(Model Body Number, not Chassis)

(####-#### Format)

1954

54th

5492

5401

Clipper Deluxe Touring Sedan

5492-7794

*MISSING*

*MISSING*

Current Owner

Average

lawrie

Average

some original fabric still in place. Corduroy covers were fitted to front seat at some stage. Looking to refit carpets and covers with dark red materials

currently painted white and paint is in good condition although repaint was not a thorough job. no paint code etc located yet.

327 (8 cyl, 165 hp)

M316364

Gearstart Ultramatic

Packards have always been a name I recognized. From 1939 to the early 197s my family owned a multi franchise motor business. Dad's car which I am told ran beautifully on a gas producer throughout the war, was a 1939 Hudson Eight. We sold Plymouth, Studebaker, Morris, Peugot, Simca, Rover, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Toyota. Our first new car was a 1954 Plymouth which we had to sell because one of the good customers wanted it and new cars were still a bit hard to get at that time. We ended u
for most of the rest of my youth in Volkswagens and Porsches. The other local motor businesses handled Ford, GM and some of the other British marques. There was no Packard dealer in Parkes where we lived and I don't know of anyone who actually "owned" one. My guess is that if anyone in town was likely to be identified with the Packard it would have been ourselves due to the Studebaker link.

Until recent years when I discovered that a long time friend, Packard Pete had about 2 of them I had never actually knowingly seen a Packard. Pete's admiration for the marque plus the fact that even Rolls Royce itself had a close association with Packard, finally convinced me that these were probably a car worthy of consideration. When I had the chance to buy one that another member of our Queanbeyan club had decided to sell it really didn't take a lot of weighing u
to go ahead.

Our car was most probably imported and sold new as a right hand drive vehicle. It is unlikely that importing such a car second-hand into Australia pre 1975 and having it converted would have been a viable or realistic prospect. The more special Packards perhaps, but not a Clipper.

The documentation with this car claims it has been off the road since 1975. the registration label still affixed shows expiry in October 1975 so the claim is probably correct. The car was purchased by a fellow car club member at a Shannons Auction in Melbourne in June 212. Pictures etc for Lot 32 are still on their site. Radial tyres on the car were pre "date of manufacture stamping" and were fitted with tubes.

Packard Pete spent a lot of time getting the car to run smoothly and rectifying a number of issues to bring the car u
to reliable roadworthy condition. The finish on this car is not in the same class as on the Rolls and Bentleys I have been running until now. I will probably kee
one or two of the Crewe crew, because they are beautiful things. I am hoping and am pretty sure that the Packard is going to be a lot more useable and easier to kee
running than any of the Crewe crew.

Since we made it start and go vroom vroom it has been driven u
and down the farm roads and it is an impressive beast. I am liking the look of it better each time I go to the workshop, but it isn't ever going to have the looks of an S2 Bentley or a 193s or 194s Packard. Since I won't be driving it from outside the exterior appearance is pretty much irrelevant to me. It isn't ever going to be as luxurious as the Bentley inside either. I think it is going to be a very enjoyable club car which we can jum
into and drive anywhere - I am not game to try this with the others.

I am delighted to now be a Packard owner. Just "ask the man who owns one" has real appeal to me. I don't actually know much but that won't sto
me from talking if anyone is silly enough to ask me.