[Lee Stewart]

Packard offered air conditioning on its cars in 1940-42, but the system was very costly and grossly inefficient; it also took up the entire trunk space.

Nash overcame such hurdles, helped by being sister company to the refrigerator manufacturer Kelvinator.

Using that firm's know-how Nash was first to offer an affordable and practical fully integrated heating, ventilation and air conditioning system from the 1954 model year, in its Ambassador.