What Happened to Packard???

[mrpushbutton]

Amen brother--I worked on several RR cars (PI-up to '85 Sliver Ghost), and I'd rather work an a Chevy or a Plymouth before the RR's. At least Chev and Ply. metal finished the inside lip of their fenders, so your arms didn't get ripped to shreads. The whole "silence uber alles" thing made for some truly wacked out engineering. Then there is the whole Lucas thing.

[Dr Morbius]

Silverghost , I was referring to SafetyFlex's reputation and quality angle. And no, I don't but I wish I did have an early Twin Six so I could go to car shows and when someone asks is that a model "T" I open the hood , point and go "Do model T's have a V-12 engine ?" and of course when they say I suppose so, I close the hood , start 'er up and drive home with my head hanging in wonder. No , actually I love talking about automotive history to the masses that come to the car shows as I suppose most do on this forum. FYO I have a Caribbean & a Pacific both of which are fully restored and I will set up some pictures.

...........Steve <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Dr Morbius]

Mr. Pushbutton -- Ah yes I forgot about the razor edged fenders {how could I?} but one thing I really liked on my very first car [a 67 xk-e ] was that to adjust the timing there was a little knob on the distributor that clicked I believe in increments of a degree. You didn't have to unbolt anything and use a timing lite. Of course adjusting it on the steering wheel while driving is lots better !!!! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[mrpushbutton]

twinsixsteve-My first non-daily transportation was a '74 MGB-GT. That car made a mechanic out of me, and an automotive electrical system tech (I was already an electronics technician) out of me. Then I got the Packard bug, and life got much better.

[Guest Silverghost]

Mr Push Button... R~R NEVER MADE a Silver Ghost in 85 ...In fact they have not made one since 1926!!! Keep Dreaming!!!

[Dr Morbius]

Mr Push , I also became a mechanic [of sorts] with my Jag. In 1976 when in the air force I was stationed in England I picked up an Aston Martin DB-6 [for $2000] and that was a diffrent animal. Boy I loved that car ...Still wished I had it ! And still with Lucas electrics it was very reliable !!!!!

...............Steve

[Dr Morbius]

Mr Push , I also became a mechanic [of sorts] with my Jag. In 1976 when in the air force I was stationed in England I picked up an Aston Martin DB-6 [for $2000] and that was a diffrent animal. Boy I loved that car ...Still wished I had it ! And still with Lucas electrics it was very reliable !!!!! Go figure.

...............Steve

[Dr Morbius]

Mr Push , I also became a mechanic [of sorts] with my Jag. In 1976 when in the air force I was stationed in England I picked up an Aston Martin DB-6 [for $2000] and that was a diffrent animal. Boy I loved that car ...Still wished I had it ! And still with Lucas electrics it was very reliable !!!!! Go figure.

...............Steve <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Dr Morbius]

Sorry about that chief ! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />

[Guest AlK]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Did anyone see last week when Helen Thomas asked Scott McClellen , spokesman for the White House about the collapse of Packard he immediately blamed it on the Clinton Administration. Jeeeeze Loueeese! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

PPPUUUULLLLEEEZZZZZZZZZZEEEEEEEEEE

Tell me your joking.

I am no fan of Bill Clinton, but even I would not go that far.

surely someone had their tongue planted firmly in their cheek.

[mrpushbutton]

Would you believe Silver Shadow--perhaps it's my distain for RR products, but all those names run together for me, and I can't remember them like I can Packards, or any American car models. The car in question had came from the fleet owned by the Bagwaneesh (sp?) from Oregon who duped his followers to give up their earthly goods and live a life of spiritual simplicity (so he could live like a king--22 RR's). It was the only car in his fleet that was NOT airbrushed with clouds, unicorns, etc. It was by far the best V-8 RR in my employer's collection, due mainly to the Bosch fuel injection. So please forgive my RR ignorance--I think it's intentional.

[SafeTFlex]

I dont think Silver's comments about head-gaskets tell us much about why Packard failed. When properly installed and "torqued down", I dont think the flat-head Packards had any higher degree of head gasket failure issues then any other flat-head.

I do understand why the owners of post-war Packards are not pleased at the famous "quote" by Alvan P. Macauley. It goes right to the point of the topic.

Fact is, in a few short years, Packard cars went from being about the fastest, best built cars of their price class, to - well - let me point out what I think is relevant. Compare, for example, a Packard "120" series of the late 1930's(these sold well for good reason) with other cars in its price class. It is at least as fast, roadable, rugged, as anything of its day in its price class.

Trouble was, the Packard Company that came out of World War Two, just didnt seem to have the same respect for its customers, that the Packard Company of before World War Two. If you look at the old Floyd Clymer Road tests, you will find the early 50's Packard with Ultramatic was one of the SLOWEST post war cars they tested, "beaten" only by a '49 Chevrolet with Powerglide !

TwinSix is off base in comparing a early fifties Rolls with a Packard of that era. That wasn't Packard's competition. An Olds 98 or Cadillac was. And how THEY performed, how THEIR hoods, roof panels and doors felt in terms of structural rigidity, in comparison to the Packards of THAT era, says it all.

I loved my '54 Packards, because I am certifiable Packard Crazy. But let's be honest and admit what the new car buyer in 1954 would do, what decision he would make, after driving a 1954 Olds, Buick, or Cadillac, and then driving a 1954 Packard. THAT is what killed Packard. The buying public didnt like them. Alvan Macauley's prophetic words were RIGHT (for those who just signed on, the famous Packard ad. of pre war days is quoted in part, on the previous page )

[mrpushbutton]

I don't know what they called it--it was a big boxy silver limo, infected with Lucas relays by the dozens, lots O'wood 'n leather 'an mushy carpet. Silver something-you-can't-afford or other. It drove like a '75 Fleetwood, with more impractical engineering. As I stated before, I'm no RR fan, and don't have the interest to devote brain cells to their haunted nomenclature. I gained a lot of respect for the PI & PII models. They were great road cars, wonderful mechanics for their day, though still more complicated than a Packard or Cadillac of the same vintage. I like how they use 32 fasteners to attach the engine side covers (where a stovebolt chevy will use 3 bolts--sealing perfectly) and the RR still leaks!. Rule Britania! No grey Pupon for you!