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Why Packards?


By Wade Miller

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.