Editing Packard (section)

===1937–1941===
[[File:'38 Packard (Auto classique Laval '11).jpg|thumb|1939 (17th series) Twelve]]

Packard was still the premier luxury automobile, even though the majority of cars being built were the [[Packard One-Twenty]] and [[Packard Super Eight|Super Eight]] model ranges. Hoping to catch still more of the market, Packard issued the [[Packard Six#Third Generation (1937–1947)|Packard 115C]] in 1937, powered by a Packard six-cylinder engine. The decision to introduce the "Packard Six", priced at around $1200 ({{inflation|US|1200|1937|r=-3|fmt=eq}}),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1937/1937%20Packard%20Ad-09.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804104630/http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1937/1937%20Packard%20Ad-09.html|url-status=dead|title=Directory Index: Packard Ads/1937|archivedate=August 4, 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1938/1938%20Packard%20Ad-05.html Old Car Advertising] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305094152/http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1938/1938%20Packard%20Ad-05.html |date=March 5, 2016}} Retrieved October 5, 2013</ref> was in time for the 1938 recession. This model also tagged Packards as something less exclusive than they had been in the public's mind and in the long run hurt Packard's reputation of building some of America's finest luxury cars.<ref>{{cite web |title=1937-1947 Packard Six |date=August 20, 2007 |website=How Stuff Works |url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1937-1947-packard-six.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930040622/https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1937-1947-packard-six.htm |archive-date=September 30, 2020 |access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref> The Six, redesignated [[Packard 110|110]] in 1940–41, continued for three years after the war.

In 1939, Packard introduced Econo-Drive, a kind of [[overdrive (mechanics)|overdrive]], claimed able to reduce engine speed 27.8%; it could be engaged at any speed over {{cvt|30|mph|km/h}}.<ref>[http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1939/1939%20Packard%20Ad-01.html Old Car Advertising] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804093142/http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1939/1939%20Packard%20Ad-01.html |date=August 4, 2016}} Retrieved October 5, 2013</ref> The same year, the company introduced a fifth, transverse shock absorber and made column shift (known as Handishift) available on the 120 and Six.<ref>[http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1939/1939%20Packard%20Ad-02.html Old Car Advertising] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804101434/http://www.oldcaradvertising.com/Packard%20Ads/1939/1939%20Packard%20Ad-02.html |date=August 4, 2016}} Retrieved October 5, 2013</ref>

[[File:1941 Packard 180 Formal Sedan.jpg|thumb|1941 180 Formal Sedan]]
[[File:1941 Packard 110 Touring Sedan-July 2018 copy.jpg|thumb|1941 110 2-Door Touring Sedan]]

A new body shape was introduced for the 1941 model year, the [[Packard Clipper]]. It was available only as a four-door model on the {{cvt|127|in|mm|0}} wheelbase of the 160, but powered by {{cvt|125|hp|kW PS|0}} version of straight-8 engine used the 120.<ref>{{cite web |title=1941-1947 Packard Clipper |date=October 23, 2007 |website=How Stuff Works |url=https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1941-1947-packard-clipper.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123223831/https://auto.howstuffworks.com/1941-1947-packard-clipper.htm |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |access-date=May 1, 2022}}</ref>