Packard always marched to the beat of their own drummer. In 1947, that technique was still working, and this 1947 Clipper Deluxe Club Sedan is a prime example. It’s listed for sale here on Facebook Marketplace and is located in Waupun, Wisconsin. We know it runs because the first picture in the ad is a video showing it moving under its own power. More about the video later. The seller is looking for an optimistic $12,500 for the Packard. Thanks to Lothar for letting us know about this cool find!
I reviewed a lot of period Packard ads researching this post, and I’m struck by the tone they *all* take. Basically, Packard had used the “ask the man who owns one” slogan since 1901 when a catalog was requested from the factory. Packard ads were very sentimental, and this 1947 ad for the Clipper Deluxe actually spelled that out. The company certainly appealed to emotions rather than dazzling one with facts. While I was researching, I noticed none of the ads showed the two-door Clipper Deluxe, and that was for a good reason. When I researched production numbers, even though the Clipper Deluxe was the most popular Packard model line in 1947 with 23,855 produced, only 621 of those were the two-door fastback Club Sedan body style. So there can’t be many of these straight-eight-powered cars left!
Let’s look at this particular car a little further. I can’t see any significant rust in the few exterior pictures, although it’s plenty dirty. There’s some missing trim on that front corner, and the chrome plating leaves a lot to be desired in spots. And while it is a plus that the car runs and moves, to me, the video sounds like there’s either a severe rod knock or an exhaust blow at the head/manifold interface. Obviously the first one would be worse than the other! As the seller says, “At the intersection of rarity and desirability falls the subjective value. The value of this 1947 Packard is up to you, the buyer. Please make offers.” At least it appears they are open to lower offers, right?
I *think* the black rectangle on the driver’s side of the grille isn’t a break; it’s a piece of tape or something similar. I hope I’m right, because finding a replacement grille would be difficult. The poor state of the chrome plating is evident, however, by the peeling on the front bumper. The tan paint really doesn’t help when evaluating the body condition from these pictures.
The seller does a great job of including undercar photos, and what I can see confirms the ad’s statement of “surface rust on the frame only”. The seller also tells us that they have installed a new fuel tank, fuel lines, a rebuilt master cylinder, and a new battery. I’m a little worried about the brake system, though, as even though the master cylinder has been rebuilt, the seller specifies that more brake work will be needed. So I’m left in a bit of a quandary: does the engine noise disqualify this car from your want list, or would you be willing to take on whatever that fix is to own one of only 621 1947 Clipper Deluxe Club Sedans? Let us know in the comments below.
Tough to sell for what it’s going to cost to restore. GLWTS.
Picture this car in the metallic blue like the car in the sales brochure, definitely a beauty. Maybe with light grey mohair interior…?
Waupun, you say? When I was a kid, Waupun was the only maximum security prison we knew of. Didn’t want to end up in Waupun, the old man would say.
The car? Out with the old, in with the new, and probably just as well. Don’t have to go radical, just a simple V8 would do, or that RAM 3.0 CHAIN DRIVE DOHC, twin turbo in line 6, THAT’S a step in the right direction. I know it’s new, but winter is coming and the inevitable pileups, should be plenty to choose from. Not that the straight 8 was a bad motor,,for 1947, this car is retro enough looking, but needs updating for any appeal. Packards were some of the best engineered cars, thanks, in part to their war efforts, but as the years drift by, fewer people will know that.
And it’s “Ask the PERSON that owns one” for today, amazing how that “man” thing was really centered around men, and womens views on those issues didn’t matter. We’ve come a long ways in that regard, thank goodness.
Agreed on the “PERSON” comment, Howard, it’s good to hear from you!
In the early ’90s Suzuki Auto used “Ask anyone who owns one.”
Since this was pre-Daewoo and they were only selling real Japanese- and Canadian-built Suzukis it was a moderately successful one for them, if unoriginal.
Cummins 12 valve 6BT, offering easy coal rolling updates…..
If you’re so hep on the new, why not just buy a new “Ram”, with a whiz-bang DOHC whatever, and let someone who can appreciate the smooth straight eight buy the Packard?
Even in this state, the ’47 is so much prettier than the ’48. That does sound like a lot for the condition, though.
I like Packards, but this one doesnt appeal to me. I see why they did not make many of this body-style. It looks shabby as is and it needs mechanical work, besides. The colour is unappealing also. The price is too high for what it is and what it still needs, in order to be reliable and presentable.
ugly car but looks solid. good luck on the 12k.
Facebook listing calls it a Plymouth!
What’s with this seller?
I prefer the front view of my ’49 Packard.
He should accept a solid 6K and be happy he got it.
I see about 60K worth of Restoration at the outside.
It simply amazes me that the folks who sell these projects think they should get a bar of Gold for whatever is sitting in a barn or shed for decades.
They’re probably selling it after they realized with the few repairs they HAVE done they can’t afford to restore it themselves. .
Mercedes copied the side profile view of this gem for their high end sedans from the 2015s. Anyone else?
As much as I like Packards, this car is way over-priced. Why, if it was only some body and paint and chrome and maybe interior its still high. But when you have an engine issue that aint cheap. Possably if the owner is flexable and takes a few thousand off ok! I would keep this car all original if possable because there aren’t that many around.Packard had great engineering, i.e. they built v-12 engines for the PT BOATS and for some of the P-51 fighters!
Sounds like a sewing machine/thrashing machine. Needs 15K worth of body and paint work, plus bumper and grille rechroming. Ambitious ask, won’t sell for that price.
That price is a bargain, where are you going to find another one, rare two door.
The luxury of all room under the hood is a dream for any repair or replacement.
Even the Lady owned models labeled the dash assy: CIGAR LIGHTER