Packard Patrician
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The Packard Patrician was an automobile built by the Packard Motors Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, from model years 1951 through the 1954, and by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, during model years 1955 and 1956. During its four years in production, the Patrician was built in Packard's Detroit facilities.
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[edit] Packard Patrician 400, 1951–1952
In 1951 and 1952, the automaker attempted to use a numeric naming structure that designated Packard's least expensive models as Packard 200 and Packard 250 and its mid-range vehicles as the Packard 300.
The highest trim level available was the Packard Patrician 400. The Patrician 400 replaced the previous model year's Custom 8 model range. The car was easily identified from other Packards by its chrome trim; in 1951 the model featured three chrome ports on its rear fenders and in 1952 the car featured four chrome ports. The car also sported a slightly revised grille from other Packard's which included chrome "teeth" in its lower area.
The Patrician 400 was available only as a premium, four-door sedan, outfitted with high-grade upholstery and chrome trimming within. Wilton carpeting and hassock-style rear passenger foot rests were also included with the car. The Patrician also formed the basis for the company's more custom formal sedan offering.
The automobile rode upon a 127-inch wheelbase and was powered by Packard's venerable in-line eight-cylinder engine.
Production totals for 1951 came to 9,001 Patrician 400 units, and 3,975 units for 1952.
The 400 model name was dropped for model years 1953 and 1954, however the Patrician name continued to occupy the premium trim level Packard from 1953 through 1956.
[edit] 1953–1954
For model years 1953 and 1954, the Patrician continued to represent Packard's highest trim level sedans. The Patrician also was used for the basis of the custom bodied Henny bodied models, including the eight-passenger Packard Patrician, limousines and professional cars (hearse conversions). During these years the Patrician received annual trim changes and improvements associated with model-year change overs in the 1950s.
[edit] 1955–1956
For 1955, the entire senior line of Packards received an extensive design update that freshened the last restyling done in 1951. Under designer Richard (Dick) Teague, the Senior Packards received a more modern grille design, "Cathedral"-styled rear tail lights, hooded headlight housings and a new exterior trim layout that afforded Packard the ability to offer two- and three-tone paint combinations with the simplest of masking patterns. While Packard couldn't afford a whole new greenhouse for the passenger compartment, new trim at the base of the rear pillar made it look like a redesigned roof line. The cars were also outfitted with a wrap-around windshield bringing it in line with American automobiles of the era. Inside, upholstery and bright work was also freshened and the cars received a new dashboard layout faced with a machined-look stainless steel facing.
For 1955, the Patrician was offered as a four-door sedan and Packard produced 9,127 of the cars.
Changes for 1956 included a revised headlight housing that exaggerated the front peak further forward. The area around the headlight was painted black to give the effect of greater depth. The also car received a different grille texture. For 1956, 3,375 Patricians rolled off Packard's production line before the model was dropped by the ailing carmaker.
[edit] 1957–1958
While Packard's James Nance had hoped to divorce the senior Packard from its lower-priced Clipper models for 1956 and beyond, Studebaker-Packard's Corporate finances were far worse than Nance bargained for following the 1954 merger between the two firms. Because of this, and a failure by American Motors to buy as many Ultramatic transmission units and Packard V-8's as Nance had hoped for, Packard production was eliminated at the firm's Detroit factory and transferred to Studebaker's South Bend complex for the 1957 model year. The sole Packard offered for 1957, a badge-engineered Studebaker President, was designated the Packard Clipper. The final Packard, a car with no series name, rolled off the line in 1958 and Studebaker-Packard's Board removed the "Packard" name from its corporate name in 1962.
[edit] Sources
- Gunnell, John, Editor (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.
- Hamlin, George L. 1951-1954 Packard, American New Choice in Fine Cars. Collectible Automobile, February 1992, Volume 8, Number 5. pp.56-69.
 1899-1958 Category (edit) |
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| Cars: | Packard 200 | Packard 300 | Packard Caribbean | Packard Cavalier | Packard Clipper | Packard Clipper Constellation | Packard Eight | Packard Light Eight | Packard Super Eight | Packard Executive | Packard Four Hundred | Packard Hawk | Packard One-Eighty | Packard One-Ten | Packard One-Twenty | Packard Patrician | Packard Six | Packard Twin Six/Twelve | Packard Station Sedan | Studebaker based Packards |
| Corporate: | Clipper | Packard | Studebaker-Packard Corporation| Ultramatic | Packard Panther | Packard Request |
| People: | Howard Darrin | James J. Nance | James Ward Packard | William Dowd Packard. |
