A Rare Convertible: 1953 Packard Cavalier
Talk about a nice 50’s driver-quality drop top, check out this rare 1953 Packard Cavalier Convertible. Kudos to the seller for providing a lot of information and history about this car. Plus, posting some colorful photos (even if they were taken at a cemetery…ironic given that Packard would be a goner just a few years after this one was built). This low mileage, low production, and highly-optioned Packard is located in Vancouver, Washington, and is for sale here on eBay. As of this writing, 24 bids had been made with $15,000 being the highest bid. A special thanks to Steph for sending this tip our way.
The current owner has enjoyed getting this Packard roadworthy again the past two years and even won a local car show award. The previous owner’s dad purchased the Packard in Oregon in 1975 (where it’s believed to have been originally sold) and drove it back to San Jose, California. It was stock except the power top hydraulics were missing, so it was (and still is) a manually operated convertible top. Over the next 30 years, the previous owner moved several times between California, Washington, Alabama, and finally back to California in 2008. Unfortunately, the previous owner soon became ill, passed away, and the Packard was left to his son where it was stored in a barn until 2020. That’s when the current owner bought it and did the usual things (fuel system, ignition system, cooling system, etc.) necessary to getting a sitting car roadworthy again. The Packard looks straight, solid, with no visible signs of rust. The current paint (in Ford Cream which is close to the Packard’s original Carolina Creme color) was applied in 1986 and is presentable, though there are a few dings and dents and some chipping paint. The trim and chrome and glass look good for there age, although there is a crack down low on the passenger side of the windshield. The current black convertible top is showing its age and has some fitting issues and will need to be replaced. The boot cover is also included and appears to be in pretty good condition.
This Packard came heavily optioned with power steering, power brakes, power windows, power antenna, automatic transmission, and the Packard Three Way Tuning Radio. The dash looks very good along with that big, cool, Packard steering wheel, and the lights and gauges work. The carpet was replaced at some point and is said to be in good shape.
According to the seller, the seats were “falling apart” when he bought the car and he hasn’t had luck finding a local upholsterer. As a stopgap, he and his wife patched them up with black duct tape as best they could, so reupholstering them is on the “To Do” List. The other “To Do’s” listed by the seller included fixing the non-working power windows, the starter and water pump need attention, the transmission is leaking, and there are pinholes in the exhaust.
Under the hood, you’ll find Packard’s venerable 327-cubic-inch L-head straight-eight with a four-barrel carb. It appears original, unmolested and has 72,580 original documented miles on it. Sure, this driver-quality 69-year-old Packard needs some work, but it’s straight and solid and has never been in an accident. According to the seller (who named the car, Grace), “She starts easily, idles great, drives excellent, and stops very well. She drives like a Packard! – So quiet, powerful and smooth. It’s like driving on a cloud of air. Truly remarkable! And with only about 1,500 of these Cavalier Convertibles produced in 1953, she’s a rare one. Hopefully the next caretaker can take this fine lady to the next level and enjoy the open road Packard style.
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Comments
Picture 10 clearly Shows this is a 6 cylinder.
If you look closely and count the blue plug wires there are at least seven of them. Not only that, Packard last offered a six cylinder engine in 1947.
I count well eight wires !!!
It’s an in-line 327 eight cylinder motor. I’ve owned hundreds of Packards, and worked on many more. I’ve owned several 1951-54 Convertibles.
Though this one is not in the greatest of shapes, I know I am in the minority when I type that I would rather have this model in good shape than the more touted Chevy’s of the later 50s. I have seen a 53 Packard 300 Convertible and I just love the dashboards. They may not drive as well as they look but I sure love the looks of the early 50 Packards.
The owner is so remarkably honest, I hope it doesn’t hurt his auction.
I sat in a 1954 Packard Caribbean convertible at he showroom when I was a kid!
What a limo !! I was thrilled, and wanted my Mom and Dad to buy it. They bought a 4 door Patrician instead. I liked that car as much as a 7 year old could, but did not know anything about cars.
Beautiful car from any angle!
