1953 Packard Patrician Sedan

edited by David Barth, 3 March 2009.
Courtesy The Automobile Driving Museum in Los Angeles, California, USA.
Photos were taken in January 2009.

In 1952 Hugh Ferry, President of Packard Motor Car Company stepped down, replaced by James J. Nance, famed market-wise hotshot from Hotpoint, to turn Packard around.

Packard was producing at only 50 percent capacity, and Nance realized that Packard was doomed unless something were done.

Nance sought new military contracts. He separated the line into medium-priced Clippers, luxury Patricians, and he introduced the 1953 Caribbeans.

In 1954, Packard merged with Studebaker, but the merger hurt Packard because of Studebaker's high overhead which drained Packard's cash reserves. In 1955 a new body style, a V-8 engine, and torsion level ride were not enough to save the company.

After production of 28,035 Packards in 1956, Packard ceased to exist. The 1957 and 1958 Packards were modified Studebakers with the Packard nameplate on them. 1957 Packard production was 4,509 units, and in 1958, the last year for cars with the Packard name, 2,622 were made.