3. Packard
The average modern car enthusiast probably doesn’t know much about Packard. But once upon a time, this car company was bigger than Cadillac and one of the symbols of the American luxury automobile. The Packard car company was started in 1899 and closed in 1958. From the 1930’s to the 1950’s, Packard produced some of the finest automobiles on the American market.
Big and powerful engines, shiny black sedans and top-notch quality were the company’s signature. Always competing with Cadillac, Packard was statelier in appearance and preferred by the government, U.S. presidents and even several European royal families. The downturn of the Packard started after the Second World War when the market for luxury cars changed as the world went back to normal. As a part of a bigger company, Cadillac and Lincoln could produce and sell cars, but Packard soon faced financial difficulties.
The answer was downsizing, but that didn’t turn out as expected. In 1953, the company teamed up with Studebaker, another defunct company, forming the Packard-Studebaker Corporation. Things got worse and the last Packards were just rebadged Studebakers they produced in 1958. Despite a few attempts, nobody managed to revive the brand. Since it has been dead for so long, most car fans think it is better to leave it that way.