Dignified to the almost end! That’s one way that I would characterize this 1955 Packard Clipper Constellation. Sure, its two-tone appearance and endless feet of stainless trim are reminiscent of many ’50s models but this car is a Packard. And in three short years, it would be gone, finally reduced to a single version of what was really a Studebaker. So sad, but the auto business is a big-time capitalist enterprise and you either sink or swim on your collective merits. Looking original and untouched, this Packard is located in Elkhorn, Nebraska and is available here on craigslist for $27,950. T.J. gets a nod and a wink for this discovery!
In 1955, Packard was still relying on a popular, smaller, model, known as the Clipper in an attempt to stay relevant in an industry that continued to consolidate as a means of survival against the Big Three. The Clipper’s primary size difference was its 122″ wheelbase as opposed to the 127″ stretch found under the Patrician, Four Hundred, and the Caribbean models. Clipper sub-models like the Constellation (such as our subject car), Custom, Super, Panama and Deluxe abounded too but all relied on either a two-door hardtop or four-door sedan body style, depending on the trim level. Packard came in fourteenth place in the 1955 U.S. production contest with 44K units as compared to number one Chevrolet which rang up a total of 1.7 M copies. Things would only get worse until the end of the line was reached in 1958.
Our subject car looks great! Is it a survivor? it could be but little is said about its past other than it’s “one of a kind” whatever that means. From what can be seen, the two-tone charcoal gray (?) and white finish is still deep and nicely shines, there’s no sign of rust or obvious crash damage. Certainly, not a shrinking violet from an appearance perspective, the extensive stainless trim looks to all be in place and where it belongs. The Kelsey Hayes wire wheels are a nice touch though it’s not stated if they are original or replacements (I guess it doesn’t really matter).
Under the hood is a 245 gross HP, 352 CI V8 engine driving an automatic transmission. The seller advises that this car “cruises coast to coast with v8 ease“. The odometer reading is 52,500 but it’s not suggested that it’s authentic. There is quite a bit of handwritten documentation included, however, and if it’s dated, it may provide some mileage insight.
Other than this image of the spectacular instrument panel, there’s nothing more on the interior – a real faux pas! It should be a two-tone, vertical seamed affair playing off of the black and white exterior hue – should be. Anyway, the instrument panel is as impressive as they get and shows no sign of clouded or missing gauges. Each piece of switch gear still has an amazing, non-corroded and brilliant appearance – and that includes the instrument panel overlay. While not shown inside, this Packard is stated as being air-conditioned and there is a Sanden-style compressor visible under the hood.
I encounter these late production Packards from time to time and this is certainly one of the best examples yet. If I wanted to take the Packard plunge, this would be the one, I don’t think you could go wrong, wouldn’t you agree?
I can’t remember when I’ve seen such a nicely optioned Clipper. Love it!
I believe this is the most beautiful Packard of the post-WW2 era!
Man…those D-rive, L-ow, R-everse transmission shifters. Can’t even imagine how many bad drive to reverse shifts it took before engineers said “I wonder if we should do a better job of separating the forward and reverse gears”
That said, beautiful car. Love the “panda” color scheme
My ’61 Rambler American was set up that way. I kinda liked that you didn’t have to think about it when reversing out of a parking spot. You just grabbed the lever and pulled it all the way down.
That’s not unique for transmissions of those days, as the ubiquitous HydraMatic had reverse “down low” too. This was Packard’s own transmission though.
Probably came in handy when you got stuck in the snow and had to rock the car.
You didn’t grow up with an old (pre-58) Powerglide–PNDLR! That’s what I grew up with, so I was used to it. It didn’t take that long to learn to make it PRNDL on later cars. I also collected older Buicks for many years, so I always had to remember what car is was in since a Dynaflow was also PNDLR. I believe that in the 60s there was a safety ruling that all automatics had to be uniform. The last PNDLR I know of was the 65 Cad Ser.75 which still used the old 4spd Hydramatic.
Gone as of 3:17 EST on 7/19/22.
I am not the least bit surprised. Beautiful well kept Packard!
The last Packards were badge-engineered Studebakers (Packardbakers). An inglorious end to a once glorious make.
You just don’t see this model Packard in this condition very often. Yeah, I bet it’s already gone. What an absolute beauty! Great find.
I am sure it is probably gone. This is a car, I wouldn’t ever even think about ,until I see it. Then it is like being hit over the head with a sledge hammer, and I am absolutley in Love, or lust. I start dreaming abou owning a car like this.
There are some later changes to the car, most are improvements.
1. Wiper electric motor is from the 1957 Chevy Belair, however for some reason the control cable isn’t hooked up so it can be turned on. This swap is easy to do, only 2 screws to hold the motor in place, and attach the cable.
2. Air cleaner is from the Senior car range. The original should be round. They are not interchangeable, as the Clipper Custom used a Carter 4 bbl carb and the Senior cars used a Rochester 4 bbl carb. So either the carb is a Rochester, or changes were made to the air cleaner to carb flange.
3. Yes car has A/C, but not factory in-dash unit. In checking the dash switches, where the Cig Liter knob was located when it left the factory, the correct Packard switch marked Air Con is there. When the car didn’t come with A/C, there was a space between the Cig Liter and the left radio knob. There is now a knob in that location, but the photo doesn’t show it clearly, so I assume it’s the new location for the Cig Liter.
As for the wire wheels, Yes, they were available, but only a few Clippers left the factory with them, and they were painted silver, NOT chromed rims & spokes. Since the center hub bolt holes are different between the Clippers and the Senior cars, I suspect these are either reproduction wheels for the Senior cars, with the change over to the larger brake drums, or they are chromed aftermarket wheels for the Clipper hubs, and use the Senior Packard center caps.
Packard outdid themselves with the curving side trim and 2-tone paint offering for 1955 Clipper hardtops. At first the Clipper sedans used a straight piece of trim to continue the horizontal line from the fender into the door, but when the public saw how great that lower curve looked on the Panama and Constellation hardtops, Packard quickly eliminated that straight piece of trim and added the curved example as seen here.
If this Clipper Constellation runs and drives as good as it looks, that was a very good price, no wonder it’s already gone.
Here is a rare photo of the early Clipper sedan side trim.
There’s nothing like driving to a show or a Saturday morning cars and coffee in any Packard! Imagine the envy you would instill in the hearts of the Tri Five Chevy guys rolling up in this one!
However, it’s really sad that many people now in the old car hobby don’t know what a Packard is….
My Dad was a Packard man. His last one was a 1956 Black 2-door hardtop Packard Clipper Deluxe. air ride levels and push button transmission. wow what a car I was 11 he also bought mom a 1957 Golden super charged Hawk. I wish i had both them cars today.