Packard's Slogans & Taglines

Packard was an American luxury automobile marque founded in 1899 by brothers James Ward Packard and William Doud Packard in Warren, Ohio, originally operating as the Ohio Automobile Company. The brand was born from James Ward Packard's dissatisfaction with his Winton automobile, leading him to build a superior vehicle. In 1902, the company was officially renamed the Packard Motor Car Company, and production moved to a purpose-built facility in Detroit in 1903—designed by Albert Kahn and considered the most modern automobile manufacturing facility in the world at the time. Core offerings centred on premium automobiles renowned for engineering excellence, including the pioneering Packard Twin Six with the first production V-12 engine, the first production car with air conditioning in 1940, and innovations such as the modern steering wheel, four-wheel brakes, and the H-pattern gear shift. Brand messaging was anchored for over 55 years by the iconic slogan Ask the Man Who Owns One, introduced in 1901 when James Ward Packard instructed his secretary to tell a potential buyer to simply ask an existing owner. This became one of the most successful and enduring advertising slogans in automotive history. After merging with Studebaker in 1954, the Packard marque was phased out in 1958, though the brand remains a cherished icon among collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.