Can Detroit Really Finish Demolishing Packard Plant This Year?

Jackson Wheeler
1 Min Read


This was the last hurrah for Packard’s straight-eight (after 31 years in the market) and for production at East Grand Boulevard. Packard also ended its long run as an independent company, as it was acquired in 1954 by Studebaker to form Studebaker-Packard Corporation.

The senior 1954 Packards like the Pacific two-door hardtop received Packard’s most powerful straight-eight ever, with 212 hp and a four-barrel carburetor, hooked to the latest Ultramatic transmission. Final assembly of all Packards would shift now to a former Briggs Body Co. plant on Detroit’s Conner Avenue, marking the end of 51 years of auto production on East Grand Boulevard.

While the plant suffered years of infamy, the Packard Proving Grounds (pictured here in the background) 20 miles north in Utica, Michigan, has been preserved as a national historic site.

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Jackson Wheeler is a skilled editor at Speedofdaily.com, specializing in automotive content. With a background in Journalism and Automotive Engineering, he combines his passion for cars with his writing expertise to deliver captivating articles. Jackson's deep knowledge of automotive technology and his racing experience make him a valuable asset to the team, providing readers with informative and engaging content.
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