World War II was a life changer in so many ways, not the least of which was separating well-run automakers with an instinct for the right decision-making from their mediocre peers with a ton of “try” but not much else. Packard, unfortunately, fell into the latter camp. The Packard Clipper was an astounding car, designed by Dutch Darrin. Dutch had his own shop on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. He was making spectacular cars from existing models and selling to the likes of Clark Gable when Packard enticed him aboard. Packard needed a new model in a hurry to foil falling sales. Darrin heavily influenced the Clipper’s Art Deco design- a complete departure from prior Packard models. The first Clipper was sold in 1941. Production ran into 1942, but then: no more Clippers. Once the war ended, Packard recommenced Clipper production for 1946 and 1947, but it was frantic to capture more market share. Instead of leveraging the gorgeous modern body style that could have sold luxury so well to post-war America, Packard moved down-market with its other models to the bulbous body styling made ubiquitous by Ford and others. This miscalculation wrecked its reputation. The company eventually merged out of existence. Here on eBay is a 1947 Packard Custom Super Clipper – the pinnacle of Packard style – listed at $4,500. This project car is located in Dallas, Texas, and the seller actually did find it in a barn. We have T.J. to thank for this tip!
This is a Custom Super Clipper, which is equipped with a 356 cu. in. straight-eight, Packard’s top-of-the-line engine, coupled with a Carter carburetor. The transmission is a three-speed manual with overdrive. Horsepower was about 165 for this combination; these cars can cruise comfortably at 70 mph. The seller indicates that the motor does turn. The Custom Super Clipper had a whopping 127″ wheelbase, seven inches longer than the standard Clipper.
The interior shows every sign of the original swanky style that every Packard was born with. You can’t see it in this picture but the seat backs are plaid. Check the seller’s website for some 90 more photos. Note that three or four items are missing from the car and its coterie of parts – a gas door, the hood ornament, and trunk trim.
The underside is dry if dirty, bespeaking decent storage. The seller indicates there are only a couple rust spots, and I see no collision damage. The seller provides original documents with the car including a service manual. The car apparently has only 60,000 miles, but it will still need a complete restoration. Beautiful as it is, do you think it deserves the bucks it will take?
Looks like Packard copied every exterior panel and dashboard design Chevy and Ford ever put out in the late ’40s. Plain and oddly shaped looking to me. If you are a Packard fan at least it’s solid if you want to restore it.
Bob,
Since this is basically the same body and dashboard dating back to 1941, perhaps it was Chevy and Ford who copied Packard.
And for everyone; this is a fairly rare top-of-the-line Packard sedan, only the LWB cars built by Henney were more expensive. It has one of the finest production engines of the time; the 9-main bearing 356 straight eight. These run so smoothly it’s easy to balance a nickel on it’s edge as the engine idles.
Also of note: The Packard Custom and Custom Super sedans 1946-49 were the only production cars to have the headliner ribs run from the windshield to the back window. Sitting in the back seat, if you look up the effect is as if you are in a much longer car.
If everything is as the seller describes, this is not a bad deal at $4,500. All mechanical parts are available, and probably 90% of trim parts are available as well. The big expenses will be in paint and interior, as the seats & panels are all 100% wool broadcloth in a special square pattern, and the lower trim panels [darker areas] are leather. The carpets are probably the only items one will have a hard time finding, they are like no other carpets, even today, and are sooooo soft you want to take your socks & shoes off to enjoy the feeling. They were called “Mosstread” for good reason.
These are beautiful classics, but this one is just so neglected and deteriorated, one would have to figure on at least $30k to do it justice.
. . . neglected, maybe . . . but from pix, not that deteriorated. Rub down and respray in a deep 50s maroon, find a good upholsterer to use his talent inside plus a little engine work – Bob’s yer relation!
A relative had one of these abandoned on his lot. We were able to title it and get it running..It had way to much body rust for us so we sent it on. Anyone out there know what happened to it? 47 Super Clipper San Diego Ca area.