1932 Packard - First Day of Issue: August 25, 1988
Additional Details:
| First Issue Location: Detroit, Michigan The Packard was born at the turn of the century--as the automobile industry itself began to take hold. The history of this elegant auto began with a consumer complaint. James W. Packard had bought a car from Alexander Winton, the largest manufacturer of automobiles in the United States at that time. But Packard's grievances were many, and finally Winton responded that if Packard didn't like the car he had, maybe he should build one of his own. So Packard, his brother, and a few talented employees formed the Packard Motor Company - a name that would adorn elegant cars for more than forty years. Through these years, Packard was the company to watch for innovation. Packard was the first to replace the tiller with a steering wheel, and to pioneer the H-slot shifter in American cars. In 1924, Packard offered the first reasonably priced straight-eight engine. In 1928, at its height, Packard sold 50,000 luxury cars to the American well-to-do, "a sign of life's best riches and social rewards." |
