I am now 93 years old and remember back in 1950 going into the Packard agency in Trenton. N.J. There was a black Packard 8 in th showroom just like the one you have shown. My Dad said that this is the car for your Mother and wrote out a check for about $3900,00 dollars. Wow! That seemed like a lot of money then. The car was great.
Mama and I moved to what would become Virginia Beach in 1955 and Mr. Flamont, the gentleman across the lane, had a 1951 Patrician. I still 'hear' the sound of him coming out the driveway.
Pre WWII Packards were considered superior to Cadillac in prestige, particularly the senior cars. Senior Packards of the 20s and 30s were every bit the equals or even superior to the contemporary Rolls. After WWII is when Packard slipped into Buick territory. We will not speak of the Packardbakers.
Clipper was sharp for post war. Now that i'm older, I would definitely like a Hawk. It grew on me. Mouth like a big flathead but sharp in its own way. Prewar like you said was another level. One of the three P's!
A Tri-Five Chevy or a "Forward Look" Dodge/Plymouth/Desoto/Chrysler? I say the Chevy. It seems like when you ask the average person about a '50s car, they think about the 1957 Bel Air and a diner. Ford had Edsel which they said was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we know that was a bunch of crap, because they did not last.
You can always tell a Packard by the grille. They kept the two downward dips on the top corners until they went out of business. The 1930s Packards will always be my favourite American cars from that era.
Man.... Packard is better than Rolls Royce... packard was THE MOST LUXURIUS BRAND in the world until WW2. Packard was the American Rolls Royce, and actually even better.... Packard was the first automaker to make a car with air conditioning in the 30s. When Packard had electric windows, seats, air conditioning, the most advanced and revolutionary automatic transmission and 310 hp v8 engine in the mid 50s... Rolls Joyce still had crank windows, no air conditioning, manual transmission, and les powerful engine. Packard also had a revolutionary torsion bar suspension and an auto- levelizer, which was years ahead of the European competition.
Great video. These are very good cars! I've owned several over the years and I currently have the larger version a Custom Eight with the big 9 main bearing engine.
This design was also known as the pregnant elephant: it did not age well. Actually designed by Packard's president's son - maybe not a good idea. Really mucked up the still handsome postwar Clipper which had caused such a stir at its 1941 introduction. They probably did need something new to move away from the early 40's look (and the 50th anniversary added some pressure), but this wasn't it. Looks like they just troweled on sheet metal. The 51 was a better design and would have had more legs - but for the fact of the too high beltline.
We own several 50s era Packards in our family none have motors displacement in liters. Packard made many engines under government contract because of the power, reliability & just great motors, used in PT boats to planes.
As far as handling is concerned, one needs to drive a car of this era for a week to learn how to 'throw' it around a corner, and then you'll have a blast. Worthy to note that this 'bathtub' Packard out-sold Cadillac in the late 1940s. Unless you've driven a 1950 Rolls Royce, who are you to compare this Packard to it?
Maybe putting on some modern radial tires can help? There are whitewall bias look radials that use radial internal construction and modern rubber compound with pie crust sidewall and retro tread pattern so they won't ruin the look.
@@DripDripDrip69 I agree. If you're going to drive it a lot, radial tires make a huge difference in handling. Europe had radial tires since the 1950s, but American cars didn't offer them until 1970.
Nice review! Hopefully you can drive one with their Ultramatic. The gas-pedal starter arrangement was also shared with Buicks of the period. I once had a 1953 Clipper Super Deluxe and made sure I had spares around, as that starter arrangement was on the carburetor.😊
The car our great great great parents drove. I can see them now getting I there Packard and going to the corner store. Grandma telling grandpa slow down. Thanks what an awesome piece of history.