I only see 6 wires not 8 maybe I’m not seeing the same pics. And a 4 barrel? I don’t think so. But this is certainly a clean Packard that you won’t find very often in this condition. A new top and interior and exhaust and maybe a water pump. Always remember an old school mechanic telling me that you could balance a nickle on the head when you idled a Packard.
Packard straight 8 engines are so well balanced that it is VERY easy to balance a nickel on edge, even at idle. I’ve done it hundreds of times for people who don’t believe it’s possible.
And yes, these cars did come with a 4 barrel carb as standard equipment, it was the first year.
Like most of the parts on this car, ALL the hydraulic top, window, and seat cylinders are available. The problem the current owner ran into when he tried to make the hydraulic windows work again is because he used ATF fluid, when the system was intended for DOT3 brake fluid. Using ATF will result in the fluid leaking out past the seals. The new owner will need to have both the top hydraulic control switch and the hydraulic pump rebuilt for ATF, and the 7 new cylinders will be designed to run on ATF only.
The owner reports the Ultramatic leaks when the car is allowed to sit for longer periods. This is because the torque converter assembly slowly lets the ATF drain back into the main transmission pan area, and this raises the fluid level above the pan gasket. I suspect from what the owner describes, this trans probably needs a good servicing and pan gasket replacing.
The starter probably needs either the solenoid on top of the starter housing replaced or rebuilt, depending on what type it is [Auto-Lite or Delco].
The power brake unit is one of the first available on a car, it’s the Bendix Treadlevac. These are unlike all the other master cylinders in that the piston does not contact the side of the cylinder. It is a volume displacement type. It has a poppet valve between the reservoir and the cylinder.
Because DOT3 brake fluid can crystalize and hold the poppet valve open*, it’s important to make sure the brake fluid is fresh, and I suggest a full flush every 5 to 10 years, depending on how many miles it’s driven a year. [Or the brakes can be rebuilt and silicone DOT5 fluid used. These Bendix units were used in various GM cars and Lincolns as well. They are quite reliable as long as the fluid is kept clean. Delco-Morain also supplied some Cadillacs and other GM vehicles with an almost identical unit made under license, but no parts interchange. There is a Packard Club member who rebuilds the Treadlevac units to show quality.
*If you press on the pedal and it goes all the way down with NO resistance, it’s possible the poppet valve has some dirt or crystalized brake fluid keeping it open. If this happens, quickly release and step on the brake pedal again. If it’s the poppet valve, there is a good chance the dirt will be dislodged and the pedal will work again. As soon as you can, the brake fluid should be replaced and cleaned out.
So is it a Flathead 6 or 8 cylinder? I only saw 6 wires, not 8. Yes Cadillacs in the late 50s also used the Treadlevac power brake system and not just everyone these days know how to service them.
Heck,
It’s an eight, not a six. The last year for the Packard 6 engine in a car was 1948 in the 22nd series, and then only in cars for export, and Taxicabs. Only two 22nd series export cars are known, both in Europe, and 3 Taxicabs are known, that’s all! Packard did produce a line of Marine 6 cylinder motors for a few years longer.
For 1951 the motor mounts for either the 6 or the 8 were changed, and it would be a huge amount of work to retrofit a Packard 6 into the 1953 chassis. And this would result in almost a foot between the radiator and the block! Also of note; no 6 cylinder cars came with a crankshaft that could mate up to an Ultramatic, so that’s another reason we know it’s not a 6 in that car.
Wow what a classy car. And most people run behind mass
productions like schlupp (porsche) plastillac and other junk.
That reminds us money alone will not replace a good taste
and technical knowledge. (As the blokes who drive today
a “Bentley” but its all only cheap plastic with vw stamps on
most parts).
In looking at this thread, I realized there was a slight error in the title. A 1953 or ’54 Packard Cavalier was a mid-level sedan only, with the top level sedan called the Patrician. The 2-door hardtop was a Mayfair in 1953, and a Pacific in 1954. The convertible in both years was simply called the Convertible, not including the limited-production Caribbean convertible.