OT: Ask The Man Who Owns One

Dean · Dec 27, 2018

Folks, "Ask The Man Who Owns One" remains to this day, one of the most successful marketing slogans of all time.

Dean
Packard

Crazy Horse · Dec 27, 2018

I think once into the 1950's, the Packard brand had lost a lot of its appeal and luster ..... BUT before that back in the day, they were the ultimate ..... along with the other two P's, that being Pierce (Arrow) and Peerless. Here's a little history below on the 3 P's ....
The 3 Ps of automotive luxury ...

Dean · Dec 27, 2018

Well said, Crazy Horse.

The house of cards was collapsing in 1933.

One wonders what might have happened had it not.

Dean
Silver Arrow

Philip d · Dec 27, 2018

I like the 55

4520BW · Dec 27, 2018

The first diesel powered passenger car was a 30 packard. ( well it was repowered)

jeffcat · Dec 27, 2018

They built a whole bunch of PT Boat engines and P-51D Mustang Merlin engines during WWII. Can remember my dad telling me he remembered in the early 50s going to a juck yard and there was a yellow two seater convertable Packard that even had the little door on the side so you could store your golf clubs. Man if we could only jump back 50 or 60 years ago with a few hundred thousand and a fleet of car trailers.
Packard Story.

Dean · Dec 27, 2018

The Packard Merlins were instrumental in winning WWII.

Dean

DMartin9N-2N · Dec 27, 2018

hi, jeffcat:
This is not to hijack the topic, but is a question regarding cars with so-called golf bag doors. It seems to me the small door on side of these cars would have been needed for something else. Is it possible it was installed on expensive cars with rumble seats, to allow cleaning out the area where rumble seat passengers feet would rest?? Just me thinking...

Dennis Martin in W. Tenn.

johnlobb · Dec 27, 2018

When I was working with the tools, I worked for the "3 P's". That's what they called "Power Process Piping".

Bob Harvey · Dec 27, 2018

Back in the late '60's, my partner (now deceased) and I had a '50 4door (all original) gem and a '52 business coupe (restored). They were BIG vehicles, were smooth to drive (lots of power from the 283 ci straight 8), but the brakes were not the greatest.

flying belgian · Dec 27, 2018

Never new Packard built cars through 1958.

jimg.allentown · Dec 27, 2018

That would have been a 288 cubic inch engine. They came in 288, 327, and 356 cubic inches.

By the way, I am the man to ask, since I do own one.

Bob Harvey · Dec 27, 2018

I stand corrected. Thanks. In my defense I was looking at a '64 Chevy (with the 283. ;^)

centash · Dec 27, 2018

Well.....if it was so successful, how come Packhard went out of business? The slogan has to sell cars to be any good. Just like "Nothing runs like a Deere" ...haha..lol
Ben

jimg.allentown · Dec 27, 2018

In their day, Packard was a big innovator. They were the first to use a steering wheel rather then a tiller for steering. They invented the hypoid gear set as well as the tooling to make them. They were the first to offer air conditioning in an automobile - in 1939!!

Also, Packard did nor necessarily "lose their appeal" as another poster stated. They actually were the victim of the second worst business deal in the history of the USA. When they merged with Studebaker in 1954, that signaled the end of an era. Packard was as solvent company with plenty of assets. They merged with Studebaker to add a lower priced "working man's car" to their line of automobiles. They had unsuccessfully tried that a few years earlier when they tried to market the Clipper as a separate make. Unfortunately, Studebaker was deeply in debt and took Packard down with them.

What was the worst business deal in the history of the US? Guess!

Either way, when Packards were made, Cadillac was second best.

larry@stinescorner · Dec 27, 2018

Ill vouch for that! I have seen it!

RTR · Dec 27, 2018

(quoted from post at 06:07:36 12/28/18) In their day, Packard was a big innovator. They were the first to use a steering wheel rather then a tiller for steering. They invented the hypoid gear set as well as the tooling to make them. They were the first to offer air conditioning in an automobile - in 1939!!

Also, Packard did nor necessarily "lose their appeal" as another poster stated. They actually were the victim of the second worst business deal in the history of the USA. When they merged with Studebaker in 1954, that signaled the end of an era. Packard was as solvent company with plenty of assets. They merged with Studebaker to add a lower priced "working man's car" to their line of automobiles. They had unsuccessfully tried that a few years earlier when they tried to market the Clipper as a separate make. Unfortunately, Studebaker was deeply in debt and took Packard down with them.

What was the worst business deal in the history of the US? Guess!

Either way, when Packards were made, Cadillac was second best.

Let me guess.....the worst business deal in US was the downfall of IHC ??

Duner Wi · Dec 27, 2018

Packard had a lock up torque converter 1949 with Ultramatic drive.

jimg.allentown · Dec 27, 2018

Worse than that.

A long time ago, a soda company named Coca-Cola was offered the opportunity to buy out a small soda company. They were not interested. That little soda company was called Pepsi.

Do you suppose they regretted that decision?

Dean · Dec 27, 2018

It was one of the most well known marketing slogans for decades and helped sell many cars in the 20s, 30s, 40s and thereafter.

Dean

Texasmark1 · Dec 28, 2018

You talking about the Merlin version of the British V-12 that went into the later model P-51s. Don't forget about the triple screw PT boat engines.

They must have produced their own wiring products as I recall buying after market parts for other brands of vehicles with the Packard namesake marking back in the mid '60's.

Back in the '58 era they also had air bag suspension. I learned the hard way, working on one at a filling station. Jacked up the front to change a tire and when I let it down it didn't sit right..............scared me big time till the owner of the station told me to start it up.........getting the air compressor running to refill the rear air bags.

OT: Ask The Man Who Owns One

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