Coulda Been; Shoulda Been... [PIC]

Whether you call this a concept or a prototype (it was both), this 1954 Packard Panther (AKA: the Daytona) had the right styling and mild innovations to be a successful production car. The styling was very period going in the directions that the Big Three would follow. but not over the top. From this new interpretation of the classic Packard grill to the cathedral taillamps housed in the tail fins, it seemed to have everything a consumer would want in its space age design cues. Four of these fully functional cars were built on a standard chassis but sporting the first full size car with a one piece fiberglass body, like the Corvette and Kaiser Darrin. The cars were either a convertible, hardtop or a removable bubble-top. The engine used was their standard 359 cid straight 8 with a McColloch supercharger that produced 275 HP as their V8 was still in development. The car was commissioned in 1953 with the deadline to be ready for the 1954 Daytona where it achieved 131 mph. Unfortunately, it was a tough time in the industry with companies either merging to stay alive, like the formation of American Motors, or just folding. That year, Packard purchased Studebaker and their wasn't the budget to continue with the Panther, so it was reduced to being just another concept car with some of its styling cues surviving in the '55 and '56 production models. As far as I can tell, all 4 remain in existence with one selling for $850,000 in 2013, so one would probably go for a mil or so today

Here is one with the bubble top: