to 1954. AND..to make things worse, the changing management policies saw to it that "build quality" went into the toilet.<P>Bear in mind, that these cars were built in a separate facility - NO part..NOT so much as a hub-cap, from a "junior" Packard, will fit one from their "Senior" production facility (which was gutted and converted over to "cheapo" Packard construction, in July 1939).<P>Gariepy...to give you a better perspective, I should have been clearer in explaining the various price levels. ALL of the surviving manufacturers recognized the obvious in the late 1930's...that technical advances had made the average car, each year, closer and closer in performance and durability to the most expensive. The market for SUPER expensive cars, such as the Packard, Pierce, and Lincoln Twelves, Cadillac V-16, literally disappeared in the late 1930's, not to appear again in any substance, until comparitvely recently.<P>The market for so called "high priced" cars (cars that cost way more than the average middle priced "ordinary man's car", but were still far less than the old "super cars"). <P>THAT market DID come back by 1940, and THAT market was attacked vigorously by Cadillac. The Packard "160" and "180" series of 1940-42 were certainly good cars, but just by parking one alongside of a Cadillac of that era and similar price range, you can see the Cadillac LOOKED like a more expensive car.<P>Yes - your assumption is correct...AFTER World War Two, with the SUPER luxury car no longer being built, the Cadillac Fleetwood and Packard Custom Clippers were FAR less expensive in "real purchasing power dollars" then the previous era's SUPER luxury cars.<P>Perhaps now you are starting to get a "feel" for the atmosphere in which the Classic Car Club Of America was formed in the early 1950's.<P>Take, for example, the most expensive models of Packard, Cadillac, or Lincoln. Of COURSE they were "better" and far more pleasant to live with under the much higher road speeds of that era, than some 20 year old "monster" that we started to call "classic". Obviously, ever improving technology makes each generation's cars "better" than the previous one.<P>But..just think...in your "mind's eye"..."park" a 1932 Cadillac Empress Imperial V-16 town car, alongside a 1950 Cadillac Fleetwood 60 S. Or a '32 Pierce or Packard V-12 alongside a 1952 luxury car.<P>Even to the untrained eye...the 1932 "SUPER" luxury car seems so much more elegant..(and..yes..MUCH more arrogant)...then the cars from the later "stream-lined" era. <P>Actually...the so called "classic era" (roughly 1925-1942) concept was obsolete even as it started. By the time the "classic era" ended, technology had so improved the "ordinary man's car", it was harder and harder to justify so much more money for pretty much the same transportation. Was a '32 Packard Twelve so much faster, more comfortable, and more reliabile under driving extremes than a '32 Ford, to justify that it cost TEN TIMES MORE...? You're damn right it was....!<P>But when we get into the 1950's..? Of COURSE there was no signifcant attempt to make "super luxury" cars by then..it made no sense.<P>Now...why in hell did you distract me from my Britney Spears Dance Video...anyway...? <P>Pete Hartmann<BR>Big Springs, AZ