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1956 Packard Predictor (Ghia)

Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Interior
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Interior
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956
Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956
Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956
Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Chicago Auto Show
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Interior
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Interior
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Rendering
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Rendering
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Showing sliding aluminum roof, door panels, grille, and side strip - Rendering by W. Mihailuk
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Showing sliding aluminum roof, door panels, grille, and side strip - Rendering by W. Mihailuk
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Packard Predictor, 1956 - Folder
Outlining ideas for an all-new Packard for 1957, this early concept sketch is worthy of being an ad.
Outlining ideas for an all-new Packard for 1957, this early concept sketch is worthy of being an ad.
Images: shorey.net; www.automotivehistoryonline.com; www.oldcarbrochures.com; www.hemmings.com
Rating:  42    -7    +49
The 1957 Packard Predictor concept car was known as the "dream car." It toured the show circuit earlier in 1956, and was a great influence on future Packard concept cars.
Built by Ghia of Turin, the Predictor was executed under Packard design chief Bill Schmidt, but strongly reflected Teague’s thinking.

Advanced features included a windshield that wrapped up as well as around, quad headlights hidden behind clamshell doors, fenders level with the hood and rear deck, and a square, chiseled shape.

Also on hand were several ideas from recent Teague-styled Packard concept cars: reverse-slant retractable backlight (previewing the 1958 Continental Mark III), shapely "cathedral" taillights, and smart ribbed bodyside moldings that ran from the doors right around to the front.

That trim ended abruptly to frame a slim vertical nose with Packard’s traditional "ox-yoke" radiator shape, which Nance had lately been trying to resurrect as a sales-booster. (It might have been used for 1954 had time allowed, though Teague managed something far better for the one-off 1955 Request). "Rolltop" roof panels slid away to ease entry/exit in what was a pretty low car; they could also be left open for ventilation — a kind of embryonic T-top.

Inside, the Predictor was all convenience, with electronic pushbutton Ultramatic transmission; electric servos for decklid roof panels, and windows; and individual contoured seats with reversible cushions — leather on one side, fabric on the other, as on Packard’s 1956 Caribbeans.

Roof sail panels wore portholes like those adorning contemporary Thunderbirds, plus courtesy lights and a jeweled escutcheon. The decklid was adorned with a large "circle-V" emblem created by Teague with hopes of establishing another "timeless" automotive symbol akin to the Mercedes-Benz tri-star.

Powered by a 300-horsepower Packard V-8, the Predictor was fully driveable — when it was working right. Ghia had botched the electrical system, so activating any of the fancy servos usually caused a short circuit and great clouds of smoke. Of course, such problems would have been worked out for production, for the Predictor was nothing less than the blueprint for a very ambitious new S-P line.

The Predictor outlined a whole raft of cars built from just three basic platforms: a 130-inch wheelbase for Packard and Packard Executive (the latter basically a detrimmed Patrician), 125 for Clipper and Studebaker President, and 120 inches for Studebaker Commander and Champion.

Though hardly original, this plan was a great cost-saver, allowing the three makes to look quite different from each other despite a common inner shell and some shared exterior panels. It was a grand strategy worthy of General Motors-S-P’s last attempt to cast itself as a "full-line" producer.


Shortly after purchasing Studebaker, Packard's corporate brass envisioned a bright future for the brand and commissioned a concept car to showcase that talking point. The Predictor, styled by Richard Teague (later of AMC fame) and built by Ghia, was everything a whiz-bang Packard of the future should be. Scalloped fenders and a long, flat hood put Chrysler's Flite-Sweep concepts to shame, while fins, taillights, and grille were slightly modified forms of what designers were pitching for an all-new 1957 sedan.

Hotness then (1-10): 10

This was nothing short of a show stopper in its heyday, and considering it was the brainchild of Packard's styling department-which was normally resigned to producing dowdy luxury sedans and the occasional Caribbean-it was a revelation indeed.

Hotness now (1-10): 4

Like many gizmo-centric concept cars of the jet age, the Predictor didn't age very well. The styling is lanky, awkward, and carries none of the subtle grace of production Packards. Even some of the "futuristic" features-like self-retracting T-top panels, hidden headlamps, and a reversed rear window-aren't exactly things to write home about today.

Could it have saved the brand?

No. In fact, it may have helped kill it. Packard chose to buy Studebaker virtually sight unseen, and only discovered after the fact just how badly the company was hemorrhaging cash. Things were so bad, in fact, that Packard found it more expensive to build its own wares in Detroit than it was to retrofit Studebaker Hawks with awkward fiberglass noses and Packard badging. By 1959, the brand was dead. Seven years later, so was Studebaker.