I really like this review, I just expect a little more honesty in the comments about that engine bay. Sounds and runs waaaaay better than it looks in there. Looks rational enough, not necessarily bad from a functional lens, but aesthetically looks plebeian for a “luxury car”
No overdrive on that particular car. Most had it, which also shifted with the gas pedal. You missed one of the coolest items on the late -40's Packard's. It's said they have the most beautiful instrument cluster of any car, ever.... at NIGHT. The dials are glow-in-the-dark greenish radium kept energized by a soft, purple "black light". Zero impact on night vision. They are best appreciated on a rural road on a moonless night. The large numbers and needles are suspended in a diffuse cloud of purple haze, as you float along on your magic carpet ride.
"Ask The Man Who Owns One". Such a fine ride.
I am now 93 years old and remember back in 1950 going into the Packard agency in Trenton. N.J. There was a black Packard 8 in th showroom just like the one you have shown. My Dad said that this is the car for your Mother and wrote out a check for about $3900,00 dollars. Wow! That seemed like a lot of money then. The car was great.
Mama and I moved to what would become Virginia Beach in 1955 and Mr. Flamont, the gentleman across the lane, had a 1951 Patrician. I still 'hear' the sound of him coming out the driveway.
It WAS a lot of money then!😊
Pre WWII Packards were considered superior to Cadillac in prestige, particularly the senior cars. Senior Packards of the 20s and 30s were every bit the equals or even superior to the contemporary Rolls. After WWII is when Packard slipped into Buick territory.
We will not speak of the Packardbakers.
I think the 1946-1947 Custom Super Clipper was Packard's pinnacle post war
Clipper was sharp for post war. Now that i'm older, I would definitely like a Hawk. It grew on me. Mouth like a big flathead but sharp in its own way. Prewar like you said was another level. One of the three P's!
@@pbrandon4129 I've always thought the Hawk (1958?) looks like a whale shark
@@pbrandon4129 I had a 1951 200 with the 3-speed and Overdrive and a 1953 Pacific with Ultramatic and I much prefer the former.
@@jerrycallender9352 I believe 58 is right. Whale shark is a better description than the catfish! Nailed it.
I would love an inline 8 car today, but nerds won't let us.
I drove a streight 8 Buick long ago
It was a gas hog and a dog !
This is a treat! A Packard!!! I've only seen one once back in the 80s. Thanks Zack!!
Love these! Especially the convertible Victoria version like in back to the future
Do a 50s car that the average person drove plzzz
A Tri-Five Chevy or a "Forward Look" Dodge/Plymouth/Desoto/Chrysler? I say the Chevy. It seems like when you ask the average person about a '50s car, they think about the 1957 Bel Air and a diner. Ford had Edsel which they said was the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we know that was a bunch of crap, because they did not last.
@@jdslyman1720Average people in the '50s did not drive tri-power chevies. They drove del rays and 150s.
6:18 I suppose the 1945-1960 Panther De-Ville used some Packard parts for the trunk.
Hey, it's Doc Brown's Packard from Back to the Future!
Grandpa Phil’s car from Hey Arnold
You can always tell a Packard by the grille. They kept the two downward dips on the top corners until they went out of business. The 1930s Packards will always be my favourite American cars from that era.
Packard did not "go out of business."
I love the Packard more than a Chevy or Ford, just so much better looking.
Man.... Packard is better than Rolls Royce... packard was THE MOST LUXURIUS BRAND in the world until WW2. Packard was the American Rolls Royce, and actually even better....
Packard was the first automaker to make a car with air conditioning in the 30s. When Packard had electric windows, seats, air conditioning, the most advanced and revolutionary automatic transmission and 310 hp v8 engine in the mid 50s... Rolls Joyce still had crank windows, no air conditioning, manual transmission, and les powerful engine. Packard also had a revolutionary torsion bar suspension and an auto- levelizer, which was years ahead of the European competition.
Great video. These are very good cars! I've owned several over the years and I currently have the larger version a Custom Eight with the big 9 main bearing engine.
