Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hi

This '42 Clipper Eight "Elite" with factory air conditioning appeared on Athens (Radcliff), Ohio CL, September 2017. The link is on Various CL Pickings #2850, because it will eventually disappear, the photos are posted here for future documentation.

Steve

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If anyone comes across another AC Clipper, it would really be nice to complete the documentation with a good photo of the compressor and exactly how it mounts on a Clipper. I have wondered why they changed the compressor from the right on conventional bodies to the left on Clippers. Maybe a lower hood and because of the manifold it would not fit on the right but they could drop the compressor down in the filter space on the left????

A question I posted in the Craigslist thread a few days ago is with the apparent changed location of the oil filter to accommodate the compressor in the old filter space, was the Electromatic Clutch available with AC Clippers? The filter seems to have taken the space for the EC control valve. Was there a horizontal oil bath air cleaner different to those on postwar Clippers used prewar and available with AC? The horizontal style cleaner would also appear to be blocked by the revised filter location.

Hopefully when Steve picks this one up maybe we'll get some better close up pictures of the AC components.

I sure would like to see and read about this War Clipper being restored.

Counting the plug wires it looks to be a 6 cylinder.... Wouldn't mind having it if I had the space and time to work on it.
John

??? Using the max magnification on my puter I think this might be a straight eight engine. Could a 6 cyl engine run the air conditioning and power the car too???

I don't recall ever driving a six but believe they were fairly decent engines as far as power. AC was available on all 42 model Clippers including sixes according to the Clipper parts manual. The prewar compressor is driven off the fan pulley so here is what is shown for availability. The AC parts book lists different tubings for use on a six.

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I always thought the 6's seemed like they would be underpowered at only 105hp, but then the rear axle ratio was fairly high. Probably wasn't real fast unless it was equipped with overdrive.

Hi

I'll have to defer to another with far greater restoration skills and deeper pockets to take on this challenge. Its located 400+ miles from me, though I hope a Forum member in the area will at least go and document what Howard would like to see.

Best if someone would buy it even if only to salvage the rare A/C components. From what I can see in the photos and experience with rust-savaged northeast cars in general, this poor Packard is a goner.

BTW, does anyone know what the small emblem on the rear of the hood near the door is? The seller list it as a "Clipper Elite", I've never heard that "Elite" term associated with any Packard model.


Steve

That is the car that we sold in the 1980s. It was a relatively low-mileage car when we had it, something like 42,000 miles. Sad to see it in such poor condition, now. It is a "120" eight.

If I remember correctly, the a/c pump was missing when we owned it, too. My brother took his driver's license test in that car.

My brother just informed me that we still have the a/c compressor bracket. He found it moving garage parts from one building to another several years ago. I've asked him to take a photo of it, but he's not at home right now.