Hi

Nice jobs! Although I'm not usually a big fan of pick-ups built from large sedans, these are nicely done.

Now for your next conversion project consider: a '51-'56 Clipper station wagon. For the rear roof section and tailgate area, the parts from a '54-'56 Buick or a '51-'54 Chrysler/DeSoto/Dodge look to be the best fit. While those cars aren't common, they still do show up as parts cars.

Steve

Hi

Owen: You are fortunate to be in a hot bed of Packard activity, must be very enjoyable.

Of that Lincoln Convertible Phaeton by Derham, that was a design built under license from Hibbard & Darrin according to Hugo Pfau. It's such an elegant design, looks great even with the top down, but has lousy rear visibility with it up. Humm, elegant and impractical, the measure of a true custom body! A '29 645 with that body is pictured in the Crestline text on page 230, dearly wish it had survived.

The other variation with the same architecture is the convertible coupe, found on a variety of Classic chassis. Those few 745 models with that body are just unbelievably beautiful cars. I recall how stunned I was by one that appeared at Hershey years ago. Pierce-Arrow noticed how fine that convertible coupe looked, based their subsequent convertible coupe on that design......wish Packard had too!

Graham sharknose lover here as well. While they didn't sell very well here, the French were nuts for them. There were some pretty wild avant-garde custom bodies done on that chassis to go with the wild frontal styling.

Steve

Hi

With Hershey coming up soon, has the idea of a common meeting place & time been floated?

Steve

Hi JW & Gentlemen

"Sporty Formal Sedan" is an apt description, it's a wonderful design. It is of the design idiom Rollston used to create the the sport sedans for the Duesenberg JN, the best known of which is the Bill 'Bojangles" Robinson car.

With it's convertible type half-door construction, stainless window frames, and lower body essentially separate from the top, it's a convertible sedan with a stationary top. All these features contribute to a sterling design. This type, rare even during the Classic Era, is a personal favorite.

I was so delighted to see your car at the Centennial. I've loved that design since seeing the Rollston photo for the first time probably forty years ago.

You are a truly fortunate man to have such a car in your family.

Steve

Hi

I agree with JW, the body is a factory supplied converible victoria for 1935-36 with the top mechanism modified to accept quarter windows.

I'm going on the limb further and state I think the quarter windows are from a GM C-Body 1942-'47 such as would be found on a Olds 98, Buick Roadmaster or Cadillac 62 convertible. This opinions is just from looking at the pictures and being instantly reminded of those rather long quarter windows those cars have.

If the modification did take place in the period and was performed by a coachbuilder, the frame style would match perfectly, those fellows didn't do shoddy work.

Frankly, I think the car would look much better with the blind quarters, much more elegant!

Steve

Hi

I note in the rear view of the '46-'47 Clipper, the rear window holder straps of the type used on Taxi spec cars appear to be there.

Was the car a six? Did it have order indications that it was a taxi spec six sold for non-commercial use, such as the all vinyl interior?

I've seen at least one of those cars, here in Western New York in the mid-'90's.

Steve

Hi

West and JW, well said! Packard owners who drive and share their cars truly have THE TROPHY! No cheapo trophy needed.

Those poor souls who need validation by a show car trophy, let them have it, it's probably the only recognition they receive in their miserable lives.

Of the Best of Show awarded to replicar rods; while it is dismaying, best to keep in mind my paraphrase of H.L. Mencken:

"No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence or taste of the American public!"

Regardless if it's genuine, if it's showy, pretty and especially really "cool", it'll get the first prize!

Steve

Hi 51Packard

Thanks for posting the link. I too wish I could have availed myself of one of those low priced Clipper DeLuxes, just for a driver.

'55-'56 Packard & Clippers: the collector car hobbies greatest bargains!

Steve

Hi Owen_Dyneto

Thanks for "and they sure look good on that car, a lovely design"

Sidemounted spares were not loved by the custom designers then as they visually interrupted the emphasis on hood length and clean appearance they preferred.

As the shape of the lower sill line changed from simply straight of the '20's to the dropped, over-the-frame configuration in the early '30's, sidemounts hid the departure point and shapeliness, such as seen on my design. The rear-mounted spares look much more sporty, especially when they're duals. The Europeans preferred them by indication of period photos, especially for sporting styles, even formal types.

I'll admit, I like sidemounts more on the formal styles, they give the car an important, imposing bearing.

The gently curved door bottom edges appear on custom bodies from all those you list as well as many others. They just add more visual interest, compliment other design elements.

On the angled hood doors: I've sketched them angled parallel to the rear hood edge/windshield angle as you suggest. They look great, though strike me more appropriate for '32-'33 designs. We had the pleasure of seeing those on some of the handsomest '33 & '34 designs, the '34 Hupmobiles are a good example.

Another interesting variation I've sketched are doors on the raised panel that fan in shape from vertical at the front to angled at the rear.....looks very Art-Deco!

Steve

Hi Bryan

Thanks, Series Nos. start at 57L-1001 run to 57L-5809, making you car 946th car built. The body number will reflect whatever number Clipper body was next in line.

The build order for those is available from the Studebaker National Museum for $40.00, check their website. It's worth having it, gives all the pertinent build information pertaining to your car, such as build date, optional equipment installed, even original delivery location on some if the car was ordered.

So, good luck with that Clipper, hope you are able to find a good running 289 engine and Flightomatic to install. It will be a nice driving car with that, be it a two or four barrel. As far as the supercharger, they're expensive to acquire, rebuild and fussy to maintain. Unless you only intend to show the car and are after trophys, forget about the supercharger, just restore it to drive and enjoy.

Let us know periodically how the restoration progresses.

Steve