Своей «моторамой» Packard и Studebaker не обзавелись, а поэтому «автомобиль мечты» 1956 обнародовали на Чикагской автовыставке. Dream car под амбициозным названием Predictor (что по-английски означает «предсказатель»). Как и положено «автомобилю мечты», Predictor как бы задавал генеральное направление в дизайне американских легковушек — на годы вперед. Он и в самом деле задал, хотя и не без драматического plot twist.

Спроектировали и построили «предсказателя» за 3 месяца – с чистого листа. Один-единственный выставочный экземпляр – на основе серийных моделей образца 1956, естественно. Футуристический образ ваял шеф фирменного дизайна Bill Schmidt, за спиной которого стоял Richard Teague, идеолог автомобильной стилистики Packard. А «в металл» dream car воплощали не где-нибудь, а в Италии — у Carrozzeria Ghia. Считалось престижным, хотя качество исполнения проекта, как вскоре выяснилось, оставляло желать лучшего. И на старушку…

Технику «предиктор» целиком заимствовал от флагмана Patrician: V-образная 16-клапанная «восьмерка» рабочим объемом 6131 миллилитр. С 4-камерным карбюратором Rochester чугунный двигатель выдавал за 300 л.с. максимальной мощности – SAE «брутто». Или же 240—250 сил «нетто»; «восьмерка» стыковалась с 2-скоростным гидромеханическим «автоматом» Ultramatic, рабочие диапазоны которого переключались кнопками. Причем не с механическим, а с электрическим приводом (невысокая эксплуатационная надежность которого вызывала немало «головняков»).

Подвеска спереди на двойных поперечных рычагах, сзади – неразрезный ведущий мост. Вместо винтовых пружин и листовых рессор для «предиктора» (как и для серийного Patrician) применили торсионные упругие элементы – фирменное новшество под названием torsion-level suspension. В зависимости от нагрузки автомобиля торсионы подкручивались электросервомеханизмом, что компенсировало прогиб подвески и поддерживало неизменную высоту шасси над ходовой поверхностью. Рулевой механизм – «винт-шариковая гайка» с гидроусилителем, тормоза барабанные «по кругу»; типовой набор классной американской легковушки середины 50-х.

На лонжеронную раму смонтировали «штучный» кузов итальянской работы – из тонколистовой стали. Получился полногабаритный 2-дверный «хардтоп» (колесная база — 3302 мм), облик которого – в перламутре лакокрасочного покрытия — поразил тогдашнюю публику. Выразительная игра горизонтальных и наклонных линий, завершающихся мощными хвостовыми «плавниками», создавала впечатление активной динамики и несгибаемой целеустремленности. Передок с убирающейся светооптикой, гнутое в 2-х плоскостях лобовое стекло – и выхлопные патрубки, выведенные сквозь задний бампер.

В интерьере господствовали 4 индивидуальных сиденья комбинированной обивки – текстиль и натуральная кожа. Между сиденьями во всю длину салона шла центральная консоль; нестандартное по тем временам решение. Электростеклоподъемники – а также электропривод сдвижных панелей крыши, которые облегчали посадку-высадку при довольно-таки низком силуэте автомобиля. Между прочим, верх открывался и на ходу – что-то вроде крыши «тарга» последующих десятилетий.

Аэродинамика, конечно, никакая, тем не менее, мощный мотор позволял «предиктору» разгоняться за 125 миль в час, — то есть, на 2 с лишним «сотни» километров. Ведь прототип оказался вполне ходовым – во всяком случае, когда не барахлили бортовые электросистемы. Он и до сих пор ездит своим ходом.

«Автомобиль мечты» от Packard заметно повлиял на стилистику американских «дорожных крейсеров» — особенно Ford Motor. Характерный вертикальный элемент фальшрадиатора новой (ровно полвека назад) фордовской марки Edsel живо напомнил «лезвие колуна», которое надвое рассекало передок «предиктора». Своеобразные очертания задней стойки и обратный наклон стекла вдруг прорезались у Lincoln Continental Mark III образца 1958…

