“America’s newest glamour car is this dream-lined beauty,” so opines the 1954 Packard Clipper “Panama” sales brochure. It’s a powerful but safe statement at the same time. And since I’ve covered a couple of Packards as of late (a 1937 Packard convertible and a 1938 Packard coupe), a marque that generates many comments, it seems appropriate to cover this late-in-the-game model from what was arguably, at one time, America’s finest automobile manufacturer. We can thank Curvette for this Seattle, Washington discovery, and you can read all about it here on craigslist where it’s available for $26,000.

The year 1954 saw Packard’s acquisition of Studebaker and the formation of the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. This lash-up was, unfortunately, on borrowed time, at least as far as auto manufacturing was concerned. Studebaker automobiles would live on until 1966, but by 1958, the last Packard-branded model, really a rebadged Studebaker, would roll off the South Bend assembly line while Packard would roll on to veneration. Packard had used the “Clipper” model name off and on over the years, and by 1954, it represented their entry-level lineup. Body styles included this “Panama” two-door hardtop as well as two and four-door sedans, covering three trim levels: Super, Deluxe, and Special. Our Panama hardtop is one of only 3,600 assembled in ’54 – pretty uncommon! The seller refers to it as a well-kept automobile, acquired in 2022, but doesn’t offer any backstory regarding originality or brushes with restoration. This car shows as perfect, almost too perfect to be original, but I suppose that could be the case for this reported 75 K-mile specimen. The finish, chrome, trim, all of it is like new and totally representative of its era. The only noted detraction is a cracked passenger-side window.

By 1955, Packard followed suit with the rest of the domestic auto manufacturers by offering a modern V8 engine, but in 1954, the old-fashioned, 165 gross HP, 327 CI, inline, flathead eight-cylinder engine was still the prescribed powerplant. The seller adds, “Drives smoothly and is a joy to take on road trips.”  Also mentioned is the inclusion of a new fuel tank, master cylinder, and brake booster. An “Ultramatic” automatic transmission handles gear changes.

Get a load of that interior! It’s a fabulous contrast of red and black vinyl door panels and seats upholstered with a red vinyl and black “rush” fabric material. The eyeball appeal continues with that instrument panel and its substantial, center-mounted chrome-plated speaker grille – it’s a work of art in a restrained sort of way. Beyond that, it’s the overall environment’s condition; it actually belies a car of this age and mileage – note the carpet in particular, I’d suggest that it has seen limited use.

What’s not to like? If you’re a Packard aficionado, you would be hard-pressed to improve upon this ’54 Clipper. Sure, it’s not one of the more exalted Packard models, but it’s a beautiful representative of this venerable marque in its sunset years. I like it; how about you?