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

Greetings everyone,
I have pretty much made my mind up on the purchase of a 54 Cavalier parts car and was wondering about a few things.

1. Why did packard change all of the side fender flairs to a slant but for the "Packard" hardtop and convertibles? Its not as if they didn't have the tooling for the Clipper two-door models have the slant.

2. I have read in the 1954 Packard Salesman Facts a tiny blurb about the visors on Packards. They are telescopic on the "Packard" closed models. Does anyone with a senior closed model 54 Packard verify this? Not in the 54 Clipper manual nor in the 55-56 Packard manuals have I seen this feature mentioned.

3. Aren't the senior series front bumper guards different than the 52-53 and 54 Clippers? They look like they are more bullet shaped and have a tapered neck from the guard to the bumper.

Any thoughts on the above would be appreciated.

I could write a book on the '54 differences. '54 for sure was a transition year.

Lets start with the Seniors:

359 Engine vs. 327 9 Bearing in 1953
Same taillights as '53
Thick Headlight Rings have fins, 1953 are thick, but no Fins
I thought the grille was a carry over from '53 Senior
Side trim different
Small sweeping 3 hole cluster.
Fluted/waterfall center grille section
Sweeping Pelican Hood Ornament Standard

Clippers:

"Sore Thumb" taillights, same as 55 Clipper
Grille was a carry over from the '53
Side trim different
Thick Headlight Rings (Same as '53 Senior, '53 and prior used thin rings)
Plain middle grille section.
"Arrow" style hood ornament standard, sweeping pelican optional

Special and Deluxes:
Had full sweeping dash cluster
Used same brakes, drums, and rims patterns as the '55 Clippers

Supers:
Used the same 3 hole cluster as the '53s
Used same brakes, drums, and rim patterns as the '53 Clippers

All Very Late '54:
GearStart Ultramatic

Seniors had different front and rear bumpers to the Clipper.
Also the bumper guard cross bars are different.

Thats all I can remember off to the top of my head. I am sure there are others. Obviously the interiors are different every year, and between trim levels.

Well, after checking it out a bit more i found that, low and behold, the sunvisors actually do project out four to six inches which is a neat accomplishment and accessory. I wonder why no- one has mentioned that fact on any of the messages here. i wonder if any of the 54 owners know they have that feature?

I'm not sure what you mean by "project out". Pictures are worth a thousand words.

OK, Hopefully these photos help ( if I uploaded them correctly).

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Interesting. Not sure if that is a feature or there is just side to side play on the "swivel" rod. I will have to go check mine.

There shouldn't be any great suprise about this feature, it's common to all 1954 models except the Caribbean and is described on page 85 of the 1954 Salesman's Data Book.

Thats where I read about it (The only place I could find it). I was just wondering whether any other 54 (Clipper) or 55-56 had that feature.

Perhaps I read it incorrectly, but I think it said ALL the 54 models EXCEPT the convertibles had it.

Yes, the book states "The Packard line models, except the convertible and Caribbean, are equipped..." but the book also makes a point in delineating between "Packards" and "Packard Clipper".

Also, if you notice. It also repeats "husky" in several spots as well "...the packard's husky frame...", etc. Evidently, back then husky was a good thing.