Packard Four Hundred

The Packard 400 (pronounced Packard Four - Hundred ) was a passenger car model that produced the Studebaker -Packard Corporation in Detroit in the model years 1955 and 1956. During his two years of production of the Packard Four - Hundred belonged to the Patrician of the top brand models, only surpassed in luxury from the built in small series Caribbean.

Between 1951 and the end of the built in Detroit Packard 1956, the marketing strategy and the model names at Packard changed continuously since the automaker again wanted to represent as a manufacturer of luxury cars and was therefore different from the solid models, which were called Packard Clipper. Therefore, Packard brought in this time many models on the market, which disappeared after a single year of production.

In the years 1951 and 1952 the company tried a numerical nomenclature of which the small models as Packard 200 and Packard 250 and Packard large as 300 and - with the best equipment - as Packard Patrician 400 designated. The Patrician 400 replaced the Model Custom 8 last year.

The term 400 was allowed to be omitted from the model Patrician early 1953, but the name Patrician designated 1953-1956 still the best equipment from Packard.

Model series

1955

1955, the name Four - Hundred was - introduced without further additives for the 2- door hardtop model of the completely revised Packard model range. The Four Hundred was the first hardtop, which was built on the longer chassis with 127 inch wheelbase. It was technically and visually, the sister model to the Patrician, which was only available as a four-door Touring Sedan. New there was a panoramic windshields for all models - an interesting contrast to the trunk lid of the previous models ( since 1951 ) with a rounded back shape. The big guys were edged tail lights. Together they formed the model 5580, the Four Hundred was the model number 5587th Both were given their own color scheme, which they shared with any other model. The main feature was a broad chrome trim, the very front began on the fender and ended abruptly in the middle of the vehicle in a lateral position light. From then on, led only a thin chrome strip on the rear. Two colored versions carried the color below over the entire length of the flank to the belt line, and on the roof, the other on the remainder of the body. The Series 5580 was only available with the revolutionary torsion bar suspension "Torsion Level Ride", which through a system of 6 torsion bars (one each to each wheel plus two auxiliary rods to the rear axle, which were coupled with an electric motor and a relay control). This is dependent on the battery system performed for such a large car surprisingly good road holding, comfort and looked like a level control, which always just kept the car, regardless of the load. The only available engine was a newly developed OHV V8 with 352 cubic inches cubic capacity ( 5801 cc ), which made ​​260 hp SAE. Standard transmission was the new Twin Ultramatic with two driving ranges, a forerunner of the automatic transmission with comfort and sport. The desired gear has been engaged by a lever on the steering wheel. Bendix power brakes, a Saginaw power steering and many more options to tinted windows, power windows and seats, radios (also with automatic station search ), air conditioning or a two-tone paint completed the luxurious facilities, but partly against surcharge. Available exterior colors were 18 and 19 interiors, mostly a combination of synthetic leather and bouclé fabrics. Of course, also wore the Four Hundred, the new Packard logo, a "V" in a circle, only in 1955, in addition to the traditional coat of arms of the company.

Between the beginning of the model year 1955 on January 17 ( delay caused by the short-term reference of a new plant for car body production at the Conner Avenue in Detroit ) and its end on November 2, 1955 7,206 Four - Hundred were made. The unit price was impressive $ 3,930 (without options).

1956

Like all Packard models also the Four Hundred has undergone a minor facelift in 1956. Externally, an even greater visual difference from the solid models of Clipper (now and only for 1956 independent brand Clipper ) was discontinued. The big Packard now got a new grille. Initially sat, similar to last year, a "grid" (actually a perforated plate ) of colorless anodised aluminum plate behind a combination of vertical and horizontal chrome bars. Such " grid " now covered from the air intakes below the bumper. Early in the model year, these perforated plates were gold anodized, leading to a significantly more striking appearance by itself. They were also equipped with other headlight rings, which rose further forward on the headlights out. Laterally, the chrome trim of the previous year was extended to the end of the wagon. The position lamp remained, like the color separation of the two-tone models. New to this model 5680 was a revised trunk lid. Technically, there was improved in details suspension, a 374 cubic inch ( 6132 cc ) drilled version of the new V8 engine with 290 hp SAE, as an option for the first time in Serienwagenbau even a limited slip differential ( Dana - Spicer ) - and as a gimmick for $ 55 charge a "touch button" said actuation of the automatic transmission also revised using keys on a console to the right of the steering column. A new option was double electric antennas on the rearmost part of the tail fin as they possessed the Caribbean series.

In the last model year of Packard as an independent brand 3224 Four Hundred were produced at a unit price of $ 4,190. With colors and interiors, there were only small changes.

Although until last Packard was in the black, the financial situation of the Studebaker -Packard Corporation deteriorated overall so much that only a takeover by the arms company Curtiss -Wright could save the company. This was interested in the defense departments of the two sub brands of Studebaker and Packard and closed without further ado, the relatively small - Packard manufacturing plants in Detroit. Thus disappeared the luxury models such as the Four - Hundred from the market. The end of 1958 Packard disappeared as a brand name in the U.S..

Swell

• Gunnell, John ( Editor): The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975, Kraus Publications ( 1987), ISBN 0-87341-096-3