1956 Studebaker, Hudson, Nash & Packard - opinions on styling?

[tennessee_anomaly]

Here are views of sedan models from all 4 manufacturers. My personal opinion is that the Stude comes off the best, but there is something I like in all of them. Quirkiness, maybe? Feel free to chime in, and I hope no one gets irritated.[IMG]













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[BobPalma]

They each have their "pluses"

Studebaker was probably the fastest.
Packard easily had the smoothest ride.
Nash had the best factory air conditioning system.
Hudson...well...Hudson...let me get back to you on that one! <GGG>

[FlatheadGeo]

If luxury is the benchmark, then (IMHO) you must go with the Packard!!!

[raprice]

I like 'em all.
Rog

[Skip Lackie]

I formed an opinion in 1956, and I haven't changed it. Opinion of styling only (and that one year only):
Packard: 9 out of 10
Studebaker: 7
Nash: 2
Hudson: 1

[Transtar56]

Since you asked for opinions on styling only,Id say the Packard and Stude are the best of that lot by far. The design of Hudson and Nash in those years quickly contributed to their demise IMHO. Next year Virgil Exnors "Suddenly its 1960" look blew them all off,except for the Hawk.

[bob40]

I will own a 1956 Hudson some day.Cant say the same about Packard and Nash.Owned a 56 Studebaker.

[Lothar]

My reaction to the styling alone.
I like the Studebaker because it looks a lot like a Checker to me, very business-like (that may be a turn-off to some).
I like the Packard grille, but the hooded headlights just yell "rustholes" at me.
The Nash looks as if it were a flatter, lower car, but its been stretched upward and outward, as if it were made of silly putty.
The Hudson looks sort of stodgy but I like the smiley grille.

[mausersmth]

It always saddens me to see a post-merger Hudson, or 'Hash'. The Step-Down Hudson was a handsome machine, but when production was combined with Nash, in Nash's factory, it just doesn't say 'Hudson' to me.
Nash had an oddball look in those days, guess it was tough to make something from that body that didn't scream 'Nash'!

[Milaca]

The 1956 Studebaker looks good but I would have preferred they kept using the same body of the 1953-55 sedans (and without the wrap around windshield) as they look far more modern. I like the Packard even though it looks as big as a diesel locomotive. I hate the front styling of the Nash, although the sides and rear look okay. If I had my pick of the four, I would take the Nudson...er, I mean the Hudson just because it is so scarce and it looks very spiffy....I don't know what 'spiffy' means, but it seems to fit this car.

[clonelark]

Like raprice, I like em all,
But the Packard just looks so luxurious. Always liked them.
The Studebaker is ok lookin in the upper class cars.
The Nash is kinda classy
As much as i always liked Hudsons they just missed on the 56.

[tennessee_anomaly]

Like raprice, I like em all,
But the Packard just looks so luxurious. Always liked them.
The Studebaker is ok lookin in the upper class cars.
The Nash is kinda classy
As much as i always liked Hudsons they just missed on the 56.

As you can tell, I like these kinds of threads. I'm interested in the views of others more knowledgeable & passionate than myself. I guess the Packard, Nash & Hudson photos are models representing the upper level of their respective price hierarchy, while the Stude is more toward the lower end, and the Stude definitely LOOKS like a less expensive car than the others.

I like the front view of the Packard, massive eggcrate grill, very impressive looking. I don't care much for the car in side view, it just seems so tall. The inboard headlights of the Nash, framed by the vertical parking lights, are just quirky enough that I find them oddly appealing - but once again, I don't care for the side view - it just looks ungainly for some reason. The scary smiley face of the Hudson does look odd, and the strangely conflicting shapes of the trim moldings conflict with each other, but I like the side & rear view better than either Packard or Nash.

I should have had a Studebaker President photo for a more appropriate comparison. From top to bottom, front to back, it is, to my eyes, a more unified & appealing total package.

[56H-Y6]

Hi
In order of preference:

Packard: all-time favorite, wonderful update of the '51 body shell, just enough glittery, only caveat is the high beltline and high roof crown.

Studebaker: well-done update of the less-than-appealing '53 sedan body, looks best in the President trim, less so for Commander and Champion. Needed more inches of width and 2"-3" inches less top height. More solid structural build would have helped too.

Nash & Hudson: take a Pillsbury Doughboy body, apply conflicting sculpting and unappealing features, trowel on the chrome and garish colors......here you are: gorpy hodge-podge! Since they were neck-deep in that styling ethic, the models that are the most 'appealing' are those that are completely over the top: wild tri-tone color combinations, whitewalls, continental kits, fully loaded...and longest wheelbase hardtops!

Steve

[8E45E]

Hudson...well...Hudson...[I][COLOR="darkorchid"][B]let me get back to you on that one!

Bob, one must wonder what a 'true' 1956 Husdson would have looked like, had Husdon Motor Company not merged with Nash-Kelvinator. The X-161 prototype was supposedly going to be the all-new 1957 line of cars, with a few styling cues showing up on the 1954 Italia, but the original 1948 step-down body was hopelessly dated by the time of the merger. Until then one could imagine how a 1956 version of the step-down would have really been death-warmed-over. I just can't picture in my mind how a 'true' Hudson for 1956 would have appeared any better than a badge-eingineered Nash.

Craig

[Mr. Bill]

I am thinking that a 1956 Nash Ambassador Custom equipped with factory air conditioning, reclining seats, all the power options including windows would be an extremely comfortable travel car. I didn't mention a V8 engine because I think the Ambassador Custom came with a V8 standard. If not, then by all means I want a V8. The same would apply to the Hudson, but all those "V's" the stylists tried to incorporate ruined the design.

The 1956 Packards are very handsome cars, the high beltline withstanding. One of my favorite nameplates/scripts is the huge, spread out word Clipper that appears on the hood of the 56 Clippers. Very stylish.

The only 1956 big sedan from Studebaker that I would consider is the President Classic. The addition of the extra trim on these high line models makes all the difference over a Commander or Champion. Additionally, the interiors were quite nice for Studebaker and certainly much better than the President interior of 1958.

Best regards
Bill Sapp
Hamlet, NC