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

thanks JD
i like the color on your car . very nice.
the car i am looking at is a 2 tone. sunset red metalic on roof and twighlight taupe every where else. so i will probably keep to the original

From a post I did awhile back on the differences in 51-54 models:


1951 250 Mayfair - 3 Louvers
1951 250 Convertible - 3 Louvers
1951 400 Patrician - 3 Louvers
1952 200 Deluxes - 3 Louvers
1952 250 Mayfair - 3 Louvers
1952 250 Convertible - 3 Louvers
1952 400 Patrican - 4 Louvers

The Louvers were officially offered as an accessory in 1952 (I guess for the standard 200s, as all the other models had them). They were not officially offered as an accessory in 1951.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=45028#forumpost45028

Quote:

A perfect example of how cars grew louvers. Kev's research shows the 51 convertible would have had 3 louvers and the accessory was not officially available for 51 cars--yet there's the 4th one in TW's post 4 & 6...Now the question would be whether the dealer or owner decided it needed an extra.

My first packard was a 51 convert bought in 1960 for a 100.00 bucks. It had 3 bottle cap openers onthe back fenders It wasa great car, ran for years. started in the worst weather, covered with ice and had the 288 with ultramatic.


John

Good sleuthing, Kev.

The 48-54 parts book also shows the louvres as factory-install on 1953 Mayfair and Convertible, 3 per side (lumped in on the same line as the 1952 models.)

Yes, the Accessory section of that parts book shows an "over-the-counter" kit for the 1952 200 Standard models, which did not have the louvres as part of their factory build. However, that same kit is shown for ALL 1953 models (even Mayfair and Convertible), EXCEPT Caribbean, hearse, and ambulance. That makes me wonder if there were some changes in availablity during the 26th Series production run.

I also see that the louvre used for 1951 is of a different style than 52-53. Though not offered as a dealer-installed kit, I'd bet that plenty of dealers ordered service parts for local installation of the 1951 type - perhaps enough to motivate the factory to offer the bona fide accessory in subsequent years.

If there is any interest generated by this string, I have plenty of NOS louvers in a box...$10 each for the cast pot metal version, and $5 each for the stamped stainless. Great style for cheap...

Flack,
Why would the stainless ones be less than pot metal? Do they look different somehow? I don't have a 51 through 54, but I might need some of those things in case someday I do...

If memory serves (and sometimes doesn't) the pot metal would be the 51 rounded style and the stamped would be 52-3 more pointed type.

Easy - the 52-3 stainless ones would only need a final polish. The 51 pot metal ones, while a bit more limited in true application, being pot metal would be more desirable than attempting to rechrome pitted originals. ...