1954 Packard Clipper Super from North America - Comments

Fuel pump.

Gas tank had rust, kept plugging up fuel filter.

Carb accelerator pump bad.

Rusty rocker panels.

Needed a tune up.

Leaked oil (cover for oil filer wasn't tightened down enough).

Leaky brake lines.

Electrical gremlins everywhere!

I had seen this thing sit out in a field for quite a few years. It was owned by someone who was renting the near by house, and they left the car there as payment for many months worth of rent payments. The landlord had no appreciation of this vintage gem. After trying for a few years to get rid of it, he gave up on it and parked it behind some round bales where it sat rusting away quietly.

One day I decided to rescue it from becoming a landmark. I talked to the guy, he was more than happy to get rid of the thing. He was going to scrap it so the price was based on that. I shelled out $450 bucks and came back the next day with my motorcycle. The guy had the battery on a charger. He looked at me, and then the motorcycle in disbelief. I figured just maybe I would get lucky enough and I would be able to drive it home. The battery was put into the car, and the guy pumped the mess out of the accelerator petal. Car rolled over a couple times and coughed and sputtered to my amazement. A couple more whirls from the starter and the car was idling. Quite amazing, since the car hadn't been started over a year. I gingerly hopped into the car and took it out for a quick spin to make sure everything was in order. Transmission seemed to shift well enough, all two forward gears and reverse worked. Brakes were grabby but functioning. Car didn't overheat. I turned around and drove the car the 12 miles back to my house. It wasn't a very quick drive. Car quit three times, and the third time it didn't want to go again. Wound up towing it the rest of the way home.

After some tinkering I found the fuel pump was bad, ordered a new one from Kanter for $120.00 bucks. Later I found out I could have gotten one from Car Quest, sans the vacuum pump for the wipers for less than half the cost. I cleaned out the fuel tank by leaving a mix of molasses and water in there for two weeks. It took care of the rust in there. The brake lines were fixed, but the electrical troubles still persist. Most of the lights don't work nor does the radio, but the power antenna works great.

Parts are easy to find through specialty parts suppliers but aren't cheap.

The biggest annoyance is where the dipstick is located for the transmission. It is tucked neatly under the floor pan where the only way to get to it is by jacking up the car and crawling underneath it. It also makes it very inconvenient to add more trans fluid.

The transmission cooler is also a rather poor design. It is an odd shaped device with no cooling fins. The outlet (inlet?) on the engine goes to this little thing and then proceeds to go the radiator. An aftermarket cooler would probably be a good idea.

The power steering setup is pretty unique and has nothing in common with more modern setups seen in the 60s. It is a hydraulic ram and there is no return to center. You can go around a corner, take your hands off the wheel, and the car continues to go around the corner. It takes a little getting used to. There is no road feel at all, I feel like I am driving a car in a video game. The ride is very smooth, this baby was built to gobble up the open road. Not much for take off but it can keep up with modern traffic decently.

Gas mileage is horrible, fuel economy wasn't very high priority for the Packard engineering team. I got 12-15 miles to the gallon. Road handling and braking are adequate even by modern standards but nothing to write home about. Overall it is a rather well built car.

I gave the car to my dad this summer for his birthday. Gas was rather expensive and I really wanted an older car that could get at least 20 mpg. I miss it but alas it has freed me up to begin another hunt for a lonely classic waiting to be rescued from the ravages of time and field mice.

Yes Packards with the line 8 are thirsty.

Why are you using a collectible as a daily driver?

I drive my collectibles as much as possible. Only 8 minutes to work and park inside the shop. It's better to drive than sit; no seals to dry out, battery does not need a maintainer. The limited mileage does not hurt value and get to drive big block Chevrolets as well.

"Why are you using a collectible as a daily driver?"

He never said that he was, however, some people have the mentality that the older vehicles are built better and are safer than the newer vehicles. I personally know for a fact that they aren't, but I don't care if they're people that do.

And for some of you who will ask me why I know this, well it's simple.

Look at the number of car accident related deaths from the 50's, and then look at the number today. You'll notice the number of deaths in the 50's is much lower than the number of deaths today. (Some of you are now thinking: "AHA! He proved himself wrong!") BUT, you have to take into account the fact that the number of cars on the road today has DRASTICALLY increased since the 50's. If there are more cars on the road, than there is a higher chance of having an accident, which means there is a higher chance of being killed in one.

Also notice that the car accident related deaths in the 50's were frighteningly gruesome. When you died in a car accident in the 50's, you were brutally killed. Most victims were DECAPITATED, and the ones that didn't have that unfortunate fate died slowly and painfully from head trauma due to the metal dashboards and lack of seatbelts.

In today's accidents, if the victims are unfortunate enough to die, they usually die quickly and painlessly (as long as they were wearing a seatbelt and the airbags performed properly, not to mention the severity of the accident.)

While there were less car accident related deaths in the 50's (and 60's) you have to take into account these facts.

My cars are street rods, late model drivetrains and modern chassis suspension components, Brembo brakes, better tire technology for safety. Better than unmaintained cheap late model rattletraps.

I fear these many uninsured and endangering us. I just drove in a large caravan and feel safer around the heavily invested cars that have new drivetrains. I see dangerous cars spewing oil bald tires body damage that made inspection, but are months away from the next. And newer cars are just unsafe on our roads. People may make the payment, but do zero to keep them safe and roadworthy I am afraid.