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

I was trying to figure out what the push/pull switch is for that is on the left of the light switch on my '54 Clipper Super. I believe it was for the electric antenna. But during my search of the owners manual(s), I noticed that I have the '53 dash cluster. The three round gauges. But the heater/vent controls are '54 style. The vin on this car is 5462-6754 and it does have the '54 tail lights.

Would they carry over parts that far into production? Or has this been replaced sometime in the past?

I have a '54 clipper deluxe with an electric antenna. I have the newer style guage cluster without the 3 individual round gauges. The super is a fancier model, but for some reason they kept the guages from the prior year. The push pull knob all the way to the left does operate the antenna on my car. So - no those are probably the original guages.

I believe some (all?) of the 54 commercial chassis (hearse, ambulance) carried over the 1953-style instrument panel.

For some reason the 5411 chassis (supers) and the 5433 military ambulance kept the older #410918 instrument cluster used from 51-3.

The only factory dash mounted push-pull accessory switch would have been the antenna. The location on the left was suggested by Packard and bezel was shaped for that dash location. In actual fact unless it came from the factory installed, it could be anywhere. By using ingenuity or a different year or models bezel or mount, dealer could have located antenna (or rear speaker control) anywhere on the dash where space was available and customer wanted them.

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The '54 Clipper Special and the Deluxe used the newer "sweeping" dash cluster., while the '54 Clipper Super and the Commerical Chassis reused the '53 style "3-hole gauge" cluster.

This also applies the wheels and brakes as well.

There is a Service Bulletin that covers this topic as well.

So if you have a Deluxe with a 3-Hole cluster, then someone swapped it at some point, from either a Super or a '53 car.

Here is the dash layout template that shows where all the switches should be mounted: