Last of the Real Packards:1956 Clipper Touring Sedan
The roots of the Packard Motor Car Co. date back to 1899. For much of its time in business, the company was known for producing high-quality vehicles. However, going into the 1950s, Packard found it increasingly hard to compete with Cadillac and Lincoln. The Clipper nameplate was returned in 1953 as a moderately priced Packard which is thought to have diminished the brand. The seller has at least one 1956 Clipper for sale, the only year where the car didn’t bear any Packard badging. The yellow and white example in moat of the photos may be in decent but non-running condition. Located in a barn or similar structure, it’s in Deridder, Louisiana, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500.
Packard automobiles built in 1956 are considered by many to be the last true Packards. The company had merged with Studebaker in 1954 and by 1957, Packard’s engine plant had been mothballed and the cars would become rebadged Studebakers. Dealers and the buying public weren’t impressed with the result, and Packard production ceased for good in 1958. The models from 1957 and 1958 were nicknamed “Packardbakers” by several pundits.
A document provided by the seller indicates this two-tone Clipper is #1896 built out of 5,173 in 1956. It’s called a Touring Sedan which is a fancy term for 4-door pillared sedan. It left the factory with a 352 cubic inch V8 engine which was rated at 240 hp. Photos of the engine compartment show that an air conditioning compressor is present, so this wasn’t intended to be a low-end automobile.
No ownership history is offered on this Packard product including how long it’s been held captive with at least one other car for sale (the seller proclaims that the “titles were found” so the green car may be for sale in another listing). This advertisement was placed several weeks ago, so the seller may be having trouble finding just the right buyer. We don’t know what it will take to get the Clipper running again or how much body, paint, and interior work will also be required. Another nifty tip brought to us by BCB42!
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Comments
PACKARD! Ask the man who owns one! More later!
The revived Clipper was intended to be a separate marque, separating the medium-priced cars from the senior Packards. Dealers objected, so they became Packard Clippers. Packard tried again in 1956. Early Clippers carried no Packard identification. Again, dealers objected, and Packard relented, going as far as providing Packard nameplates to be retrofitted to the early 1956 Clippers.
I suppose it’s necessary to go through this everytime one of these surfaces. A real automotive enthusiast that is brand loyal, does not consider these “the last true Packards”. The Packardbakers, the way I figure, someone at Packard realized big cars were beginning to wane, and too expensive to make and it was their attempt at downsizing, even if through necessity. Everyone did it 20 years later. Studebaker sales were still pretty good in the late 50s, from a Rambler prospective, that is. The Studebaker President was the top of the line, and to me, Packard remnants were the icing on the cake. It made a great car better.
Too bad, really, these were the nicest cars of the mid-50s. The handwriting was on the wall for a multitude of reasons, and this car, while superior to many others, never had a chance. Rather than dis the Packardbakers, I say, a honorable goodbye to one of the worlds most influential companies of the world, and this car and war efforts, proved what they could do. Packard didn’t skimp on the engineers, and one can only imagine what they might have done had they survived.
The reason for the “Packardbakers” was that banks wouldn’t loan the company money to tool up for their proposed 1957 models. Using Studebaker body shells was an act of desperation, not prescience.
Packard was at least above water when they foolishly bought Studebaker which was hemorrhaging money left and right . Nobody was thinking cars needed to be downsized ; the low sales of the Henry J and the Hudson Jet disaster would have steered any company away from that, and stayed the course with their larger offerings . Rambler was the only company to have success with smaller cars; they didnt even have a full size line. few die hard Packard owners would have accepted the 57 and 58s as Packards , they were obviously Studebakers with some added doo dads and would have been quite a let down to the faithful Packard owner , probably the same response would have come from a Caddy owner in 57 if the new 57 Caddy was a 57 Bel Air with caddy fins tacked on and a bigger bumper
Having just sold my 55 Clipper Custom Constellation with 3sp +OD I can say they ride really nice. 352 is torquey. Brakes drums were so thick my machinist said you could turn them multiple times. Watch out for oil pump bearings going leading to lifter clatter. Parts still available to replace oil pump. Need vacuum pump for wipers.
About the vacuum wipers, some of those incorporated the pump into the fuel pump, whose lever action also ran the vacuum diaphragm. Did the Packard use a separate pump? Also, I believe electric conversion kits were available for those.
Last Days in the Bunker gives a great account of Packards efforts to survive. Read it! Packards problems began long before J. J. Nance, with his predecessor Hugh Ferry and the Packard Board unable and unwilling to make necessary achanges. The PREDICTOR showed what 57 Packards might have looked like. The PACKARDBAKERS were frequently referred to as the best Studebakers ever built.
I’d read that the Packardbakers were considered to be very good Studebakers but not so hot Packards.
Looks like a fair amount of car for the price and you’re not likely to pull up next one like it at the light. Am I the only one who thinks the dirt pattern under the hood looks like it was submerged at some point?
Packard was at least above water when they foolishly bought Studebaker which was hemorrhaging money left and right . Nobody was thinking cars needed to be downsized ; the low sales of the Henry J and the Hudson Jet disaster would have steered any company away from that, and stayed the course with their larger offerings . Rambler was the only company to have success with smaller cars; they didnt even have a full size line. few die hard Packard owners would have accepted the 57 and 58s as Packards , they were obviously Studebakers with some added doo dads and would have been quite a let down to the faithful Packard owner , probably the same response would have come from a Caddy owner in 57 if the new 57 Caddy was a 57 Bel Air with caddy fins tacked on and a bigger bumper