AUTOS: The Last 1955s

The auto industry rolled out the last of thenew 1955 models last week:

¶Studebaker-Packard’s President James J. Nance brought out his first all-new Packard with V-8 engine rated up to 260 h.p., wraparound windshields, and a new electrically controlled torsion-bar suspension that takes most of the bumps out of rough roads. The eight restyled models come in 17 single-tone colors and 36 two-tone combinations. Still to be shown: Packard’s super convertible Caribbean, which will pack the most horsepower (275) of any standard model on the road.

¶American Motors’ new Hudsons, completely restyled, have wraparound windshields and bumpers, a new V-8 engine (made by Packard) with as much as 208 h.p. They are a shade longer than last year’s slow-selling models, and resemble the 1955 Nash also brought out last week.

¶Kaiser-Willys announced two new models, with seven inches more in length and $300 to $400 less in price than last year’s models: the Bermuda, a two-door hardtop replacing the Eagle, has a factory list price of $1,795; the Custom, replacing the Ace, has a list price of $1,725.