Specifications: 356 cu. in. L-head Inline 8 giving 165 bhp, delivered through an electromatic clutch and a 3-Speed Manual transmission with overdrive. Stamped steel frame with coil springs in front and semi-elliptical springs in the rear, with I beam front axle and live rear axle.
Few marques of the prewar and immediate postwar era conveyed prestige quite like Packard. Established in 1899, Packard quickly became synonymous with luxury, refinement, and cutting-edge engineering. By the late 1930s, it was the leading American luxury automaker, competing head-to-head with Cadillac and Lincoln in the premium market, while offering models in every class starting with the mass produced six cylinder 110.
In the years following World War II, the automotive market became a frantic battle ground. American automotive manufacturers scrambled to produce new designs however it proved a difficult task and for the most part almost all manufacturers - including Packard - stuck with the designs they had achieved prewar success with. Equally important, no new design work or tooling was required. With the return of civilian auto production in 1946, Packard reintroduced the Clipper line – designed by Howard “Dutch” Darrin, and introduced in 1941, just prior to the wartime shutdown of automobile manufacturing.
At the top of the range sat the 1947 Packard Custom Super Clipper, a full-sized luxury sedan that offered understated opulence, smooth power delivery, and a peerless ride. Powered by Packard’s most sophisticated chassis, the drivetrain delivered remarkably smooth and capable performance, making the Clipper one of the fastest as well as the quietest and most comfortable cars available, as befits a car aimed at society’s upper echelons.
The interior appointments were equally distinguished: broadcloth upholstery, fine wood-grain finishes, a full array of instrumentation, and Packard’s hallmark attention to detail. This was a car designed not merely to transport, but to impress. The vast majority of Packard clientele opted for the limousines and five or seven passenger sedans on the longer wheelbase. This makes the two door Club Sedan a rare find, with some sources claiming just six examples were built. It is widely considered the last truly “great” Packard before the onset of the company's decline in the 1950s.
This lovely example offered here is a nicely and sympathetically restored Club Sedan that features many attractive and impressive original features including such luxury amenities as Push-button radio, heater/defroster, and electric clock. Under close examination it would appear that the Packard still retains many of its original finishes and components, particularly in the interior, having never required a full restoration.
This example was purchased new by Frank Smith Motors of Oklahoma City for an airport runway contractor who kept the car in a hangar before selling it to CCCA member Steve Chapman of Waxahachie, Texas. In 1986 he sold the car to Toby Yows of Tyler TX, who undertook a ground up restoration before selling it to Max Chapman of Waxahachie, TX. He sold the car to Raymond Kroll of Minneapolis, MN several years later. Kroll climbed in the Packard and drove it 1,400 miles home over two days without incident.
Finally in November of 2011, he sold the car to the present owners. An ideal car for the Classic Car Club of America’s many CARavan tours, the present owners have used it on four or five of these 1,000 mile tours, which the car completed, needing nothing more than a service before departing on its next adventure. It has toured the lower Mississippi river and New Orleans, Kentucky Bluegrass country, as well as both CARavans in both New England and Florida.
Sleek and custom-looking, the Packard Custom Super Clipper Club Sedan was a statement of post-war success that was virtually unrivalled by anything the big three were producing. With its distinctive looks and highly correct overall condition, this nicely restored Packard is perfect for tours, events and shows throughout the country. It is without a doubt the most desirable post war Packard ever built.
Model 2125. Chassis No. 1625E2090. Mileage:17297. All items are guaranteed authentic by Miller & Miller Auctions. All purchases are eligible for free delivery to the Check the Oil Show on June 20-21 2025.
