Revival of the Name

[55PackardGuy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thank you...I know I am not a PMC member or owner. I appreciate your indulgence.</div></div>

Randall: They put up with me (so far), so why not you?

Brian: Thanks for the link and the background on this "Packard Company." As I'm starting a new thread (this doesn't have much to do with Challenging the Editors of the Cormorant any more) here is the link again:

http://www.packardmotorcar.com/

Frankly, I think it'll take an established company to "adopt" the Packard name for a special interest car. I think VW's Bugatti is a HOOT. What is it, like 1000 hp from a W18? If you're gonna revive a classic name, ya better make the car REALLY different.

If this guy that owns the name would shop it around to the big domestic manufacturers with an appealing concept for the car, something might actually happen... I could imagine Cadillac or Lincoln or Chrysler getting excited about it (remember Lincoln and Chrysler expressed an interest before, oh right, that was 47 years ago). It would give them an excuse to come out with a V12, naturally, and they'd be foolish not to use the TL suspension.

[6219_Rules]

Honestly, I wish someone would resurrect this marque but again, aside for selling a few specialty cars like the Studebaker Blackhawk (now wasn't THAT an eyesore), I doubt it would make it in the current market. Perhaps were we to lobby a large automaker, like VW, it could be done. Daimler-Chrysler is an obvious choice, as is Ford Special Auto Group (or whatever it is called). Then we might see a small, sporty sedan or even a large luxury sedan.

By the way, speaking of Studebaker, is this company still in business as Avanti? A friend asked and I simply did not have an answer.

[55PackardGuy]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Perhaps were we to lobby a large automaker, like VW, it could be done.</div></div>

Yep, my point exactly, except for the VW part. It would be hard to swallow a "foreign" manufacturer adopting the Packard name. It will be interesting to see how things develop on the auction of the present company. Are they taking bids on the name as a separate property? How about simply alerting the presidents of the "Big 3" that the name could be up for grabs. Of course, they could simply buy it and sit on it. But you never know...

[Guest]

Randall. Mercedes revived the Maybach which of course was a classic era make. I would love to see Packard return but only as a luxury car much as it was during the classic era and not a mid priced car. Of course I wouldn't be able to afford one! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> It would be engineered and built with the same quality and car which made Packard such a revered name. Studebaker-Packard did have an association with Daimler-Benz towards the end so Daimler-Chrysler would be a good fit especially since Mercedes is the premier luxury car maker, known for it well engineered products. I suppose though that the Maybach revival is all Daimler-Chrysler can handle at the present but Packard would also be a nice fit since Mercedes has been making a V-12 for several years now and made some during the late 30's as well.

[6219_Rules]

Now I remember the MAybach. I was looking at my favorite Mercedes not long ago, the 600 series limousine from the early 60s. What a GORGEOUS car!! I could NEVER afford one but it sure is a marvel to look at. Do you see many of these out in the circuit?

I would like to see Packard come back too. So far the 'jelly bean' look still is a no go for me.

Although I DO like the power plant in the Packard Motor Car website. Woof!

We were just discussing this same topic on the CLC and came up with an idea for re-introducing the LaSalle. Make the lower end sporty models of Cadillac, the CTS and SRX, LaSalles, and the more elegant, and expensive models, Cadillacs. Eh...could we just leave the SUXs in their own group?? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Perhaps Daimler-Chrysler could add Packard as their top of the line American offering. I realise Daimler has long been the choice of European royalty. It could work.

Then again, with modernization of production, modularizing of parts and the reduction in models and marque choice to bolster the bottomline, I suppose this will never happen.

Nice idea though. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[6219_Rules]

B.H., I wanted to thank you specifically for your concise history of Avanti. I had no idea (part of the problem for Avanti I am sure) that they were still producing cars. I remember Avanti as a futuristic, interesting marque in the late 60s and early 70s but after that I don't recall much about them. I like the versions initially from the website you included but have never seen one on the road. Then again, I have never seen an EB110 either <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Independants in the auto industry are few and far between, and rarely ever make it past a few years. Nice to see that Avanti made a good attempt even with all of their issue.

Sometimes I tired of the big 3. No wonder the Japanese have made such inroads when the only response the American auto makers could make is to reduce the number of choices, standardize the choices that were offered to be virtually identical and un-interesting, and cutting back on quality, but selling their new offerings as "top of the line' and the "best in years". Crap.

But I digress... <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[55PackardGuy]

Well, anyone send a letter to one of the presidents of the Big 3 about this proposal yet? What's that guy's name at G.M? Lutz? Oh, he'd probably just want to stick the name on an SUV. Anybody see the latest BUICK SUV? I still think they're putting all the weight and horsepower into truck-type vehicles because they aren't technically "automobiles" and don't count the same under CAFE regulations. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Seriously, if anyone has news on the rumored sale of the latest incarnation of the Packard Motor Car Company and its name, please let us know.