What's your favorite Post War Packard and Why?

[Guest BJM]

I just re-read an old Collectible Automobile while my daughter played in the park. It was the June 1987 edition with a Langworth feature on the Caribbean. I do not own a Packard but very much admire them and have come close a couple of times. Packards were built from 1946 to 1956 in the Post War era (not including Packardbakers). What is your favorite post war Packard and why?

I have 3. My favorite is the 54 caribbean, the reason I purchased this back issue of CA. The 53 is very pure. It lacks the power accessories of the 54-56's and the engine power. But the 327 was a very balanced motor (as I understand). Pluses to me are the beautiful styling - very clean and uncluttered. Ever notice how the GM trio looks so overdone with so much chrome and overhang? I love the full wheel cutouts of the 53 Caribbean, the classic grille and hood scoop. The interior was rather plain but perfectly trimmed - again no excess. So the 53 Caribbean wins out by a hair for me over ...

a 47 or 48 Victoria convertible in wine maroon red paint. Although the "Pregnant elephants" are much maligned, the Victoria - especially with top down - is a timeless classic. Wide in stance, eggcrate grille with Cormorant. It does not get any better then that. Finally followed by...

a late production 56 Four Hundred. I like thr 55-56 Caribbeans a lot but they don't offer enough over a 400 hardtop and history comes in for me on these cars. I imagine them being put together by Packard employees with 20-30 year tenures, knowing these are the last ones being built. So, although I love the looks of the 56 400's, I would feel like I was preserving history and driving history more then just owning a car I happened to like.

About 10 years ago a 53 Caribbean was advertised for about 6 years (it seems) straight in Hemmings by Tom Mix. Remember that one? I think he was asking $6500 for it. It needed everything but I remember asking for and getting photos. I had the money briefly and passed on it because I lived in Montana at the time and the car was in Florida or New England - along way away.

Along with the CA edition with the Pregnant Elephants- which has a beautiful Victoria, I also have Dennis Adler's coffee table Packard book, which also has a beautiful Victoria in it. I have seen these in project form from time to time including last winter a seller in the Michigan was getting rid of a bunch of "barn finds" and one in California on ebay went for about $2500. I cried, right car, wrong time.

Finally, not far from me resides 2 56 Four Hundreds for sale at an "old car" dealer in Jefferson, Iowa. One is very solid, the other is restorable but not as nice. I actually got to sit in them and sort of soak it all in. The 400's were classic 50's with the engine turned dash, two or tri tone exteriors, headlight brows, twin exhaust exits and colorful interiors.

So what is your favorite post war Packard, as the company ambled toward insolvency?

[Guest imported_Packards1]

Ask the man who ones one or more. I drive a 56 400 and love it. I have a 56 conv. all disassembled and someday I'll have that one on the road too. I will be driving my 400 to the Packard proving grounds on 4 July for the Packard Club celebration.

[Clipper47]

While I do admire any Packard of any era of the Post World War 11 Packards the 127" wheelbase 1946-47 Super and Custom Super Clippers are my favourite. The long narrow grille,the Darrin styling and the 356" engine are what make these cars so appealing to me. They still retain that look and feel of a prewar Packard which made the company the leader in the luxury car class during the Classic Era. Today my wife commented on how silently and smoothly the car travelled along at 60mph in our '47 even with the windows down. The car is a very easy to drive, reliable and solid despite being almost 60 years old. As someone said at a recent car show when he was looking at the car "A truly magnificent automobile." Packard engineering and styling at it's best!

[Guest Randy Berger]

Although I own a 56 400 and have a lot of fun with it, my favorite postwar Packard has to be the 56 Caribbean convertible. It may have been Packard's last gasp but it was a tremendous effort. I will own one eventually. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[55PackardGuy]

Can't say I've had long-term experience with anything but '55s, so I'm limited in perspective. But anything '55-'56 <span style="font-style: italic">with</span> Torsion-Level suspension (absolutely required) suits me fine. Of course, the 2-doors have more panache, and since I'm limited to Clipper Customs and Constellations in '55 for Juniors with TL (with a few exceptions) I'd say I'm dreaming of a '55 Constellation or a '55 400. My dreams are somewhat realistic, because no way can I afford to get into a Caribbean. As mentioned by 3Jakes, I kind of like the 400 better in a way--real "personal luxury car" and built on the regular line.

As for '56, the Clippers don't do as much for me, having been somewhat toned down from the '55s in my estimation. This is the first year of a corporate decision that the Clipper would be a truly separate line, and it shows, IMO. A '56 400 would be really nice--but it's a rare find.

A note on the '55-'56 grilles. It's kind of subtle, but the "classic" Packard grille shape is there: it's just elongated across the entire front of the car. The egg-crate of the Seniors is also classic Packard, and the slender vertical bars of the Clipper are reminiscent of even earlier designs. For years I missed these styling cues that were so deftly carried over by Dick Teague and associates on the "last real Packards."

My interest is growing in the immediate postwar '46-'47 Super and DeLuxe Clippers, and I'd like to get some hands-on experience with one to see what it's like. Great cars, classic straight 8 power--just beautiful.

[WCraigH]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">(snip)I have 3. My favorite is the 54 caribbean, (snip)

Finally followed by... a late production 56 Four Hundred. I like thr 55-56 Caribbeans a lot but they don't offer enough over a 400 hardtop and history comes in for me on these cars. (snip)</div></div>

Guy, gotta agree with you on all your points, particularly the 2 above. My 1956 Panther (it will be completed!) will pick up two styling ideas from the 1954 Caribbean: 1) I'll be using a 1953-54 Carib hood with the single wide scoop rather than the 1955-56 style dual scoops and 2) the rear wheel openings will be raised, but rectangular. The top of the rear wheel opening will be roughly at the extended line of the "spear" from the front wheel well opening.

Of course, the T-L and V-8 are my favorites too! It seems many others agree! Why else would there be a very successful start of The Packard V-8 Club ??? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Having stated the above, I am a great admirer of all Packards, be they 1920-30s classics or the minimalist 120s. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Loyd Smith]

I love the V8s and drive one. I think that they are an example of the forward thinking enthusiasm that went into everything that Packard did and a wonderful example of what Packard was capable of with very little time to prepare the design and even less money to spend. Looking back, however, I have to agree with Dave on the 21st Series Super Eights and Custom Super Eights. These were the last cars that embodied the, "Packard Mystique," of the pre-war cars. Nearly everyone wanted one and nearly everyone envied those that could get one. Many people wound up buying a Lincoln, Cadillac or other brand because they got tired of waiting for a Packard. Packard sold all of these cars that they could build and could've sold three times more of them if they'd been able to obtain the materials to build them. They were a classic example of the understated elegance, power, comfort, quality, durability and dependability for which Packard was justly noted during their heyday. Although not possessed of the torque of the V8s available nor the panache of Lincoln's postwar V12s, they were, overall, superior to anything that could be had at the time - and were the easiest, most pleasurable cars to drive on the road.

[55PackardGuy]

Craig, thanks for the support on my V8 comments, but I can't take credit for the "2 above" re the 53-54 Caribbean--those came from 3Jakes. I'm not too familiar with the Carib, but I'm stickin' by my comments on the '53 "Macauley" Pan American shown on the "Packard Firsts" thread as a favorite non-production postwar Packard (it's a Packard First because it was the first Pan American--although it went through a few "incarnations"). Maybe if I see a few more views of it (or get a look in person) I'll change my tune--but I right now I think it's coooool! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />