Packard Album

In its heyday a Packard was an esteemed luxury car built by hand to the highest standards, and it became one of the top three American car marques, in its early years as one of the three posh Ps (Peerless, Pierce-Arrow, Packard) and between the wars it ranked alongside Cadillac and Lincoln. In 1927 three times as many Packards were sold as Cadillacs. Buyers included US Presidents and the cream of American high society; Rockefeller, Morgan and Vanderbilt. Unfortunately a Packard was also the getaway car of choice for gangsters and murderers, making the cars less attractive to high society. But then the marque was discovered by Hollywood, and a Packard was often seen with a star at the wheel. By the mid-1930s, the era of the big flash car was over, and Packard had to introduce medium-price cars. The company was struggling, but it was saved by wartime contracts for aero engines and marine engines. Sadly, after the war it amalgamated with Studebaker and 1958 was the last time this famous badge was seen.