- Seller: Nimal S
- Location: Miami, Florida
- Mileage: 57,345 Shown
- Chassis #: 269224314
- Title Status: Clean
UPDATE – There was a miscommunication with the seller, they meant to run the auction with a reserve. Our apologies for the mix-up.
This 1953 Packard Clipper, titled as a 1954, has been in the same family since new, but the original owner’s grandson has realized that it’s time to let it go to someone who can finish and appreciate it. It is said to currently run and drive, but it’s going to need lots of work before being ready to enjoy. In hopes of finding a good home for it, it’s being offered here as a BF Auction! It’s located in Miami, Florida and has a clean title.
Packard had a long history of building high-quality automobiles, but by the 1950s, they were struggling to compete with cheaper vehicles from Ford and Chevrolet, so it was decided that they needed a mid-range vehicle that could appeal to a broader audience. Packard leadership originally planned on selling the Clipper as its own brand, as they wanted to keep the Packard image as being higher-end, but dealer push-back meant that the Clipper would go on to wear the Packard badge. Styling was in line with what was popular in the early ’50s, but if you park a Clipper next to an equivalent year of Chevy or Ford you will notice the differences in construction techniques and quality that made the Packards stand out.
While most American manufacturers were offering V8s by the early ’50s, Packard was still using inline-8s, although a V8 would make an appearance in ’55. The seller isn’t sure which engine is in this Clipper, you could get either a 288 or 327 cui inline-8. Both options provided a healthy amount of power and ran smoothly. According to the factory records, this car started life with the 288, so chances are that is what we have here. The records also show that the car had an MSRP of $2,588, which is about $30,00 in today’s money. That might seem reasonable considering what that will buy you know, but a similar equipped Ford Customline would have cost you about $1,700 and a Buick Special was around $1,900.
The interior is currently housing all the trim pieces that were removed by the seller’s father. It appears the elements haven’t been kind to the interior. Since Packards weren’t ever built in large numbers, parts can be hard to come by. This puts this and any needed Clipper in a tough spot. Given the condition of this one, it might be best served as a parts donor. A set of new rims is included with the car, which could be used here or on another Clipper.
Restoring this Packard won’t be a simple task, but not impossible. Given that it’s being offered without a reserve, it is worth considering as a project to learn on or as a parts donor for another Packard. The seller states that this car made an appearance in the movie White Christmas, if any of you recognize it, let us know below. It doesn’t add value, but it could be an interesting part of the car’s history to research. If you have any questions for the seller, please leave them in the comments.
Bid On This Auction
CosmicAdams bid $125.00 2024-02-15 16:55:40
Looks like a lot of gray primer, inside and out! Not the greatest preservative in a coastal beach area. Great entry-level vehicle for someone new to the hobby, but be sure to have your finances in order when it comes to finishing for paint, upholstery and trim items.
Hey there! It was actually up in the Tampa area where my father resisted prior to my decision to drive it down to my own house down in Miami. He had painted in with primer before his death in hope of preserving it from rust. Sadly, he wasn’t able to get to it. And unfortunately, now in my hands, I need the cash.
Sorry but primer doesn’t stop rust, only paint can slow it.
How much are you wanting my Dad is interested in it?
It has all trim, nothing missing.
The missing grille center section made me think the car was a Panhard Dyna when I first saw the ad.
scrap metal
Nah, it’s defiantly worth every penny! It has history, and its functional, need a little love to come back to life.
What a terrible attitude to have, every car deserves a second chance
A Rare find today ! My father owned a ’53 Packard back in 1960 , and as you can see from the photos , these cars are huge and quite heavy . Common problems with these cars were : Brake fade , especially on longer hills . Another problem was 6 – volt batteries and starting systems . Unlike today’s 12 volt systems , the six volt , 100 amp batteries would tend to drain faster . The biggest issue with Packards was fuel consumption . My father’s Packard only got 11 m.p.g. ! They were not thinking about ” economy ” when they built these luxury sedans . As for this existing 1953 Packard , it’s pretty much up to the buyer if they are willing to fully restore it or salvage what’s left of any good parts . Somebody , may want it !! Happy Motoring !
Wow! What a great story Mark. Really glad you shared.
I like the car itself. The styling and shape are lovely, and it is all there but NO. You only need to see it among banana trees and you know the humidity level of where it has lived. Florida humidity and salt air is not kind to cars. Not even the frame is salvageable. I’d look for an incomplete Arizona/Texas/California car and use this as a donor.
The car was actually from North Florida before I drove it down myself a week ago.
Are these photos from after the drive or before? It truly does not look road worthy in any photo. Not dismissing that it ran, drove, stopped and didn’t lose any parts along the way. Just not seeing a safe, roadworthy car in these pictures. Also, if it appeared in White Christmas it would have been less than a year old when the movie was filmed….if this is the exact car that adds a little bit of intrigue to the vehicle. Love that movie.
Rusted top and frame and grill and bumpers and floors……I hate to bust any bubbles here but AT BEST there may be a few parts that could be saved for another car to use. Scrap price is about all this one MIGHT bring.
I think this is a good car to make it safe and put it back together then just drive it the way it is. You could have a fun driver for just a few grand it’s just not going to be pretty. You’d have the only one everywhere you went.
I love Packards they’re fun to drive but they’re worthless and rarely worth the cost of restoration when done.
The grille will cost as much as a high end scooter. A very nice sedan can be had far cheaper than the restoration costs on this fella. It needs a white five gallon bucket cut in half and then mount the two sides somewhat crooked in that grille and give him some Mater teeth….
The car is so rusted it’s developing its own sunroof. Not to mention its version of “flow-through ventilation”. I agree with others here, I’d use it as a donor car, to use its mechanicals in a non-runner of better condition.. I don’t see any of that body sheet metal as restorable.
The set of rims themselves coast $275 each, you can look them up online with a total value of $1000+ I will include that with the car for highest bidder closest to my reserve
Will you get in contact with me please.
This is a basic Clipper sedan with 3 options: Ultramatic Drive, radio and heater. Very nice examples can be had between $6,000 and $10,000. The extensive rust problems relegate it to “parts car” status. For someone restoring a 1951-54 Clipper, it’s got plenty of good mechanical pieces. In the write-up it suggests there were 2 engine choices, the 288 and the 327. This car was available with the 288 only, if one wanted a 327, they bought the Clipper Deluxe.
As to Packard parts; When the Packard ceased production, many Packard dealers continued to service the cars, and didn’t send the parts for scrap, and therefore finding parts is not that difficult, with almost any mechanical part being available either as NOS or aftermarket. Most trim parts can be sourced, but things like a very good front grill assembly will cost as much as the entire car. [I used to sell Packard parts until retiring in 2016.]
Nimal, The chrome rims look beautiful, but no post-war Packards were sold with chromed steel rims, and few people restoring a Clipper will want them. I would suggest you offer the rims by themselves, as they fit various “junior series” postwar Packards up thru 1956, and there are quite a few customized Packards that these would look good on.
If someone is restoring a similar Clipper and needs a good parts car, then the $1k asking price is reasonable, but shipping costs can quickly erode the car’s value, and as with all parts cars, one needs to have the space to store it!
When it comes to family cars that are beyond saving due to the huge amount of work required, sometimes it is more important to family members to know the car is going to a new owner who will put the remaining parts to good use.
Are you kidding me .holy moly ,you probably end up paying to have someone haul it off.wow !!
Are you kidding me .holy moly ,you probably end up paying to have someone haul it off.wow !!