1947 Packard Clipper

Packard was one of the three 'P's of luxury, along with Peerless and Pierce-Arrow, who had earned a reputation as one of America's finest car makers during the Brass Era. Unlike those two marques, Packard survived the difficult years of the Great Depression by diversification - they expanded its model range to include a number of less-expensive, mid-range sixes, that helped boost sales in the years leading up to the Second World War. The constant demands for modernization saw the introduction of an all-new design in 1941 known as the Clipper, arguably the most significant new Packard in years. The bold styling was initially created by Howard 'Dutch' Darrin with input from Packard's in-house design team. Its new double-drop frame allowed it to be lower and longer than prior designs, without sacrificing interior space. Before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the new model was on target to exceed 80,000 units in its first full year.

Packard resumed post-War production in October of 1945, with the Clipper models rolling off the production line virtually unchanged from those made pre-War. Packards 1947 model lineup included the Series 2100 Clipper Six, Series 2101/2111 Clipper Eight (in either Standard or Deluxe guise), and Series 2106/2126 Custom Super Eight. Body styles included a two-door fastback Club Sedan and a four-door Touring Sedan. An extended version of the Super Clipper, riding on a large 148-inch wheelbase, was built in limited numbers and often used for airport taxis or limousines.

Packard's 1947 engine lineup included an L-head six-cylinder unit displacing 245.3 cubic inches, having a 6.7:1 compression, fed by a carter singe-barrel carburetor, and delivering 105 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. Two inline eight-cylinder engines were offered, with the Clipper Eights (Deluxe) being powered by a 282.04 CID version with a Carter two-barrel carburetor and delivering 125 horsepower. The Super (Custom) Clipper Eight models had a 345 cubic-inch displacement and 165 horsepower at 3,600 RPM.

The 1947 Clipper Sixes were virtually unchanged from the 1946 model year, except for slight price increases (approximately $20 increase). The Club Sedan now sold for $1,700 while the Sedan listed for $1,750. Mid-year, the prices rose to $1,915 for the Club Sedan and $1,940 for the four-door sedan.

The Clipper Eight Deluxe models had nicer interior trim and more exterior window molding trim. Optional equipment included fender skirts, wheel trim rings, roof-mounted radio antenna, white sidewall tires, heater, radio, overdrive, Electromatic clutch, and two-tone paint.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020