3-Speed Supercharged 1957 Packard Clipper Wagon
This 1957 Packard Clipper wagon is sharp. It has sharp styling, sharp angles, sharp Dagmars, and once it’s restored it’ll have a sharp price. The seller is asking $12,500 and it can be found here on craigslist in, as Justin Wilson the Cajun Cook would say: way up north, Shreveport. As in Shreveport, Louisiana. Too obscure? Let’s check out this Packard, you’ll like it, I gare’own-tee. Thanks to Ikey H. for sending in this sharp tip!
Not that a person ever wants to be hit by a car, but you do not want to see this ’57 Packard wagon careening towards you. There are very few things that we can count on in life. One is that when you’re at a grocery store, there will be several near misses due to horrible cart drivers barreling out of a side aisle into the main aisle as if they were the only ones in the whole store. Another thing is that on every 1957-1958 Packard story, there will be a few “Packardbaker” comments. That’s not a bad thing, it just is what it is. Wait, that’s another thing, every contractor says “it is what it is.” Ok, back to this Packardbaker, I mean, Packard.
That is one heady greenhouse. Herman Munster could wear a top hat in this car and have headroom to spare. It almost looks like two different cars that were grafted together, the top portion doesn’t seem to flow quite as smoothly and sleekly as the bottom portion does. The seller says that this is 1 of 869 produced and I’ve seen other similar numbers and they’re pretty rare to see today in any condition. Nice original or restored examples can easily sell for $30,000-$60,000.
Here’s where it gets a little hairy. This is the only interior photo (I know, even in late-December of 2019) and you can see that this car will need a lot of work inside. It’s disappointing to only have one interior photo of a big station wagon that looks as good as this one does from the exterior but we’ll have to assume that the rear seating and cargo areas look similar to the front passenger compartment and go from there. One feature that I didn’t expect to see here is a three-speed manual with overdrive and a column shift.
And, then there’s this: a McCulloch supercharger! A Packard wagon (restyled Studebaker President) with a 3-on-the-tree manual transmission and a supercharger! (!!) (!) Now that’s cool. This is Studebaker’s 289 cubic-inch V8 which would have had 275 hp with the supercharger. This was a well-performing car in its day and it will easily keep up with modern traffic once it’s restored. I would restore this car back to bone-stock original-spec, how about you?
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Comments
Too bad that power plant’s not in a Studebaker Conestoga…
Have to be able to put in an Automatic. Losing sensation in my right foot from Neuropathy. Would someday have to put in hand control.
I’d want to do a full resto. Despite — or maybe because of — its styling excesses, this over-finned, over-sculpted Packard grabs me. The supercharged engine doesn’t hurt, either.
Give the rarity of such wagons, a resto-mod seems like a bad idea. And I don’t see anyone putting a lot of miles on it, either, so no real need for more performance, modern wheels/brakes or any such upgrades.
Once again, the price seems to be too ambitious, especially considering the cost of getting it all shiny and new. The plating bill alone would be jaw-dropping.
But it would sure be fun to take to Cars & Coffee!
I’d re-do the brakes, sound system (not too big), a/c (and make sure the heater works), 3 point seat belts, fresh paint all around, as close to original as possible, fluids, etc. Make sure the girl can still dance. Oh, and of course, we might have to do something with that interior. No matter where you would take it, it would turn heads and start conversations. I just do not have the space, etc. (I guess you’ve heard this before.) But, basically, I like this one.
Now that’s one rare car. It will never win a beauty contest in the design area but it would be blast to drive and you would never loose it in a parking lot. If I were a little bit younger I would jump on this car in a heart beat
Scotty I hadn’t thought about Mr Justin Wilson for years until now..used to love his cooking show and his dishes were delicious bring the heat and stiiirrr..just like this old wagon could do in the right hands..could be a beautiful car again
i watch shotgun red a lot on youtube for those dishes of his and the other day i got lots of hints of justin wilson again, hit on one and got hit with dozens, being an old county boy from the mississippi delta land i love to hear him talk
this could be sooooo nice!
Oh Lord! That rear end, what were they thinking ? Looks like those decks on the back of a yacht where you store your water toys
In its day, it was great. There seemed to be a contest, in the last ’50’s and ’60’s as to who could outdo the other with radical tail fins and lights. Grills were in the competition, too.
