Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Can anyone tell me what the rear-seat hip room is on a '51-'54 convertible (non-Caribbean)?

The '53 and '54 convertibles are a bit confusing, since they were apparently part of the Cavalier series. Are they larger than the 250-series '51-'52 cars?

Thank you!

The bare seat specs do not appear in the 52 fact book but here are the ones from 54 fact book. It appears at 49.5" the convertible loses approx 12". The Caribbean and convertible seat specs are the same and expect that would be the case thruout the years. Weren't the Caribbeans essentially the regular convertible body with a senior tail light section grafted on and the higher series designation mostly a function of trim level with a few mechanical changes. I think the convertible bodies proper were essentially unchanged from 51 - 54.

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all 51-54 Packard Convertibles (including the Caribbean) are based on the 200 line (short wheel base).

I have a 53 convertible. By "hip room" do you mean the width from side panel to side panel?

Thanks fellas. It appears 49.5" should be adequate room for three hulking, modern child car seats.

Also, thanks much for clearing up the murky history of Packard's convertible models!

I just found a pink '51 convertible that someone grafted '54 Clipper quarters to. I assume it's ruined from a collector's standpoint, but it's kind of cool looking.

Precisely, '666! Whatever the narrowest part might be - usually in that area due to the convertible top mechanism.

I'd love a real-world measurement to confirm or deny what's in the literature.

The convertible top mechanism is essentially the same and the overall body widths are the same, are they not? Therefore.....

David:
Here you go, I measured my 53 convertible.

59" from window crank to window crank

48" from convertible top boot (has the ash tray in it) to other boot.

Hope that helps you, if you need photos, let me know.

Would like to see a picture of that car. Sounds like someone was trying to build a Panther.

Here is the '51/'55 hybrid:imcdb.org/vehicle_265308-Packard-250-2431-1951.html

Also worth noting is that it has a Packard V8. I read elsewhere that it's a '56 engine. Looks like a fun car to me, and since my wife and three daughters love pink, they'd love it too.

pics.imcdb.org/0is132/tuesdaymorningride30.431.jpg