Packard

This work of art had great photos and informative text. Not so much a business or social commentary as a testament to the grand art of auto design and manufacture. One wonders what the future holds for Lincoln, Cadillac and Jaguar when an entire generation loves and admires Asian vehicles even when J. D. Powers or others present evidence to the contrary.

I found the book quite informative and interesting, prior to reading this book I had little knowledge about the "rise and fall of Packard". The book gives a good background and overview of the founding years of Packard as well as the glory years in the 20's and 30's, finally detailing their decline after WWll. The book is a good mix of old B & W archived photos and full color restorations. The writing is concise and well done the writer has done an excellent job researching the market conditions of the period and Packard's response as well as the key players in the drivers seat. Would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good detailed overview as well nice photography.

Unfortunately I don't own a Packard, but my grandfather did. This is an excellent book. Classic Motorbooks always do a fine job with writing books that appeal to the casual reader, if not the die-hard expert. They also lavish each book with beautiful photos. This book is no different. All the eras are covered, from the first Packards up to the last Packardbakers (after Packard and Studebaker merged) in the 1950s. Packard was THE American luxury car of the 20s and 30s. In an attempt to up sales, Packard made the big mistake that put them on the slippery slope downhill- by producing lower priced cars (their 110 and 120 series) that visually looked no different from their more expensive customs (unlike GM, where a Chevy didn't look like a Caddy). The end came when Jim Nance became head of Packard, and mismanaged it into dissolution. This is the only Packard book that I have read that actually speaks kindly of Nance, who engineered the merger with Studebaker, stopped supplying parts that keep thousands of old Packards running, and gambled on unproven technology that was rushed into production. Before the end, Packard created some very beautiful and reliable automobiles. They are often refered to as works of art. Check out a Classic Car show with a Packard or two and you will see what I mean. This is a fine addition to anyone's Classic Car Library. Just ask me, a man who owns a copy of this book!