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Hi Bryce

This might be the answer to your need for a solid, mostly rust-free body.

pikespeakmotors.com/1954_Packard_Clipper_Penrose_CO_146265782.veh

Colorado cars generally have much better preserved sheet metal because the state wasn't using salt back then and the dry air helps. You may find the cost of quarter panels and floor sections, plus the welding offsets a good share of whatever price you can settle on with the seller plus shipping. Plus, all the spare parts are good to have as you work your way through the restoration of your Sportster.

Steve

I got most of the engine parts for my engine rebuild from Terrill Machine in Deleon, TX. Better prices and IMO better service. I would not do valve guides if you don't have to, and if you have very limited machine shop type experience, I would let the machine shop do it. Mine were NOS, and many of them still needed to be reamed. Valves and valve springs are nice, but likely an unneeded expense. Kanter does have a good price on timing chains. Just my two cents.

Thanks guys. I found a 51 Packard closer to me, but it is a 4 door. I don't know if that will still work? It looks to be fairly rust free and in very good condition. He only wants $1500. I will try to post some pictures.

Here are some pics

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Car looks to be in fairly decent condition to cut up.

Some of the sheet metal would work but not sure about the parts on the rear quarters you need. Believe it is shorter on the 4 door so may not have enough to complete the job on yours. It also has the speedline yours does not have..

If you do get the car there are some accessories you could move unless you wanted them for yourself. Several have been looking for a sun visor and the shade vents over the windows look to be authentic -- although not sure they were offered for 51 so maybe a later add on. It has the stamped 52 quarter panel louvers instead of the round die cast 51s.

Yeah it would be a shame to cut up such a nice car. I didn't notice that the rear fenders are shaped differently. Hm, I will have to think about this one. It is a lot closer and cheaper, but I will have to spend a lot more time on those fenders to get them to work than on the car Steve found.

Hi Bryce

There are so many differences between the parts on that '51 and your '54 that trying to use them would become a time-consuming nightmare. 1954-55 Clipper two door sedan and hardtop quarter panels are interchangeable. Rockers, wheelhouse, trunk and floor parts are interchange with most '51-'56 200/Clipper two door models.

Although distance for that Colorado '54 is a problem, checking into cheap shipping would be worthwhile. Many on the SDC Forum recommend PEG Trucking for good service and fair prices.

That fellow has had most of those cars listed for sale for a long time, including that '54 Clipper. His prices are 'optimistic' to say the least, though once you explore it as a possibility, he may come to reality if he needs to move some metal. I've been by his place a number of times in the last decade and everything sets in the same place for years on end. He's one of those that hopes to cash in on rundown cars he's picked up cheap, so say those in Colorado that know him and his operation. Have hear that he reject the first low offer but will come around when he needs to sell something.

We'll keep our eye out too, a good one might turn up at an auction closer in the next year or so.

Steve

Thanks for the help. If shipping the 54 is too expensive, I found a place in Arizona that has a couple 54 2 doors. They sell parts but not whole cars, so maybe they could chop off the fenders and send them? It looks like they cut off the whole rear trunk section on one.

Just out of curiosity since someone else has confirmed 54 and 55 Clippers are in large part interchangeable have you checked with Mike Dulinski to see if he has a 55 already being parted that might have what you need?

I purchased a car from a man here in Northern Alabama and he had about 10 Packards for sale and one is a 54 2 dr sore thumb Clipper. It is totally disassebled. I will call him to see if it or parts are available.