Pop Quiz: 1954 Packard Color

[BobPalma]

Here's a nice 2-minute Fall 2018 video of The Packard Proving Ground. Enjoyable viewing.

https://vimeo.com/305172840

Since 1954 was the year in which The Studebaker-Packard Corporation was founded, I figure it's fair enough to post a Pop Quiz here with a Studebaker reward.

A 1954 Packard Pacific is shown at 1:39-1:44 in the video. Its color is a special, mid-year 1954 color, created and used in response to a large California dealer's complaint that the 1954 color palate was a bit drab and needing livening-up.

The first person to post the correct name of that color -spelled correctly!- will win a new, uncirculated, NOS 1964 Studebaker full-line brochure; P.D.-64-11:




BP

[j.byrd]

Matador Maroon Poly ? Whatever it is, it and the blue are both gorgeous !

[BobPalma]

Matador Maroon Poly ? Whatever it is, it and the blue are both gorgeous !

Sorry, John; that's not it.

(Isn't Matador Maroon a Corvette color?)

BP

[j.byrd]

I don't know Bob, but I had cheated anyway and looked at Packard paint chips, ha ! I wouldn't have taken the "prize" under those circumstances anyway. Signed: Dishonest John (remember him in cartoons ?)

https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.a...h_packard_1954. These folks may have it wrong too, huh ?

[StudeNewby]

Bob, is it Amethyst?

[acolds]

Amethyst and Packard Ivory

1954 Packard Pacific hardtop was a factory "special" created by Ed Cunningham the Interior Styling Manager at Packard. His mission was to convince top brass to adopt trendier colors. Five Carnation and Amethyst cars were produced and shown to dealers at the factory. California dealer and board member Earle C. Anthony purchased most, if not all, of them and shipped them to his dealerships in California. Of the five “R-code” cars three are known to exist

The car was generously donated to the Packard Motor Car Foundation It is now on display at the Packard Proving Grounds in Shelby Twp. (Utica) MI.

[8E45E]

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?57886-Orphan-of-the-Day-01-05-1954-Packard

YOUR answer above.

Craig

[BobPalma]

Bob, is it Amethyst?

BINGO! Amethyst it is.

Mike, is your address in Knightdale as in the 2018 SDC Roster, or Louisburg, as in your forum information? Please send me a PM with your correct mailing address and I'll get the small brochure out to you pronto.

Also read Al Kish' description in Post #6 for "the rest of the story." (Sorry, Al; you're also correct, of course, but Mike posted first.) BP

[BobPalma]

I don't know Bob, but I had cheated anyway and looked at Packard paint chips, ha ! I wouldn't have taken the "prize" under those circumstances anyway. Signed: Dishonest John (remember him in cartoons ?)

https://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.a...h_packard_1954. These folks may have it wrong too, huh ?

I see what you mean, John. Apparently, that chart wasn't updated to include the mid-year combination Al Kish cites in Post #6. BP

[StudeNewby]

BINGO! Amethyst it is.

Mike, is your address in Knightdale as in the 2018 SDC Roster, or Louisburg, as in your forum information? Please send me a PM with your correct mailing address and I'll get the small brochure out to you pronto.

Also read Al Kish' description, below, for "the rest of the story." (Sorry, Al; you're also correct, of course, but Mike posted first.) BP

Thanks, Bob! April and I just moved to Louisburg. I'll pm my new address right now.

[BobPalma]

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...5-1954-Packard YOUR answer above. Craig

Good one, Craig; now I remember that discussion. BP

[studegary]

The color of the first NEW car that I sold (after MANY used cars) was Deep Amethyst Metallic.

[studegary]

I notice on the water tower that it states: "Packard Proving Grounds". This is a picture from current times. Is that what Packard called it or was it Packard Proving Ground like Studebaker Proving Ground? I question their spelling since, in large print, near the end of the video it states: "Prooving"!

[jnormanh]

Here's a nice 2-minute Fall 2018 video of The Packard Proving Ground. Enjoyable viewing.

https://vimeo.com/305172840

]BP[/B]

Thanks for posting that video. I wasn't aware the the Packard proving grounds still exists.

It can be difficult to remember what a fine name Packard once had. Right up there with the best from Cadillac, Lincoln, Pierce Arrow, Chrysler, and approaching Rolls-Royce, Deusenberg, and Mercedes.

And then the Studebaker merger.

Yes, I know Packard was in financial distress, but Studebaker bled out the last pennies, and Packard died.

The PackardBakers of '57 and '58? Gag a maggot.

[WinM1895]

I had a 1954 Pacific that color, it was purchased new by opera singer Helen Boyce from Simonson-Schactmeyer, the Santa Monica Packard dealer.

The horn button was also amethyst, I had a NOS one, but sold it before I bought this car.

After Packard 'folded the tent,' the Proving Grounds were sold to Ford Motor Co.

And...it was not a merger, Packard purchased Studebaker in a stock swap. This was the worst mistake that James J. Nance made and he made plenty!

Studebaker "cooked the books," their supposed break even point was 150,000 units. But in reality, it was 350,000 units!