Packard
Brief History
The Packard brothers (James and William Packard) developed their first car in 1898. Thus began one of most famous stories in automotive history. Packard went on to market some of the most elegant cars ever produced. The company also produced engines for wartime such as aircraft, boat, tank and military vehicles.
In 1919 a Packard returned the Land Speed Record to America. It was the first time since the 1906 Stanley Steamer that an American car had traveled a measured mile faster than any other earth-bound vehicle. With Ralph De Palma, the hero of Indianapolis, sitting behind the powerful 12-cylinder engine, the big disc wheeled machine sped across the hard sands of Daytona beach at a speed of 149 mph. But Packard did not continue to pursue speed. After this triumph the Packard corporation concentrated almost exclusively on expensive passenger machines and by the 1930's was producing some of the finest prestige cars. The big square bodies had a look of solid elegance, and the straight- eight engines were fast and dependable. However, in the 1930's competition grew fiercer and the greater resources of General Motors slowly pushed Cadillac to the fore. Their V-16 engine proved a better sales point than Packard's V-12 and the public followed the trend of counting cylinders rather than judging performance. As the decade drew to a close Packard turned to the production of a smaller but still handsome machine the 120. This happy decision saved the firm, for now people of modest income could afford the status-building name of Packard, and sales increased. Then World War II intervened and ended all competition.
In the postwar period the Packard firm found itself in a predicament. The smaller cars had become just about as large as the Packard, and Cadillac was firmly entrenched as America's luxury machine. The Packard Caribbean produced from 1953-56 is considered one of the most valuable of post war collectibles.
By the 1958 sales had dropped drastically and Packard was finally merged with the Studebaker corporation which continued the line for a short time.
