This two-owner 1957 Packard Clipper Wagon is a supercharged version and it sure would be a show-stopper. It’s on Craigslist with an asking price of $12,500 in cash, but bring cash and the seller may take a reasonable offer. It’s located way up north (in my best Justin Wilson the Cajun Cook voice) in Shreveport, Louisiana. Thanks to Eric Hare for sending in this find!
I’m not sure why the seller didn’t take photos of the entire car when it was outside. That first photo is the only decent one of the bunch, that’s really unfortunate, this car deserves better and it sure would have helped make that asking price seem more palatable. But, for anyone who knows about the 1957 and 1958 Packardbakers, this is one worth restoring. It looks like a solid car and hopefully it can be saved and restored back to its original glory. The wagon is certainly rare with supposedly only 869 of them made in 1957.
With the end of Packard coming in the summer of 1956, for 1957, Packard Clippers were rebadged Studebaker-Packard Presidents. While they weren’t Packards, they were very nice Studebakers, according to reports of the time. Here is a restored 1957 Packard Clipper wagon that was sold by Barrett-Jackson in 2013 for $47,300. That’s a good price, but $35,000 in restoration on this car for sale here wouldn’t give you anything near that quality unless you did most of the work yourself.
The next owner will spend a decent chunk of that $35,000 on the interior alone, not counting any work on the floors or other adjacent body rust. And, then there’s the drivetrain to do. This car has a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive, which seems like an usual configuration for what had to be considered a luxury car. Packard dealers weren’t pleased with this car and many of them dropped the line after it was introduced, saying that it was far too similar to the Studebaker.
Here’s what this car is all about, a McCulloch supercharged Studebaker 289 V8 that pumped out 275 hp! That’s a lot of horsepower even today so for 1957 it had to be great. The “Studebaker”/Packard Clipper for 1957 was lighter than the previous model was which helped to make these cars seem even more powerful. Of course, everything on this Clipper Wagon will need to be restored, right down to the last nut and bolt. I think this is a very worthwhile candidate for a full restoration given it’s rarity and it’s unusual place in the history of both Packard and Studebaker. Not to mention being a wagon with a 3-speed manual and being supercharged.
That is a really cool car, it is the definition of unusual. Even though it’s rough, it still exists. I hope it gets the attention it deserves.
Steve R
cool, those stude V8s can handle lots of boost. I like it!
First class car, even if it was Studebaker based. The BJ auction car looks awesome – if it was only a couple of feet longer I think it would have brought the regalness back that the Packard name deserved. Still not bad for working with what you have.
I like it but $12.5K is a bit much since it needs at least $20+K to restore-paint-upholster-tires, etc.
Okay. I looked at it again. $25+K to restore.
It won’t stop at 25k. It will cost a couple k to rebuild the supercharger. I have never seen one of these with a manual transmission.
If you can restore this car for $25,000 it’s a bargain, George! Did you click on that link showing the one that sold at auction for $47,300 back in 2013? Any restorer would dream about totally restoring a car and still making several thousand in profits.
You could have your own Secret Service detail standing on the rear bumper one hand on the luggage rack. That’s the new status symbol if you are a high ranking government official.
Sam, If that was meant for me–I am was once an Assistant Attorney General if you could call that h-r-govt official, but I at best would have been the guy with one foot on the bumper & my hand hanging onto the luggage rack.
Is it possible to out-fin the ’57 Chevy? Looks like we got a candidate here.
Mike look at a 59 Buick that is what FIN’S were all about!!!
Very rare, a few supercharged hard tops etc, But I bet very very few in a wagon.
All 57 Packards were supercharged unless you ordered A/C
This would make a nice Chip Foose project, dark color paint, tinted windows, monster back tires up under the wells, plenty of room inside for a nice sound system with plenty of speakers, etc. I can just see it featured on TV!
Keep Chip Fooses grimy hands off this…..he screws up every thing he touches.
Agree. Keep Foose away crom this gem.
Foose is a talented guy; his artwork is great [I have a few of his prints] but I’m just not a fan of his actual work. I prefer restoration/preservation as opposed to customization. Hands off this wagon, Foose!
yeah me too Chip Foose is, well I’ll leave this politically correct. He can draw but that’s about it. But I wouldn’t restore it. I’d pay 10 and throw 10 g’s at it and call it good. Anyone that thinks they can restore any car and make money lives in LaLa land.
The ad says “will run.” That could be a very long ways from “does run.” Shouldn’t there be a drive belt on the supercharger? It looks like the pulley is bare.
This has been for sale for at least a year and the ads originally included a black sedan for parts. Essentially its a Golden Hawk wagon and I would love to have it but 25k won’t get you halfway through restoration on this. Last dash pad I saw was $3k
The dash pad was not a moulded one like a lot of other brands. All Studebakers and these Packards had a padded dash, but it is fairly easy to replace as the upper half of the dash comes apart and then lay some foam down and a piece of vinyl and put it back on with about 14 phillips screws.
Rare and interesting car, overpriced for the condition. There are two in the Ron Hackenberger Auction (Google it) which is open to Proxibids now and live bids in mid-July. Along with several other Packardbakers including a Packard Hawk.
Really great looking car. Easy to find in any parking lot. But for god’s sake, if you are going to drag the car outside to photograph it, fix the flat tire. Nothing sadder than a flat tire. Except two flat tires….
What Boothguy said…..seller has been trying to sell it for awhile – wonder what he has in it ? Guess he could lower the price if he really wants to see it back on the road.
The Studebakers and Packards from this era were very nice looking. Not quite as garish as some others.
I dunno about not garish. I believe that this car has every dead-end fifties styling point possible. Fins? Check. Two tone paint? Check. Chrome everywhere? Check. Dagmars? Check. Do I want it? Check and double check!
@Dan
Look at a 58 Packard wagon. There were only a little over 150 built and are garish imho.
I would give $ 300.00 for the tail lights !