Нет, пакардовский dream car не растаял без следа, хотя и генерального направления в стилистике не задал. Зато предсказал скорый закат когда-то славной марки: в 1957 выпуск легковушек Packard прекратили – навсегда. Так сказать, сглазил: бренда давным-давно нет, тогда как сам Predictor сохранился. Музейный экземпляр мечты.
Source: auto.howstuffworks.com; Orphaned Concept Cars - www.automobilemag.com
Coachbuilder: Ghia
1933 Fiat 508S Balilla Spider (Ghia), 1947 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 Sport Cabriolet (Ghia), 1949 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Coupe (Ghia), 1950 Alfa Romeo 6C 2500 SS Supergioiello (Ghia), 1950 Ferrari 195 Inter (Ghia), 1951 Chrysler K-310 (Ghia), 1951 Plymouth XX-500 (Ghia), 1951 Talbot-Lago T.26 Record Coupe (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler C-200 (Ghia), 1952 Chrysler Special (Ghia), 1953 Abarth Fiat 1100 (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Sprint Supergioiello (Ghia), 1953 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supersonic Conrero (Ghia), 1953 Cadillac Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler D’Elegance (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler GS-1 Special (Ghia), 1953 Chrysler Thomas Special (Ghia), 1953 Cisitalia 505 DF (Ghia), 1953 Dodge Firearrow I (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Boano Coupe (Ghia), 1953 Fiat 8V Supersonic Coupe (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 CS Speciale (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 1900 SS (Ghia), 1954 Alfa Romeo 2000 Abarth (Ghia), 1954 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1954 DeSoto Adventurer I (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow II (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firearrow III (Ghia), 1954 Dodge Firebomb - Firearrow IV (Ghia), 1954 Jaguar XK120 Supersonic (Ghia), 1954 Plymouth Explorer Special (Ghia), 1954 Simca Convertible Special (Ghia), 1955 Alfa Romeo 1900 Supergioiello (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Falcon (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep I (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler Flight Sweep II (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special (Ghia), 1955 Chrysler ST Special Convertible (Ghia), 1955 DeSoto Adventurer II (Ghia), 1955 Ferrari 375 MM Coupe Speciale (Ghia), 1955 Ghia Gilda I, 1955 Jaguar XK140 (Ghia), 1955 Lincoln Futura (Ghia), 1955 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia (Ghia), 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 Mk II Supersonic (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Dart (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Norseman (Ghia), 1956 Chrysler Special K300 (Ghia), 1956 Dual-Ghia Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Ferrari 410 Superamerica (Ghia), 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 Berlina/Convertible (Ghia), 1956 Packard Predictor (Ghia), 1956 Plymouth Plainsman (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler 375 Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Chrysler Diablo (Ghia), 1957 Dual-Ghia Sport Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat 1100 TV Coupe (Ghia), 1957 Fiat Jolly (Ghia), 1958 Dual-Ghia 400 (Ghia), 1958 Simca Special (Ghia), 1959 Ghia Selene, 1960 Chrysler Valiant (Ghia), 1960 Ghia Dragster IXG, 1960 Plymouth XNR (Ghia), 1961 Chrysler TurboFlite (Ghia), 1961 Dodge Flite-Wing (Ghia), 1961 Dual-Ghia L 6.4 (Ghia), 1961 Ghia Cart, 1961 Maserati 5000 GT (Ghia), 1961 Plymouth Asimmetrica (Ghia), 1961 Volvo P1800 (Ghia), 1962 Fiat 500 Ziba (Ghia), 1962 Ghia Selene II, 1962 Plymouth Valiant St. Regis (Ghia), 1963 Chrysler Turbine Car (Ghia), 1963 Ghia G230S, 1964 Chrysler V280 (Ghia), 1964 Ghia 1500 GT, 1964 Renault R8 Coupe (Ghia), 1965 Bugatti Type-101C (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Competizione 2000 (Ghia), 1965 DeTomaso Vallelunga (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Mangusta Spyder (Ghia), 1966 DeTomaso Pampero (Ghia), 1966 Duesenberg Model D (Ghia), 1966 Fiat 850 Vanessa (Ghia), 1966 Ghia 450/SS, 1966 Isuzu 117 Sport (Ghia), 1966 Maserati Ghibli (Ghia), 1967 DeTomaso Rowan (Ghia), 1967 Iso S4 Fidia (Ghia), 1967 Oldsmobile Thor (Ghia), 1968 Ghia Serenissima, 1968 Maserati Ghibli Spider (Ghia), 1968 Maserati Simun (Ghia), 1969 DeTomaso Mustela (Ghia), 1969 Isuzu Bellett MX1600 (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Fulvia 1600 Competizione (Ghia), 1969 Lancia Marica (Ghia), 1970 DeTomaso Pantera (Ghia), 1970 Ghia City