Stepdown Model article & Packard comparison in WTN

50C8DAN

I found the article by Jack Miller about his find of ’55 and ’56 molds pretty interesting. If Hudson would have saved their money and not squandered I think the mid-50s models would have been a hit. Too bad they did not make it happen in ’53 or ‘54.

Also, I thought it was interesting that Packard considered Hudson their competition. I would have guessed from the ego that they projected that Cadillac or Lincoln would have been the target. Very interesting!

RL Chilton

50C8DAN wrote:

I found the article by Jack Miller about his find of ’55 and ’56 molds pretty interesting. If Hudson would have saved their money and not squandered I think the mid-50s models would have been a hit. Too bad they did not make it happen in ’53 or ‘54.

Also, I thought it was interesting that Packard considered Hudson their competition. I would have guessed from the ego that they projected that Cadillac or Lincoln would have been the target. Very interesting!

Cadillac WAS the competition for Packard up until the war, but Packard ruled the luxury car market. Post-war became a different story, however as Packard struggled and Cadillac took off.

hudsontech

I have several of those comparison bulletins on my on-line library site @ http://hetclub.org/burr - scroll down to the bottom of the first page and click on the Service Merchandiser folder.

On that page scroll down to "1948 Sales..............." which is right after 1944 Series issue. The remaining 1949 Sales......... follow after 1949-1953 service... (sorry about the shortness of the link addresses - that's the way it comes out).

These bulletins compare Hudson with several makes, such as Dodge, Olds and others of the period.

Hudsonly,
Alex Burr
Memphis, TN

coverton

I read that article also,Packard has no room to talk as they really did go broke ! And for my two cents worth,in the last 4 years I have been personally been involved in a "Frame-off" resto of a Plymouth -1949,Packard - 1951 and my own Hudson. Briggs Body Works made all the Chrysler and Packard bodies back then and I can assure all of you the metal work was NOT up to Hudson standards in strength or quality.Where the A,B & C pillars join the perimiter frame to make a step-down I know they are stronger than a body bolt and rubber bushing.Lot of metal in a Hudson-more than in a Briggs can.Also if you recall,Briggs died,Chrysler bought them and kicked packard to the curb.Packard almost missed the 55 revision of the old 51 can as a result.

SuperDave

I recall hearing a story years ago that Packard lost a lot of high end customers by producing the 110,just prior to WWll, which was a 6 cyl lower priced car. It looked like the more expensive models. The expensive model customers couldn't stand seeing the fellow that works for them as a gardner or other "underling" driving a Packard, it hurt his ego.. he then went to Cadillac and Lincoln. Seems like a reasonable story since Packard owners had a pretty high opinion of themselves..Maybe some still do? LOL :dry: