"ptak appreciates old racecars" (racecarptak)
05/26/2014 at 19:11 • Filed to: 2015 packard hawk
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"ptak appreciates old racecars" (racecarptak)
05/26/2014 at 19:11 • Filed to: 2015 packard hawk | 3
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Hello Oppo. I have set about designing a 3D model of a 2015 Packard!
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A little background. I'm sixteen, I live in Poland most of the year and I love cars of almost any type. You've probably seen me around Oppo. I'm making a 3D model of what I think a 2015 Packard would look like, using unorthodox methods (no money for industrial plasticene, yyyooo). Over the coming weeks I intend to document my design process. All posts relating to this matter will be tagged, "2015 Packard Hawk".
The Packard I want to design is supposed to be a 2015 S-Class Coupe competitor... or what it would look like if it really existed.
What I want you guys to do is comment and say what you think a new Packard should look like, or have. I'm very likely not going to heed any of your advice or suggestions, but what I'm interested in is seeing if Packard actually has any brand recognition outside of nursing homes, and what you fellas/fellettes would like to see from a brand-new Packard.
sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> ptak appreciates old racecars
05/26/2014 at 19:27 |
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It needs to have massive, imposing proportions and styling.
Bandit
> ptak appreciates old racecars
05/26/2014 at 19:38 |
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It needs to be stupid huge, overly flashy (not restrained like an S-class), and needs a pop up hood ornament like a Rolls Royce.
BJ
> ptak appreciates old racecars
05/26/2014 at 20:05 |
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It should have the same proportions as the original - long snout, long body, really short trunk. Like a proper GT car, I guess.
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BJ
> Bandit
05/26/2014 at 20:05 |
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I like the pop-up hood ornament.
Mike O'Handley
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/27/2014 at 14:13 |
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Hi, it doesn't necessarily need to be big and gaudy with imposing proportions. Beginning in 1951 Packard wanted to go smaller. The 1953 Packard Panamerica was based on the 1951 and was Packard's first hint that they wanted to go a bit smaller. They bought Studebaker the next year . The plan was to get the new Studebaker-Packard company stabile and then merge with the combined Hudson-Nash corporation so that they could produce smaller cars. That would have made them the third largest car producer in America. One of the principals died and Packard discovered that Studebaker had lied about their balance sheet; so the plan never came to fruition. They tried going big again with the 1955 and 1956 models, in order to win back their base but quality issues plagued them and sales still flagged. Nonetheless, after they ceased production in Detroit and moved to South Bend, they tried to produce smaller cars that were sportier and could compete with the finned Chevys and Fords of the day. In 1955 S-P came out with the President Speedster. It was exceedingly gaudy - ala Packard. They then came out with the 1956 Studebaker Hawk which was less flashy and had a hint of a European look to it with its Mercedes-like grill, and two years later in a last ditch effort at saving Packard they came out with the 1958 Packard Hawk which had styling elements obviously taken from the Panamerica. It was too little too late. Packard aficionados would not buy South Bend-built Packards in sufficient numbers and the large wide open grill of the nose was ridiculed as looking like a catfish. Kind of funny when you compare the nose of the Packard Hawk with the gaping maws of some of the cars built today. S-P ceased Packard production mid-year. I think your model needs to be stately but reserved - not gaudy. Don't use the vertical grill that others that have tried to revive the company have used. It is from a bygone era and doesn't fit today's esthetics. In fact, every so-called Packard built since 1958 by those who bought the company name has used that vertical grill and it didn't fit those eras either. Don't make it overly large. Cadillac has gone smaller and has retained much of it's character. A smaller sportier Packard, done well, can do the same.
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sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Mike O'Handley
05/27/2014 at 15:17 |
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I suppose you are right, somewhat. But if you looks at Rolls-Royce or Bentley, the absolute top automakers, they make the big, upright grill look work. If one was to recapture Packard, this is the Packard worth reviving:
and this is not:
Also, it need not be overly gaudy, but if it's gonna compete with Rolls and Bentley, which I think it should (something American needs to), then it needs some style, some presence, and a little bit of theater. "Pomp and circumstance", I think the British call it, or "passion and flare" if it's the Italians. Look what happened to Maybach when they tried to make a low-key top-tier luxury car.
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Mike O'Handley
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/27/2014 at 15:31 |
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Why should it look anything like it did in the 30's, 40's or 50's? Every attempt at reviving the Packard over the past 55 years has tried a rendition of that old vertical Packard grill and every effort has failed. Cars today don't look anything like they did back then and those big gaudy grill treatments are gone. Something stately and reserved that exudes quality and luxury with a feint hint of the past in it's design elements is going to work better today and won't affront the senses the way cobbling a 30's design feature onto a modern car does.
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sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Mike O'Handley
05/27/2014 at 16:28 |
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I think you think I'm talking about something like this:
or this:
I hate those cars. I'm not suggesting it look like it's trying to be from the 30's. This is more what I had in mind:
The old Chrysler Imperial concept is a big car of imposing presence with a large, upright grille, yet it still looks modern. This is more what I have in mind for Packard.
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Mike O'Handley
> sm70- why not Duesenberg?
05/27/2014 at 21:41 |
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Nah,
That thing is too big and boxey. It looks like a Hummer with a sedan body plunked on it. Packard stood for luxury and power. Today, luxury and power means luxury sports car, sports sedan or sports coupe. I really like the Bulldog GT concept that a Danish firm HBH International came up with for a one-off Aston Martin . If the Packard Hawk had survived, I think it would have evolved into something like that car today.
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sm70- why not Duesenberg?
> Mike O'Handley
05/27/2014 at 21:43 |
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Okay, we'll go with something more like that. But at least a front-engined GT car?
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ptak appreciates old racecars
> Mike O'Handley
06/01/2014 at 06:44 |
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So sorry I haven't replied to the discussion here, I didn't realize it had been posted.
Thankfully my design seems to agree with both your tastes... it has a huge grille and it includes the ox yoke but it's also a very modern design which still calls back to the classic era without making it gaudy or excessive. It's large and imposing but still graceful.
Mike from Maine
> ptak appreciates old racecars
06/28/2018 at 18:11 |
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Hi there, the picture of the above Packard looks like a 1931. My dad had one that looked just exactly like this one. I have been on a mission for years to try to track down this vehicle. Do you know where this picture was taken? Or, where you found this picture? Or maybe you own this vehicle? Would love to hear back from you. Thanks very much. Mike Harmon
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ptak appreciates old racecars
> Mike from Maine
06/29/2018 at 06:19 |
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Hey, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I don’t know anything about the photo , I just found it online. I did a bit of reverse Google image search though and found this:
Looks like someone changed the wheels, but apart from that I’d be willing to bet it’s the same one. Might call up Sotheby’s and see if they can give you any info!