Any
discussions about Packards and me must include my dad and uncle.
They were partners in a farm machinery business and both had huge
appreciations of machinery. A lively, friendly discussion often
occurred concerning the style and quality of automobiles.
Now,
my dad and mom drove very fine black Buick Roadmasters. I remember
a ’46 and the ’48 that I learned to drive. Later a ’58
joined the family.
But,
those Packards of my uncle! His wife did not drive. So, his black
22nd Series was beautiful to him and me. I know you will not believe
this, but a black Packard is blacker than a black Buick. My uncle
had no sons. So there I was ready to fill that bill! At a very young
age, I was permitted to drive his luxurious Packard down a short
private path to the business “filling station”. Fill
the car with ethyl – when it stops whistling, stop filling!”,
were my orders, and I would never do it wrong.
My
dad, having me for a son, would not consider the possibility of
me driving his Buick – neither would my mother. Boy, did I
really love Packards!
My
uncle later had a 26th Series sedan I enjoyed. Then in early ’57,
he bought a new Buick. (Just kidding) – he bought a new ’56
Cadillac. The ’56 survived unused many years in my aunt’s
garage after my uncle’s death in 1960.
A
Little Background and History of the Post War Clipper
Excerpted
from ConceptCarz.com
When
automobile production began, Packard decided to only produce the
Clipper Series and abandon the other model lines. For 1946 Packard
produced the Clipper Six 2100 and 2103, Super Clipper 2103, and
the Custom Super Clipper 2106. The Super Eight and Custom convertibles
were added in 1947. In 1949, Packard introduced the 23rd Series
Eight and Deluxe Eight.
The
Clippers were very unique and innovative for their time. They featured
an alarm on the gas tank that would whistled as the fuel was pumped,
stopping only when the tank was full. The running boards and door
hinges were concealed adding to the smooth appearance of the body.
The Clipper Series were also very wide. This not only gave passengers
extra interior room but it gave the vehicle stability at speed around
the corners. The width was a foot wider than it was tall making
it the widest vehicle in production at the time.
For
1948, the Clipper name no longer appeared on the Packards; the models
were now known as the Eight Series in Standard, Deluxe, Super and
Custom. Within these groups, there were standard wheelbases, long
wheelbases which were mostly reserved for limousines. The standard/deluxe
eight-cylinder engine was an L-¬head unit with cast-iron block
and displaced 288 cubic-inches. Horsepower measured 130. The super
eight had 327 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine and it produced 145
horsepower. The most powerful engine in the Packard lineup for 1948
was the Custom Eight L-head engine which had a 356 cubic-inch displacement
and 160 horsepower. The Custom Eight was Packard's luxury line which
required this powerful engine to carry its rather large and luxurious
body. The rear wheels were given standard fender skirts, giving
the car a clean and graceful line from front to rear. The front
had an eggcrate-style grille insert design with a vertical cormorant
or pelican mascot adorning the front of the hood. The price range
in this category began at $3700 and escalated to nearly $4900 for
the 4-door Limousine.
The
Super Eight sat in between the Standard/Deluxe and the Custom Eight,
offering excellent performance and style at a reasonable price.
The
Eight Series, with names such as Deluxe, Standard, and Custom would
adorn the Packards for many years. Packard had one of the more unique
naming schemes for an American car company, with each year representing
a new Series and did not follow a model year changeover system.
of Oregon
