The 1954 model year was the last for Packard as a standalone motor car company. That was the period when they would merge with Studebaker to keep both brands relevant. The Pacific would be a one-year wonder in that the luxurious hardtop was only offered for one season under that name. This red and black beauty was in dry storage for 35 years and has been nursed back to the excellent condition it’s in today. Located in Coeur d’Alene, Washington, this homage to days go by is available here on craigslist for $28,500.
Pacifics were not all new cars, just the name. Their predecessors were called the Mayfair and they, too, were limited to a single body style, a 2-door without pillars. This is because Cadillac, Buick, and Imperial were having great success in selling cars with this configuration. The single-season Pacific also had a one-year motor, the 359 cubic-inch “Thunderbolt” straight-engine that produced 212 hp. When the car was rebranded again in 1955 with new sheet metal, it was called the Four Hundred and would get a V8 engine. The Pacific used a shorter wheelbase (122 inches) than the rest of the Packard senior products. Production was limited to just 1,189 examples, so the seller’s car is a rare find today.
We’re told this Packard was sold new in Spokane and then moved east, remaining in Washington State its entire life (so far). Except for an older (but gorgeous) repaint, this Pacific would be a terrific survivor. Three years ago, it was rescued from storage where it had been since around 1984. The seller, who is the car’s third owner, has spent considerable time and dollars whipping it back into shape, which includes a long list of new parts and services. That includes the fuel system, carburetor, manifold gaskets, cooling system and radiator, and everything braking-related.
Other than carpeting, the interior components are still original, and the passenger compartment looks just as tidy as the body, paint, and brightwork. This comes across as a freshly restored automobile, yet it is not. The tires are also new, and undone work is mentioned, so we assume the Packard is now turnkey and ready for its next adventure. It’s a shame that the Studebaker-Packard union didn’t pan out. The last Packard cars, which were rebadged Studes, disappeared after 1957-58.
Drop Dead Gorgeous car.
And here I always thought Tri-Fives were cool. This is beyond cool. One beautiful car. And the straight-eight? What’s not to love here? And proceeded the Chevys by a year. How did Packard ever go under producing cars like this?
Well they were expensive, so they had limited sales compared to Fords and Chevies , and by 1954 straight 8s were looked upon as archaic compared to the V8s that Caddy and Lincoln had at the same time .I’m guessing these hurt Packards sales.
It is a sharp car, and the 55 -56 Packards were real beauties ; maybe if Studebaker changed the styling of the Packard a bit from the 56 to the 57 model year they would have done well – certainly better than the 57s that they came out with !
….and sold.
This is a perfect car, it has style, it is not a four door all it needs is an engine. Perhaps a nicely detail Packard V8, or a Buick Nailhead; anything but a SBC. I hope the new wner does not screw this up.
Why not keep the original straight-eight? If it was good enough for 1954 is it not good enough for 2022?
…and you will never find a smoother engine.
If the new owner doesn’t want to screw this car up, they will leave it alone. That means the appropriate Thunderbolt remains in its rightful place. 212hp was really nothing to sneeze at in 1954.
+1.
IIRC, Chrysler led the horsepower race in 1954 with their 235 Hp New Yorker. Packard’s 212 Hp from a flathead straight 8 wasn’t too shabby.
I know this is a truly long shot, but was there any aftermarket upgrades for the straight 8 back in the day?I would do a mild rod maybe lake pipes. (Lake pipe?) Something from ’57 or ’58/
Wolf whistles were a popular upgrade back in the day!
Kim,
By 1954, the Packard straight 8 was petty much at it’s zenith. It now had a 4 barrel carb, higher compression, along with an aluminum head. As it’s a L-head originally designed for smoothness over speed, it really couldn’t compete with the “big 3’s” modern V8 engines.
I suppose one might be able to coax a few more HP by designing a set of headers that would also support a better flowing intake manifold [the 2 manifolds depend on each other for support & connections to the block].
I remember seeing a turbocharged 1952[?] Packard eight at the Packard Club National meet in Warren, Ohio, a few years ago. And here is info on a Packard 327 equipped with a supercharger and 4 carbs!
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/classic-cars/a27033329/supercharged-straight-8-engine-sound/
Not sure where this car is, but Coeur d’Alene is in Idaho. This beautiful car also has Idaho plates – “K” showing for Kootenai County, Idaho. Don’t want another State co-opting one of Idaho’s most scenic cities – or cars.
Coeur d’Alene is in Idaho not Washington just a little bit across the border from Washington
I had a 53 model 300 in powder blue with maroon leather interior. Loved that car. I was into Chryslers at the time , but could not resist buying this one. It was on the Buick lot as a trade in. One owner, needed a new top.
Interesting in that some of these in line eights came with a four barrel carb.
Buick had the first factory 4 bbl on the 1952 Roadmaster-320 ci straight eight.
Coeur d’Alene is in Idaho.
Beautiful car.
The Packards in 55 and 56 were Packard’s last shot at putting out a car that could actually compete with Cadillac the way that the original Packards did way back. They exuded wealth, class, luxury, and had they not been in such financial trouble, they could have survived and made a huge comeback. Unfortunately the merger, poor management, and other errors took one of the finest automobiles and brought it down to crap in the end. They had a good run, but somebody really screwed up big time and we will never again have a Packard like those of the past.