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PACKARD

23 entries

American luxury car maker whose first cars appeared in 1899 and whose last were built in 1958.

Founded: 1899, by James Ward Packard
Headquarters: Detroit, Michigan
Merger: Studebaker-Packard Corporation, 1953
Phased out: 1959

Packard was founded by James Ward Packard, his brother William and George Lewis Weiss, and its first car was built in Warren, Ohio, on 6 November 1899. The company was renamed the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902 and soon moved to Detroit.

It was known for high-quality luxury cars and for innovations such as the modern steering wheel and one of the first production 12-cylinder engines. Packard merged with Studebaker in 1953, and the brand was phased out in 1959.

1899First Packard car built in Warren, Ohio
1902Renamed the Packard Motor Car Company
1953Merger into Studebaker-Packard
1958Last Packards built in South Bend