The Freewheelers Car Club

Marque of the Month

Packard
August

	was founded in 1899 by James Ward Packard in Warren, Ohio.
	was used in the first break-down free coast-to-coast automobile trip in 61 days, in 1903.
	was moved to Detroit, Michigan in October 1903.
	was the first US motor company to make a V12, the "Twin Six", in 1915.
	was the last US automaker, along with Pontiac, to use a straight eight engine, in 1954.
	was really last made in 1956 (1957-1958 models were face-lifted Studebakers).


1933 Standard Eight	1937 Twelve	1937 115C	1940 120	1941 120	1946 Custom Super

1946 Super Clipper	1948 Deluxe	1953 Caribbean	1954 Hearse	1955 Four Hundred	1956 Four Hundred

Packard was the only independent American luxury automobile manufacturer to make it through the Great Depression, but it did so at a cost. In order to survive, Packard built "near-luxury" models such as the 110, and the Clipper, but all under the Packard nameplate.

After the war, when Packard could have sold as many high-end cars as it could build, they still made the lower-end models, cutting into both their profit and luxury image. These and other poor business decisions (such as purchasing Studebaker in 1954), resulted in the last real Packards being built in 1956.

Setting a side business, Packards were always known for engineering, quality, and elegance. While some of the styling in the post-war era could be considered awkward now, at the time they were part of a streamline trend.

Did You Know?

The first use of the slogan "Ask the man who owns one" was in 1901.
The second most widely held stock in 1929 was Packard (General Motors was first).
The "Senior Series" dies were sold to the USSR during WWII by request of the US gov.
The Ultramatic was the only auto trans designed entirely by an "independent" auto maker.
The 1955 Caribbean was the first convertible to offer factory-installed air-conditioning.
The 1955-56 Packard V8 was also used by Nash, Hudson and Studebaker.