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

JD, I guess you could consider the 23rd series as FIVE car lines, excluding the few 6-cylinder offerings:

Eight - 120" wb
DeLuxe Eight - 120" wb
Super Eight - 127" wb
Super DeLuxe Eight - 127" and 141" wb
Custom 8 - 127" wb

Here's a good photo of a 23rd Series Super Eight grill. It appears to me to be the same size as the Custom/Super Deluxe grill. I was just questioning the idea that the Super had a smaller grill since it made no sense considering the surrounding 127" sheet metal.




So... basically you could dress up a 23rd series Super to look [externally] like a Custom or a Super Deluxe with just a trim change. Of course in the case of trying to pass it off as a Custom you'd have to drop in a 356 and spend a fortune on interior changes. But for a buyer who is not familiar with the 23rd series....

Having owned a 50 Super for 41 years......I can definitely say that the 23d series Super, Super deluxe, and Custom all shared front end sheet metal. The grill is the same size as the Custom but with an internal die change to accommodate the the broad horizontal bars. The rest of the grill bars have attachment provisions on their bottom surface for the eggcrate, but the holes were not drilled.

The confusion arises in that the 22nd series Super was on the 120" wheelbase, but the 23d series Super and Super Deluxe were on the 127.

The pictured convertible in this thread is for certain a Super Deluxe which gives it a decided cornering advantage over the (more) nose heavy Custom.

I am heading out to look at this car next week. Other than the non-woodgrain dash, what else do you see worth mentioning? Correct, incorrect?

Tom, I'd have to check Bob Neal's book but as I recall the 23rd series has a short-lived and not very popular option of a non-wood grained dash, I believe the option was gray or silver. In any case the details and a picture are in the book.

PS - just checked Neal's book, the gray painted dash option was in the 22nd series and discontinued for the 23rd series. It was only offered in the Eight DeLuxe and Super Eight series.

A painted dash was standard on the convertibles.