This design was also known as the pregnant elephant: it did not age well. Actually designed by Packard's president's son - maybe not a good idea. Really mucked up the still handsome postwar Clipper which had caused such a stir at its 1941 introduction. They probably did need something new to move away from the early 40's look (and the 50th anniversary added some pressure), but this wasn't it. Looks like they just troweled on sheet metal. The 51 was a better design and would have had more legs - but for the fact of the too high beltline.
I love those Packards, Studebakers, and Hudsons. Thank you for doing the review!
That straight eight sounds mean under power. Big, classy car that meant that someone important was pulling up.
My Grandmother drove Packard's. Very comfortable back seats.
We own several 50s era Packards in our family none have motors displacement in liters. Packard made many engines under government contract because of the power, reliability & just great motors, used in PT boats to planes.
As far as handling is concerned, one needs to drive a car of this era for a week to learn how to 'throw' it around a corner, and then you'll have a blast. Worthy to note that this 'bathtub' Packard out-sold Cadillac in the late 1940s. Unless you've driven a 1950 Rolls Royce, who are you to compare this Packard to it?
Rolls was just getting back into production by then, whereas the Americans were already back by 1946.
@@jptech57 Rolls Royce automobiles were back in production in 1946.
Maybe putting on some modern radial tires can help? There are whitewall bias look radials that use radial internal construction and modern rubber compound with pie crust sidewall and retro tread pattern so they won't ruin the look.
@@DripDripDrip69 I agree. If you're going to drive it a lot, radial tires make a huge difference in handling. Europe had radial tires since the 1950s, but American cars didn't offer them until 1970.
Character class and charisma
💯
Nice review! Hopefully you can drive one with their Ultramatic. The gas-pedal starter arrangement was also shared with Buicks of the period. I once had a 1953 Clipper Super Deluxe and made sure I had spares around, as that starter arrangement was on the carburetor.😊
The car our great great great parents drove. I can see them now getting I there Packard and going to the corner store. Grandma telling grandpa slow down. Thanks what an awesome piece of history.
Omg! Love seeing this!! I have a 49 Super 8. Get a hold of me if you want to do another!!
One day after Ed's Auto Reviews' Packard/Clipper video🤔
1:45 it is so quiet😂😂😂
🔥 thanks for this one bro
i do not understand the speedometer tho? is it x10?
it would otherwise only go to 11 😂 it must be x10
It is x10. No need to repeat zeros on every label. Can make the numbers bigger that way.
Back when cars had real chrome.
my grand father swore by Packards . the best.
Awesome thanks Zman!!
Nice review!
Why do you always give engine sizes in metric? All pre-1980s domestic cars used cubic inches, this one being 288.
In this case, 8 is enough.
Super cool review. Thank you,
Unbelievebly beautiful...
I really like this review, I just expect a little more honesty in the comments about that engine bay. Sounds and runs waaaaay better than it looks in there. Looks rational enough, not necessarily bad from a functional lens, but aesthetically looks plebeian for a “luxury car”
No overdrive on that particular car. Most had it, which also shifted with the gas pedal. You missed one of the coolest items on the late -40's Packard's. It's said they have the most beautiful instrument cluster of any car, ever.... at NIGHT. The dials are glow-in-the-dark greenish radium kept energized by a soft, purple "black light". Zero impact on night vision. They are best appreciated on a rural road on a moonless night. The large numbers and needles are suspended in a diffuse cloud of purple haze, as you float along on your magic carpet ride.
The engine starting system is the same as the Buicks of this era!!!
Get a new muffler!
Bruhhh rite? wtf, smh.
early buicks started the same way
I would like to find a Packard sometime
Why does it sound like it’s got no mufflers at 1:46?
The microphone was on the exhaust
Ah, okay, the sound just seems in total contrast to the statement about smoothness that precedes it!
@@ShootingCars it still sounded like it had an exhaust leak or a bad muffler.
Grandpa Phil’s car from Hey Arnold. Well his was a 1947.
I could see Dick Tracy cruising around in a Packard
😍😍 Cool!
Sounds like a racer .
Salute!
Nice 😀