1946 Packard Clipper Eight

Packard first used the Clipper name on the 21st Series in 1941 and fitted with the existing One Twenty's engine installed in a new chassis and clothed with modern, streamlined styling. Only one body style was initially offered, a four-door sedan, which was lower than any contemporary Packard and wider than nearly all other cars on the U.S. market. The Clipper styling was extended in 1942 to the most junior, six-cylinder line, previously known as the One Ten. This would continue nearly unchanged when civilian automobile production resumed in October of 1945.

The 1946 Packard model line for its 21st Series cars continued to use the Clipper name, six- and eight-cylinder engines, and wheelbase sizes of 120-, 127-, and 148-inches. Trim levels included Standard, Deluxe, and Custom distinguished by interior accouterments, chrome molding, engine sizes, and exterior footprint. Packards would continue to use these pre-war designs through 1947, while all-new designs were being prepared for 1948 with the introduction of the 22nd Series Packards.

1946 body style included a two-door club sedan and a four-door touring sedan, both with seating for six. Packard used a single body style for all 1946 Packards, even though it varied wheelbase lengths.

Packard's 'entry-level' model for 1946 was the Clipper Six with prices beginning at $1,680 for the Club Sedan and $1,730 for the touring sedan. The inline six-cylinder engine displaced 245.3 cubic inches and delivered just above 100 horsepower. Above the Clipper Six in Packard's model hierarchy was the Clipper Eight, available in Standard and Deluxe trim levels. Above them were the Super Clipper Eight and Custom Super Clipper Eight.

The Packard Eight had a 282.04 cubic-inch, L-head, inline eight-cylinder engine with a Carter two-barrel carburetor and developed 125 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. The Standard Clipper Eight was offered only as a four-door trunk sedan (known as a notchback) and it had a nameplate script located below the vent windows on the front doors. Priced at $1,800, the Standard Clipper Eight Touring Sedan rested on a 120-inch wheelbase which it shared with the Clipper Six and the Deluxe Clipper Eight. Bodystyles on the Deluxe Clipper Eight included a Club Sedan priced at $1,815 and $1,870 for the Touring Sedan.

The Deluxe Clipper Eights had wraparound-type grille extension bars, additional window moldings, nicer wheel trim treatments, and a more luxurious interior.

Standard Clipper Eight sales reached 1,500 units while the Clipper Deluxe Eights accounted for 5,714 sales.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2020