1957 Packard

Wagon Wagon

8 - Cyl.

Automatic

57L2339

Gasoline

To View Full Size Images Visit: http://gallery.me.com/trbdc/100012Here is a rust free, excellent looking and driving car. Only 869 Clipper wagons were made and there are very few in this condition. Everything is original and correct. New correct Daytona weave carpet has been replaced recently on floor, cargo compartment and kick panels. New dual exhaust has been installed. Factory supercharger is on and working. New dual antennas. vin# 57L2339 4 door station wagon 8 cylinder Exterior: turquoise Interior: green vinyl and black and gold woven material Options: power steering, and factory installed supercharger Car has been always been garaged. The odometer says 15209 and it drives like it but I will assume it is 115209. Brakes are fine. All gauges work. Radio is working. Clock does not work. The paint looks good. Roof rack is excellent. Some pitting on left rear taillight bezel but the rest of the chrome is very good. A few small chips in front windshield, all other glass is good. New headliner and wind lace come with the car. There is a rip on the front seat on drivers side. Mechanically it has been redone. Nicely detailed under the hood. For the 1957 model year, Studebaker-Packard took its top-of-the-line model, the President, and added a revised grille and taillights along with a machine-turned look dashboard and called the car the Packard Clipper. Two models were produced in 1957, a four-door Town Sedan and a station wagon Clipper Country Sedan. Taillights were borrowed from the 1956 Clipper, while the headlight 'eyebrows', hubcaps, dashboard and interior were all Packard styled (In fact, most were merely styled to give the "Packard look" while fitting onto a Studebaker, but a few actually were leftover Packard parts). In order to produce an engine of appropriate power for a Packard, a McCulloch-supercharged version of Studebaker's 289 in³ (4.7 L) small-block V8 was used, it breathed through a single two barrel carburetor. The 275 Horsepower produced by the power plant was sent to the rear wheels via a Lite-O-Matic Automatic Transmission. There are four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes and an independent-coil spring front suspension with a semi-elliptic leaf-spring setup in the rear. These Studebaker-bodied cars were quite a bit lighter than the previous year's Packards, meaning the 1957 Packard range actually had quite exceptional performance for the time. In 2010, this model car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction in Pebble Beach where it was estimated to sell for $60-80,000. Further background on the company: When the Packard company began automobile production in 1899, it was known as Ohio Automobile Company. In 1903 the name was changed to the Packard Motor Car Company when it moved from Warren, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan. The move was the result of a majority stock purchase made by investors in the Detroit area. The legacy this car represents is unparalleled. A mere 112 years after manufacturing began on the Packard Line, cars representing an remarkable era of automobile production remain on the road today. The Briggs Manufacturing Company was tasked with building the original Clipper Bodies. This conclusion was made after the Briggs Manufacturing Company had stated and proven to the Packard Company that they could produce the bodies cheaper than Packard. Production of the bodies began and the price Briggs Manufacturing had quoted Packard proved to be too low. So the price was raised leaving Packard with the extra cost. In the end, it would have been cheaper for Packard to produce the bodies themselves. The sales of the Clipper series were very successful, outselling Cadillac and LaSelle. The vehicles were stylish, durable, and elegant. The body of the early years in this line had been designed by the legendary Howard “Dutch” Darrin. Production on Packard Automobiles stalled out for a brief time during the war, when the government ordered all manufactures to cease production of automobiles and begin production of aircraft and marine engines. In 1945 the war had ended and Packard went back to automobile production. As a company they were much better for it being able to invest $2 million dollars toward the upgrade of their facilities. Packard was at this time in excellent financial condition and when production began again, they decided to only produce the Clipper Series and abandon the other model lines. The Clippers were very unique and innovative for their time. They featured cutting edge advancements that put them leagues ahead of their competition. And each year brought better results. The sales of luxury vehicle however began to decline near the end of the 1940s and continued into the 1950s. This significantly hurt Packard production and sales for their high-end luxury vehicles declined significantly. Packard’s were so well built they lasted for a very long time. So Packard did no have very many repeat customers because their customers did not need to purchase another vehicle. The president of Nash Motors, Mr. George Mason, had approached Packard about a merger during the 1950s. He believed that the days of independent car manufacturers were soon to be gone. Packard was reluctant and thought otherwise. 1954 was another bad industry year for the luxury car market and Nash Motors merged with Hudson Motor Car, forming American Motors. In 1952 James Nance was elected President and General Manager of Packard. In 1954, Nance merged Packard with Studebaker in an effort to diverse their product line and stimulate sales for both struggling companies. Studebaker had a larger network of dealers, a potential benefit for Packard. Unfortunately, Studebaker sales dipped dramatically and this ultimately hurt Packard more than it helped. In 1953 Chrysler bought Briggs Manufacturing, the producer of Packard bodies. Packard was forced to find another company to produce their bodies. None was found and Packard formed a temporary deal in 1955 with Chrysler to have them produce their bodies. By June of 1956 production of Packard automobiles merged completely with the Studebaker line. And by 1962 the decision was made to drop the Packard name from the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Just a few years later, in 1966, Studebaker was out of business. This vehicle represents two of the most regal American Car Manufacturers. It was produced in a time when some of the most brilliant designers and engineers from both sides came together and created the automobiles that would define their legacy as well as the legacy of the entire first part of the twentieth century. These cars still rolling down our highways, is a testament to the durability of their construction and the timelessness of their design. They inspire and remind us of a period in American life when the quest for perfection in ones work shown through clearly in the products they produced. It is no wonder the 1957 Clipper Wagon is one of the rarest and certainly the most desired of the Packard line. You can drive this car anywhere. It starts right up and is ready to go. This is a rare opportunity to own a 1957 Packard Clipper Wagon in this condition. Call Gary at 301 908 9450 if you have any questions or want to come inspect the car. It is located in Bethesda, Maryland. Don’t miss out on a unique opportunity to own a great running and great looking Packard wagon. To View Full Size Images Visit: http://gallery.me.com/trbdc/100012