Car, 1971 DeTomaso 1600 Spider (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Deauville (Ghia), 1971 DeTomaso Zonda (Ghia), 1971 Ford GT-70 (Ghia), 1972 DeTomaso Longchamp (Ghia), 1973 DeTomaso Pantera II/Montella (Ghia), 1973 Ford Mustela II (Ghia), 1973 Lincoln Mark I (Ghia), 1974 Ford Coins (Ghia), 1975 Ford Flashback (Ghia), 1975 Ford Urban Car (Manx) (Ghia), 1976 Ford Corrida (Ghia), 1976 Ford Prima (Ghia), 1977 Ford Megastar (Ghia), 1978 Ford Fiesta Tuareg (Ghia), 1978 Ford Lucano (Ghia), 1978 Ford Megastar II (Ghia), 1978 Ford Microsport (Ghia), 1978 Ford Mustang III (Ghia), 1978 Ghia Action, 1978 Mercury XM (Ghia), 1979 Ford GTK (Ghia), 1979 Ford Navarre (Ghia), 1979 Ford Probe I (Ghia), 1980 Ford Granada Altair (Ghia), 1980 Ford Mustang RSX (Ghia), 1980 Ford Pockar (Ghia), 1981 AC ME3000 (Ghia), 1981 Ford Aerovan (Ghia), 1981 Ford Avant Garde (Ghia), 1981 Ford Cockpit (Ghia), 1981 Ford EXP-II (Ghia), 1981 Ford Shuttler (Ghia), 1981 Ford Super Gnat (Ghia), 1982 Ford Brezza (Ghia), 1982 Ford Quicksilver (Ghia), 1982 Ford Topaz (Ghia), 1982 Ghia Mini Max, 1983 Ford Barchetta (Ghia), 1983 Ford Trio (Ghia), 1984 Ford APV (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale Mustang (Ghia), 1984 Ford Vignale TSX-4 (Ghia), 1985 Ford Probe V (Ghia), 1985 Ford Urby (Ghia), 1986 Ford Vignale TSX-6 (Ghia), 1987 Ford HFX Aerostar (Ghia), 1987 Lincoln by Vignale (Ghia), 1989 Ford Saguaro (Ghia), 1989 Ford Via (Ghia), 1990 Ford Fiesta Bebop (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zag (Ghia), 1990 Ford Zig (Ghia), 1991 Ford Connecta (Ghia), 1992 Ford Focus (Ghia), 1993 Aston Martin Lagonda Vignale (Ghia), 1994 Ford Arioso (Ghia), 1996 Ford Alpe (Ghia), 1996 Ford Lynx (Ghia), 1996 Ford Saetta (Ghia), 1996 Ford Vivace (Ghia), 1996 Lincoln Sentinel (Ghia), 1998 Ford Touring Ka (Ghia), 2000 Ford Street Ka (Ghia), 2001 Ford Forty-Nine (Ghia)
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Comments
tom
Thursday, April 1, 2010
hey!
vranac
Thursday, January 26, 2012
This is very good prototype.
paul w. sikora
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Packard Predictor design should have been the car built when the attempt was made ten years ago to resurrect the firm in Arizona. I almost became a part of that organization and could not understand the facination with the 1948 design instead. I knew Delorean and he was a part of the creation of the Predictor. It deservers the chance to be built again. PWS
paul w. sikora
Friday, February 24, 2012
The Predictor still-born 1957 sedans and coupe like the Express Coupe/Rv like was an example of pure American road warrior that made the ownership and operation of the car line a worthwhile investment. If any group wanted to make another attempt to built Packards again I would jump on that bandwagon. It would not take too much to bring the Predictor as well as the Grey Wolf II personal coupe to the market. Paul Schmidt designed those cars the same way he did later on at SAAB. The Delorean DMZ 12 was based on the Grey Wolf II design. I hope it may happen, American Engineering still has one good fight left to shake the world. J.J. Nance and I have one thing in common, give it a shot.
paul w. sikora
Monday, March 5, 2012
It remains a timeless design that the firm in Goodyear Arizona made was a fixation on the late fortys theme. If I been able to getting with that firm(az), I would had bring a Vegas show to get investors on the resurrected Predictor design farther than J.J. Nance tryed involved Showgirls and a part of a movie with sexy Lana Turner. If one wants to give this a try E-Mail me...even a porn starlettes I would use to give this car a push.
Allen Epling
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
My "dream car" was the 1955 Packard Carribean, which my dad gave me for my high school graduation present. It was 5 years old then but I didn't care. I fell in love with it in the showroom in '55. Packard's fall in '57 was one of the traumatic events of my young life because I thought the "Predictor" was the most fabulous piece of automotive art ever created and promised a great future for a great car company. I couldn't believe it when the '57 came out on a Studebaker body. I have always hoped someone would resurrect the name and build it on a limited basis like Rolls Royce with the emphasis on luxury and quality that the name always stood for. When Packard died, a part of me went with it. I still think the Predictor is one for the ages and would sell with modern (slight) modifications.
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