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

Hello all,
I think in 1951 the portholes were rounded looking chrome covered pot metal and in 1952-53 they were a more pointed stainless steel. Can't remember where I read that but my 1952 mayfair does indeed have the pointed stainless.

Have you checked the parts book? There are two different louvres listed.

#425598 louvre is listed for 2452-67-69
#PA437490 is listed for 2552-62-65-77-79, and 2677-79

(PA = Packard accessory)

1951 portholes are diecast potmetal. 1952 and later are stamped stainless steel.

Come on guys, Buick's had portholes, Packards had louvres.

I've always known them as Jet Louvers.

Jet louvres is a nice name, the parts book calls them "Louvre - rear fender trim". Perhaps the advertising material called them jet louvres?

51 and 52 Pattys got the die cast louvres with the rounded ends. All others that got them at all got the stamped stainless with the galvanized backing plate.

I've always heard the slang name of choice (definitely not Packard's chosen name) as being "bottle openers" rather than "portholes" fwiw.
Ken

The louvres could be slightly different, I have not made a study of them, However, the 1954 parts book lists P/N 425598 for all 1951 cars using them and PA437490 for 25th and 26th Series cars. I don't know if they are different. PA prefix was assigned to accessories normally. They were available as such for cars without them after 1951, but they were also standard features on some models of 1952 and 1953 cars. Apparently the same par number was used for both standard and accessory louvres in 1952-53. They were only on the convertible and Mayfair in 1953.

My grandad's 51 had the pot metal louvres, while his 52 had the stainless steel angular ones. My 51 convertible had 3 to a side of the pot metal ones. My neighbors 51 Patrician had the rounded ones but i cant remember if there were 3 or 4. That car was loaded and had the cloisonne caps. I have never seen them on 53 or 54 models