Re: 1954 Panther

Posted by BH On 2010/2/1 10:20:33

Kev -

All the Panthers were built with those '54 Clipper taillights - at least, originally.

I learned of the modifications decades ago, but according to:http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/c/creative/creative.htm

...the Panther bodies were fabricated by Creative Industries and then turned over to Iona Manufacturing (then, a subsidiary of Mitchell-Bentley), for final assmebly and trim. However, two of the Panthers were "presented" to the respective owners of those two companies, and then refitted with the 55th Series Senior taillights and rear bumper. A couple of pix on the cited webpage show each version.

Though I am a big fan of the cathedral taillights, I prefer the Panther as it was originally designed. IMHO, the '54 Clipper's taillights were the best-looking of those used on any Packard from 1951-54. Still, I like all of the Panthers.

That coachbuilt.com site is a tremendous wealth of information. Looks like Creative Industries had a hand in several of Packard's concept cars.

When I was just a kid, I used to brag about GM being so vertically-integrated, but was surprised to learn (even before I found the coachbuilt.com site) just how much work GM farmed-out to Iona - like station wagon bodies well into the 1960s.