West Coast Classics are proud to present this stunning and beautifully preserved and restored only as required 1946 Packard Super Clipper Custom Touring 356 CID/165HP 8 cyl 6 passenger Sedan.
First series of Packards to be built after World War II
Model # 1622 Senior Packard
Restoration with new paint and new interior
356 CI Inline 8-cylinder engine
3-speed manual transmission
Silver exterior
Red interior with White piping
Wood dashboard
Bench seat
AM radio
Clock
Firestone wide Whitewall tires
Postwar continuation of the elegant Clipper based 1942 models at their most luxurious! The Custom Super Clipper series 2106 & series 2126 were the top of the range. The 127 inch wheelbase 4 door sedan and club coupe were now joined by a seven passenger sedan and limousine built for Packard by the Henney body company on the longer 148 inch chassis. One of the few Packards with both Classic & desirable 'Milestone' status! Timeless design & superb craftsmanship. Factory options included heater, radio, fender skirts, electromatic clutch, full wheel covers, white sidewall discs.
West Coast Classics are proud to present an exceptional and great daily driving and extraordinarily rare virtually all original specification and completely rust free and unrestored example of this top-of-the-range 1946 Packard Super Clipper Custom Touring 4 Door LWB 6 passenger Sedan, which has the aura and look of the classic 'Notchback' look about it, in original 'Vanderbilt Gray Metallic' factory color paint with a striking custom Red 'Broadcloth' interior trim, original 356CID 2BBL 165HP 8 cylinder flathead engine matched to a 3 speed manual transmission, original AM radio; heater under seat & defroster; full floor carpeting, electric clock, stainless steel hood, chrome rear fender gravel guards, rear fender skirts, directional signals, dual downdraft carburetor with automatic choke, hydraulic brakes, full wheel covers - 1 of only 4,924 Super Clipper series 2103 4 Door Touring Sedans built in 1946.
Recently purchased from long-time storage and obviously always garaged with a reportedly rebuilt engine and transmission and with an older but very presentable and striking repaint with the floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas completely original, solid and rust-free and the car has no signs of any accidents - obviously an always primarily cherished 'Garage Queen'. The 356 CID 8 cylinder inline engine runs extraordinarily well and this particular car drives absolutely magnificently - must be driven to be fully appreciated - does not miss a beat and purrs like a kitten - drives straight as an arrow - a truly remarkable daily driver considering it's age! The transmission shifts smoothly through the gears and the car is an absolute pleasure to drive! Packard resumed production after World War II in the fall of 1945 and began the 1946 model year with the introduction of the popular Clipper Eight in October.
Packard had survived the war in good financial shape having successfully completed valuable government contracts building the V12 marine engines & Rolls Royce Merlin aviation engines and the corporation considered itself in a good position to maintain its leadership of the American luxury market. Few styling changes were made over in 1946 from the pre-war 1941 model, but they were now designated Series 21 Packards. The 127" long wheel base Super Clipper & Custom Super Clipper models used the regular Clipper bodies but with front fender and hood extensions. Body options were only a two door 'Fastback' style or a 4 door 'Notchback' design with all pre-war convertible models discontinued.
Since all models were based on the Clipper body, Packard chose to rename the series. The Super Clipper replaced the former Series 160 as the mid range model. The Custom Super Clipper replaced the former 180 series as the top Packard, like this particular example. These were Packards at their most luxurious! Some bodies of these extended 127" long wheelbase models were also custom built and extended even further to 148"by 'Henney' as extended sedans and limousines. Powertrains were essentially the same as when introduced for the 1940 model year. Similarly interiors were given only detail changes and air conditioning which had been introduced on Packard's 1940 models and phased out by 1942 did not return in 1946. Whilst a great idea at the time it was bulky and lacked refinement and apparently turned off more customers than it attracted! Packard would not introduce air conditioning again until the 1953 model.
Under the hood the 356 CID engine continued with many enthusiasts preferring this classic flathead 8 cylinder engine as being both smoother and quieter, to say nothing of more classic, when comparing it to the later overhead valve high compression engines which was both slightly more powerful, and which probably more importantly in it's day, provided better mileage.
One of the few classic cars with both 'Classic' & 'Milestone' status, this is a rare opportunity to own a timeless design of superb quality and smooth performance that seem to get better looking every year! This is a superb example of a simply terrific daily driving 1946 Packard Super Clipper Custom Touring 4 Door LWB Notchback sedan! A highly sought after model and obviously widely coveted and appreciated both at home in the U.S. and internationally.