I don’t see any power steering on this car. A Packard without power steering? Too bad the price is so high, given the fact it needs a complete restoration.
Driving into pedestrians is one thing, but backing into them always risks the chance of implement.
“Impalement” ??
You know that dam autocorrect is always out to get you!
Thpbpbpbpbpb
I have seen one of these fully restored and they are eye catching, so rare .
This “Country Sedan” weighs in at 3800 pounds and over 206 inches long on ’50’s drum brakes. Restoring back to “bone-stock” raises some safety concerns unless this becomes a trailer queen. I’d add seat belts, front disc brakes & aggressive rear drums. Living in Florida, I’d add an alternator and electric fan so I could discreetly add the requisite air-conditioning. The original gold might have a bit of pearl added; and the original white might be more cream, so it would pop in the sunshine of Florida.
I own and drive several ’50’s era Studebakers. Starting in ’56, most of the V8 models, Including this Packard, had very good drum brakes. Large 11″ finned drums that stop the cars well. I drive a ’57 Hawk often, and it’ll lock up the wheels whenever needed. Sure, disc brakes are better and don’t fade much, but Studebakers were very well engineered cars that drive surprisingly well.
Later Avanti disk brakes – you did know they beat the Vette by a year in 1962 ?….are a bolt on….that is if you have a small foot.
If driven properly, this car could do some highway stuff. Not too much. Couldn’t possibly keep up with today’s cars. By-ways rather than highways. But, just enjoy the ride and the scenery. Relax. Take your time.
It can easily keep up with today’s cars. It will do 100 mph without a problem.
Patrick– Say what? This car was 275 H.P., and as equipped with overdrive transmission, would exceed 125 MPH. 0-60 in around 8 seconds. So how do you figure it won;t keep up with modern cars?
What a perfect candidate for a very “funkie” “rat rod”. Don’t take anything off of this car except the wheels and put on some great wheels, exhaust system that says “glass packs”, little foam on the front seat, small rug from Oaxaca, Mexico and start “crusin”. If someone wanted to buy it later on and take back to original no harm no foul. Oh, one more thing, make very sure it would be safe to drive any where and always!
Actually, when this car was new, I think it was the top of the line and was heavily optioned. I’ve seen Studebaker wagons like this that were pretty plain. It amazes me, that with the trouble Packard was in, someone still thought enough of them to order a car like this. Far as the 3 speed, we have to remember, automatics had only been out a few years, and many still preferred the old tried and true stick. Seeing this was darn near the end of a once mighty auto maker, that in itself warrants a full restoration. Just don’t expect many to agree with you. I think it’s really neat. Don’t care for the “puffer”, but adds a lot of value today.
auto correct is my worst enema….lol
I have always liked the ’57 Packard wagon (NOT ’58 though). I like the trim proportions…like a mid-sized wagon; I know that wouldn’t have been considered an advantage in ’57. 3-speed, and supercharger, and I’m in! :)
Price seems…optimistic.
This is something that can be driven while improving it. I sure would like it!
I am picturing it restored to original colors with Coker Tires Packard wire rims & a set of 2.5 to 3 inch white walls. Stylin!
Owner has had this one for years – and routinely puts it up for sale – funny it hasn’t had the chance to make it run. There is also another one just like it that comes up fer sale often.
As a LONG-time Studebaker guy, I’m with the others who suggest this one has an…optimistic….price point. It would be a reasonable purchase at HALF the asking price…maybe. A wagon from Studebaker or Packard is definitely not a mainstream appealing vehicle; a narrow niche is more realistic.
The supercharger is definitely cool….and then there’s the cost of having it rebuilt (it’s NOT a DIY project); and then there’s a pretty torn-up interior (although only one photo of it) to have re-done….and the list goes on…
Given the amount of work that’s needed, I’d be more interested in the baby blue Stude wagon behind it. It looks to be in a lot better shape. Above commenters are right that this would be a really nice looking restoration when completed, but beyond my resources and capabilities.
I believe that’s a ’56 Chrysler New Yorker wagon behind it–the baby blue one.