Packard "An American Icon"

PACKARD MOTOR CO — An interior view of the Packard Motor Car Co. in Detroit is shown during the 1920s. The city of Detroit is intent on demolishing the site of the factory where workers once crafted dream machines for America's elite and turning the area into an industrial park. (AP Photo/File)

Packard “An American Icon”

Packard was founded by James Ward Packard and his brother and partner in 1899. They built 400 cars from 1899 to 1903. A wealthy Detroit resident bought a Packard and was so impressed that he gathered a group of investors and Packard became the Packard Motor Car Company.

The 1896 Packard Buggy model, right, and the Super-Clipper 1946 Packard are shown side-by-side at an auto exhibition on June 3, 1946 at an unknown location. (AP Photo)

Packards were made with a single cylinder engine until 1903. Later Packard was responsible for the first 12 cylinder engine and air conditioning in a vehicle. Unlike other car manufacturers having a production and marketing plan to price their cars from $400.00 to $700.00, Packard remained high priced at around $2600.00 per car and focused on the wealthier customers. Their plan was successful in the U.S. and Europe. To have status, you needed a Packard.

FILE – In this Aug. 29, 1933 file photo, President Franklin D. Roosevelt waves while being driven through Albany, NY, in the Packard Phaeton he used when he was governor of the state. The car, used by FDR from 1929 to 1932, and occasionally after that, is headed off to an antique vehicle expert for some repairs. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who plans to use the car for ceremonial occasions, says the repairs will not alter the paint, wheels or upholstery, and will instead focus on basic preservation. With FDR were Albany Mayor John Thatcher, center and Gov Herbert H. Lehman. (AP Photo/File)

By 1928 Packard was in 61 markets worldwide and had an income of $21,889,000.00. Their marketing campaign slogan was “Ask the man who owns one”. In the 1920’s Packard imported more luxury cars than any other manufacturer and sold twice as many cars as any other car imported with a price tag of over $2000.00.

Packard definitely evolve into a status symbol. Japans royal family owned 10 Packards and U’S. Presidents were driven in them. Even musical icons had a passion for the luxury of a Packard.

Country singing legend Johnny Cash, grand marshall of the American Bicentennial Parade, rides in a 1936 Packard during the parade down Constitution Avenue in Washington, July 3, 1976. (AP Photo)

By the end of the war in Europe, Packard Motor Car Company had produced over 55,000 combat engines. Sales in 1944 were $455,118,600. By May 6, 1945, Packard had a backlog on war orders of $568,000,000. Packard outsold Cadillac up to 1950.

The abandoned old Packard plant. Some shot or shots will show one building demolished (foreground) in Detroit May 7, 1959. (AP Photo/Preston Stroup)

Throughout the 1940’s and 50’s Packard had many ventures including Studebaker and others, but in 1959 the Packard nameplate was pulled from the market. The actual name was kept until 1962, when the company introduced Avanti.

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