1954 Clipper

Car information

1954 Packard Clipper “Snow White”. Packard Motor Company was the creation of brothers who commenced production of motor cars in the USA at the end of the nineteenth century. The company developed into a premium quality car manufacturer. The marque was in the same league as Cadillac. The marque survived the Great Depression but by early after WWII it was clear that the future market place would be dominated the two major US car manufacturers. The disappearance of Packard as a marque was perhaps hastened by a number business decisions made by the company’s management. In the mid 1950’s Packard was merged with a number of other historic American car brands including Studebaker and Nash in an attempt to maintain a viable vehicle production operation. The attempt failed and Packard as a marque ceased to be manufactured. The Packard Clipper was produced as a mid price competitor in the automotive market early during WWII. The Clipper name had a relatively short life commencing in 1941. The Clipper name was dropped in 1948 and reintroduced in 1953 for the automaker’s lowest-priced product. By 1955, the Clipper models were seen as diluting Packard’s marketing as a luxury automobile marque and in 1956 the name Packard was dropped from the Clipper model description. Packard was never a large volume producer and in Australia had only a limited market among discerning buyers. The company advertising line was “Ask a man who owns one” Even in USA where the cars were of course left hand drive there are not a great number left. Many of the cars in Australia were sold here as right hand drive vehicles and therefore are not left.

“Snow White” has a largely unknown history. When she was acquired from a fellow club member in 2013 she was complete but not running. The registration sticker on the passenger side quarter window shows that the Victorian registration expired in October 1975 suggesting that she was decommissioned sometime in the 12 months leading up to October 1975. She was asleep for 40 years before being restored to her rightful place on the road. The reliable 327 cubic inch straight 8 cylinder flat head engine was a longstanding design used by Packard until well after most other marques had moved to the V8 design. The engine develops sufficient power to operate the vehicle comfortably with a simple two speed automatic transmission. The two speed gear box with direct drive in both high and low ranges is effective and smooth. The car cruises effortlessly at modern road speeds and consumes fuel equally effortlessly in the style for which these vehicles were designed. It is necessary to add upper cylinder lubricant to unleaded fuels. The styling is characteristic of a period in the mid 1950’s when chrome was king and overall size was important. The car is pleasant to drive – just ask a man who owns one.