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

Good morning all, hope everyone is having a good day.

In the past, I've asked how many of the 22nd series Custom 8 club sedans were built. People advised me around 723 is the highest production number we know about. Of those, how many are still known? In the past, someone mentioned 12-13; is that truly it? I'd sure appreciate people sharing what they know.

Thanks!

Evan

Evan, 723 is herewith certified, but what is the source of someone who mentioned 12-13? I hope someone checked all barns around Toronto.
BTW Three of them you can find --> here.

The latest directory of PAC lists 16 Custom 8 club sedans (2255) in the hands of members. I'd guess you could safely double that number at least to cover those in the hands of non-members, parts cars, etc.

What's probably the most accurate and the most current estimate of the number of 22nd series 2255s gives production of 547 as 1948 models and 278 as 22nd series 1949 models, total of 825. This data from the recent analysis of production of these models by Ed Ostrowski, PAC roster keeper for the bathtubs and is based on the highest surviving production sequence #s found. His analysis was published in The Packard Cormorant, Spring 2011 (No. 142) and covers all the 22nd and 23rd series models, as well as an interesting table about the running production changes.

PS - Of course the only way the accuracy of the production estimate can be enhanced is by owners of previously unreported cars forwarding their data to folks who maintain and analyze such data.

Dave, thanks. Once you mentioned 723 acc. to the highest known vehicle numbers.

Edit: More is possible but not less.

Gusha: Yes, 723 still is the highest sequence known to me personally in my collection of data for the thief-proof research, but Mr. Ostrowski's data is more recent and he obviously has data on vehicles I'm not aware of.

Take it with a grain of salt, but my attrition calculator is showing 38 cars left based on a production value of 723 and a attrition rate of 5% per year over 62 years:


Age----Cars Left
Year 1 = 687
Year 2 = 653
Year 3 = 621
Year 4 = 590
Year 5 = 561
Year 6 = 533
Year 7 = 507
Year 8 = 482
Year 9 = 458
Year 10 = 436
Year 11 = 415
Year 12 = 395
Year 13 = 376
Year 14 = 358
Year 15 = 341
Year 16 = 324
Year 17 = 308
Year 18 = 293
Year 19 = 279
Year 20 = 266
Year 21 = 253
Year 22 = 241
Year 23 = 229
Year 24 = 218
Year 25 = 208
Year 26 = 198
Year 27 = 189
Year 28 = 180
Year 29 = 171
Year 30 = 163
Year 31 = 155
Year 32 = 148
Year 33 = 141
Year 34 = 134
Year 35 = 128
Year 36 = 122
Year 37 = 116
Year 38 = 111
Year 39 = 106
Year 40 = 101
Year 41 = 96
Year 42 = 92
Year 43 = 88
Year 44 = 84
Year 45 = 80
Year 46 = 76
Year 47 = 73
Year 48 = 70
Year 49 = 67
Year 50 = 64
Year 51 = 61
Year 52 = 58
Year 53 = 56
Year 54 = 54
Year 55 = 52
Year 56 = 50
Year 57 = 48
Year 58 = 46
Year 59 = 44
Year 60 = 42
Year 61 = 40
Year 62 = 38

Thanks guys. That answers my question. Wow...38 cars....for being a postwar model, that's pretty unusual. Seems like one's chances of finding one in good shape (not to mention simply finding one) are pretty slim! Even compared to convertible victorias, it sounds like more of those have survived than the club sedans.

keep in mind the 38 is an estimate

=original build * .98 **62

I've seen ones in Black, Coronet Blue,Egyptian Sand and Arizona Beige

Even compared to convertible victorias, it sounds like more of those have survived than the club sedans.

Several reasons could be given for why Custom 8 convertibles outnumber Custom 8 club sedans among survivors, but chief among them is that they simply made a lot more of them. For the 1948 model year the Custom 8 convertible outsold the club sedan by about 2:1, and for the total 22nd series production by about 13:8 (many club sedans sold as 1949 models were renumbered).

I remember that at the 1999 Centennial celebration in Warren, out of perhaps 1000 Packards present, there was not a single 22nd Series Custom 8 club sedan. And a few weeks later at a small (perhaps 25 cars) meet of the Eastern Packard Club, there were TWO (both recently having changed hands).

Interesting! Thanks for the information guys. I didn't realize this until I started the other thread about the coupe I'm looking at.