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Topic starter
08/05/2021 10:53 am
The merger of Packard with Studebaker for 1958 seemed a bit one-sided. The Packard became merely a pathetically upgraded top-of-the-line Studebaker Hawk 400 which was still using its 1953 platform continually replacing various sheet metal panels to give it a new look. For the Packard, they went all out on the interior with all leather upholstery, dash padding over a turned metal dash even extending it to external arm rests and to the chrome ribbed headliner. They used the 289 V8, supercharged it to 275hp and if you note the "TT" on the trunk deck it refers to "Twin Traction" or limited slip differential. For the exterior they used another trunk lid (they were all interchangeable) with a fake spare tire. To further disguise the Studebaker underneath, they tacked on a "catfish" looking fiberglass nose with a hood scoop to provide room for the McColloch supercharger. The tail fin inserts were a metallized PET film. It sold for $700 more than the top Studebaker at $3995. I'll always remember this model because everyday I went to work in the mid-sixties, the Clark, NJ police parked a beat up '58 with a radar unit sticking out of the left rear tail light cavity, with their chase car hiding in the next side street. Tricky, huh?
08/05/2021 11:51 am
When Studebaker brought out this body in 1953, I thought it was one of the most beautiful cars I had ever seen...by the time this "Packard" was built I could hardly stand to look at it. Love the model, not so much the 1/1. Super pictures Rich.
Topic starter
08/05/2021 2:28 pm
@bob-jackman Thanks, Bob. It's a very well detailed model. I find it, like the 1:1, ugly and yet mesmerizing. I loved the Hawk and the subsequent GT.One of my neighbors did a mild custom, replacing the deck lid with the lower sleeker '53, did the obligatory 50 hand polished coats of Candy Apple R with a white top. He had the supercharged 289 in it with the limited slip. I would have killed to own that car.
08/05/2021 3:47 pm
When Studebaker brought out this body in 1953, I thought it was one of the most beautiful cars I had ever seen...by the time this "Packard" was built I could hardly stand to look at it. Love the model, not so much the 1/1. Super pictures Rich.
My thoughts as well...but I also don't like it in any scale. Lol.
08/05/2021 3:59 pm
When Studebaker brought out this body in 1953, I thought it was one of the most beautiful cars I had ever seen...by the time this "Packard" was built I could hardly stand to look at it. Love the model, not so much the 1/1. Super pictures Rich.
My thoughts as well...but I also don't like it in any scale. Lol.
I refuse too own this model.
08/05/2021 4:16 pm
Funny, and probably a good thing, that we are all different. If I only bought models of 1/1 cars that I like, my collection would be 90% less than it is...think of the money I would have saved.
08/05/2021 8:31 pm
Actually Rich my wife likes my models and I like her miniatures. I'm a very lucky guy.
Topic starter
09/05/2021 2:13 pm
@bob-jackman My wife is born and raised in communist Poland so obviously Western car culture is an absolute mystery to her. She tolerates my collecting as the whole thing seems meaningless to her. Out of the collection, she only vocalized an appreciation for one car... the Saoutchik Cadillac. Go figure.