Re: Various CL Pickings

Posted by Don Shields On 2018/3/22 0:00:54

Regarding the '53-'54 mishmash convertible: There is a minor difference in the senior grilles for '53 and '54. It is in what Packard calls the front guard cross bar, the bar that runs between the two bumper guards, or "Dagmars." In the '53's, the chroming only runs so far back and the rear section has an aluminized-looking finish. This is very visible in photo #12 of the listing. In the '54 seniors the chroming runs all the way to the back end of the bar. The '48 through '54 Parts List bears this out. There are different part numbers for these bars, see group 2.00504 on page 33.

O_D is spot on in noting the '54 instrument panel. I missed that as my attention was drawn to the steering wheel center cap or horn button. It is correct for a '51 and available in reproduction so it's common on '51's through '54 restorations today. To my knowledge no one is reproducing '54 buttons with the maroon background.