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

Hello, everybody. I just purchased a 1954 Packard Clipper Henney Jr. ambulance. it's several firsts for me - My first '50s car, my first Packard, my first 6-volt car, my first ambulance.

I'm sure I'll have a myriad questions as I go along, but the ones that come to mind right now are:
1) What to do about the dismal lighting (brake and turn signals).
2) What is the round chrome switch on the left hand side of the steering column?

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Congratulations on finding what looks to be a nice 54.

On the lights, the first thing I would suggest is go thru and clean the grounds on the light sockets and pay particular attention to the screws and surfaces providing mounting connections between sheet metal body and pot metal light housings. Packards are somewhat known for rust and corrosion forming between those joints or particularly in the joints where pot metal pieces in the grille or tail light housings come together and adding extra resistance in the light circuits.

The knob on the side of the steering column is the windshield wiper switch. Turn it toward you and the wipers will start. More you turn the knob the more the wipers change speed.

No idea if Henney offered the windshield washer or if so, was the latest version but If the optional windshield washer is installed, there could be one of two operating methods. On older washers turning the knob away from you and holding it against a spring for a few seconds will let vacuum charge the washer with water. When you release the knob and turn it back toward you the washer squirts the water out and turning the knob farther causes the wipers to start. In 54 Packard offered a more automatic version on most models so if there is a movable push button in the center of the knob and a washer jar with three hoses and two wires going to a couple of separate mechanisms on the jar lid, pushing that button a couple of seconds will start both actions.

Welcome, Jon! I've owned many Henneys from 1948 to 1952 and am currently working on a rough military ambulance. It came to my attention this morning that another 1954 Henney Junior is for sale here in Oregon and in very rough condition. It's on the Facebook Marketplace but I've not been able to find the link but I've posted the photo that was sent to me.

Howard, I didn't know that the button on the wiper knob first appeared in 1954! After owning Packards since the '60s, I'm still not too old to learn new things. It's grille, by the way, not grill.

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Don, that is a question. The parts book does list two version switches for the 26th series and there is some speculation Packard MIGHT have made the electric washer without co-ordinator available in late 53. GM cars had the electric actuated Trico washer for a time before Packard offered it but as far as I can tell from other documentation and just about every photo of a 53 engine compt that has come by it did not happen. The wiper motor that could mount the co-ordinator did not arrive until the 54 models.

Noted and corrected on the grille vs grill. Apparently Apple sometimes does not want to spell because it often refuses to use what I write and goes with what it thinks or completely misses obvious typos. It also comes up with some interesting suggestions and substitutions and some are quite funny.

Here's the Facebook link:
facebook.com/marketplace/item/1041491343421522/?_rdr

Double check that the previous owner did not use 12 volt bulbs. You should be able to check with an ohmmeter, and if you can see the wattage of the bulb, Ohms×Watts would be around 150-200 for a 12V bulb, but only 35-50 for a 6V bulb. 6V bulbs have a lower resistance so they draw more current, to be able to make the same amount of light.

G'day Jon,
to PackardInfo.

Been following along on your thread(scroll up to view thread from the start) in the AACA Forums.

And....I invite you to include your '54 Henney Ambulance in the Packard Vehicle Registry.

I noticed your roster entry referred to the ambulance as a conversion but it wasn’t. It was purpose-built exactly as it is and not converted from anything! While the chassis is the same 127” wheelbase as the senior Packard passenger cars, it’s not the same chassis, having been designed specifically for commercial use.

Jon, for including your '54 Henney Ambulance in the Packard Vehicle Registry.

What was the process for building the ambulance, and where did Henney come in?