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Our Pit Stop Feature Story:

The Legend of Packard

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The Packard Motor Car Company’s history spans from its innovative beginnings to its eventual decline. The story began in 1898 when James Ward Packard, a mechanical engineer, purchased a Winton automobile. Dissatisfied with the car's performance, Packard sent suggestions for improvements to the Winton Motor Car Company. The company's response was essentially to challenge Packard to build his own car if he thought he could do better. Taking up this challenge, James Ward Packard, along with his brother William Doud Packard, built their first car in Warren, Ohio in November of 1899. The Packard brothers, joined by George Lewis Weiss, successfully produced 400 Packard automobiles in Warren between 1899 and 1903.

 

In October 1902, the company officially became known as the Packard Motor Car Company. In 1903, the company moved to Detroit, Michigan, where it would become one of America's premier luxury automakers. Packard was known for innovation. The company introduced many firsts in the automotive industry and was known for its slogan "Ask the man who owns one," which originated from James Packard's response to a potential customer asking for a brochure. During the 1920s, Packard sales outperformed other luxury brands like Cadillac. The company survived the Great Depression by introducing more affordable models while maintaining its luxury line. 

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During World War II, Packard converted to 100% wartime production, manufacturing engines for airplanes and boats. This effort left the company financially stable after the war.

 

Despite its strong position through the 1940s, Packard began to face challenges in the 1950s as the company struggled to compete with larger automakers. Packard merged with Studebaker in 1954, however, this didn't solve Packard's problems.

 

The last true Packard rolled off the assembly line on June 25, 1956. Although Studebaker-Packard continued to produce cars with the Packard name until 1958, these were essentially rebadged Studebakers and not considered true Packards by enthusiasts. This marked the end of an era for one of America's most prestigious automobile manufacturers, leaving behind a legacy of innovation and luxury in automotive history.



…bob

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If you have an idea or an invention for the automobile, I’d love to hear about it. Email me at cruisintimes@gmail.com

 

…bob