Re: Richard (Dick) Teague...and Packard styling...
Kenmore1978,
I of course never was able to meet Richard Teague, love the fact that not only did you get to; but have his autograph in your owners manual. About two years ago Gilmore Classic Car Museum, in Hickory Corners Michigan; did a "Rememebering Dick Teague" thing; during a Packard Motor Car Company themed event, and had one of his nephews or someone important there, talking about Teague.
The moral of this is, that he explained to the crowd how his uncle came up with the idea of the "cathedral" lights, and why they even appeared on Packards for 1955-56. I missed the first half hour of the 'presentation", due to the fact that I was busy denting fenders of all the awesome Packards.
But later found out from a nice guy who owned a Caribbean from 1955 color's onyx and jade middle swipe, who let me sit in it for like as long as I wished to that this was happening at the front of the property, and I should high tail it over there ASAP.
Apparantly "Dick", according to this person who knew Mr. Teague; and the stylists had the basic 1955 package wrapped up for production by Feburary 1954, which was late as it was, becasue usually many facelifts are in final form before Christmas of the year previous to introduction.
He was pleased himself with what he was able to do, but really felt that the rear end diddn't seem not only important enough, but Cadillac-ish or unique...and that Packards from 1948 on just had no sex appeal, let alone good old fashioned appeal..but was kinda stuck on what to do.
Apparantly James Nance, Packards president thought the same way. He was back in the styling department over on East Grand Blvd, the Friday before Easter, 1954. He showed up, looked at future proposals, winded his way thru the department, looking at things for 1956 1957 and beyond.
They all, Teague included; ended up wandering around with some of his posse' if you will with Nance, and they went to the main styling showroom, where the finished 1955 Patrician model clay was slowly twirling around on the main turntable.
Nance was pleased according to Teague, but as the tail end swung around, Nance motioned for the clay to be stopped so he could look at it. Nance looked at the rear for about five minutes....and said to Teague in front of everyone: "Goddammit...Teague", "you're a bright guy","why dont you come up with"... "something else". "This just won't do", and I'll see you next week.
Nance's main gripe about the 1955 facelift job, was the roof, which they could do nothing about; and the fact that originally The 1955 Packard was supposed to come out with a further refined edition of the 1954 taillights, who in private Nance, who later admitted to Teague, hated the tailiights, and reffered to the two globular taillenses as "bulls nuts".
So Teague to a bunch of styling equipment home in case he had some time to work out a revisement, easter weekend; 1954.
Apparantly, after going to church with his family, and having easter dinner , he sat down in his den and had the cathedral light done in about four hours, more or less.
Anyway the guy went onto describe what it entailed to rework the design in time, and basically the following week, when Nance saw it he went "nuts" , fell in love with the design, gave Teague a raise, and a paid for vacation. All for a simple desing, that would have never occured, had Nance, and Teague...despised the rear end of the car.
Anyway, I loved that day...I had seen over 75 1955-56 Packards, Clippers and a few Studebakers from that same era; and it further stimulated what initial interest I had in those cars already. After late in the day getting a ride in a 1956 Patrician sedan, similar to, but two toned to the first feature picture in this post, and feeling what Torsion Level, Ultramatic Drive, body and interior by Packard was like firsthand...I feel forever in Love with these, monster last golden Packards...from Detroit....
Chad
