1952 Packard Panther Macauley

The Packard Panther was built in-house as a personal car for Edward Macauley, Packard's Director of Styling in 1951. Parts were used from production Packard's and given a wheelbase that measured 122 inches. The car sits very low to the grown making it aerodynamic and sporty in appearance. It used destined parts for the 1953 model line, including the hood and wheel wells of the 1953 Caribbean. It has a 1952 hood crest with 1951 lettering placed on a 1952 grill. It has many unique features such as extensive use of chrome on the side of the car, dual exhausts, a rear wiper, and a two-seater configuration. Mr. Macauley had several one-offs created for him over the years, all were built in-house, all were experimental, and all featured two-seater roadster bodies.

This car was the first Packard to use a wrap-around windshield, a feature that would be introduced in the 1955 Packard line. The body was created from a one-piece fiberglass molding. The design was courtesy of Dick Teague and created by Mitchell-Bentley Corporation. The rear wheel is nearly entirely covered

This car is powered by a 359 cubic-inch straight-eight engine with help from a McCulloch supercharger. The engine was connected to a two-speed Ultramatic transmission. There are four-wheel drum brakes, an independent front suspension, and a live rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs.

During the 1950s it was owned by an opera singer from New England named James Melton. He removed the original engine and transmission and replaced them with Chrysler units. The interior was also replaced with a Chrysler dashboard. The car would stay that way until the current purchased it and restored it over a three-year period. The original engine and supercharger were found in New York and many of the other parts were either purchased, taken from a parts car, or remanufactured.

by Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2007