1942 Packard 8 Clipper Special - Caffeine and Octane

Vehicle Description

Packard 8 Clipper Special

Body type #1592

Series 20

Model # 2001

8 –cylinder flat head

125 horsepowe,

120 –inch wheel base.

These were the last cars made by Packard in 1942.

This is a Packard 8 clipper Specia, not a Packard Super 8. The Packard archive has only 4 of these cars that been have ever been registered.

the 1942 Packard had many new innovations ,

* Concealed step side entry.

* A gas tank whistles that let you know before the tank was full.

* duel air vents in front seat and back

The Briggs Manufacturing Company was tasked with building the Clipper bodies.

The sales of the Clipper series were very successful, outselling Cadillac and LaSalle. The vehicles were stylish, durable, and elegant. The body of the vehicle had been designed by the legendary Howard 'Dutch' Darrin.

The sixteen valve eight-cylinder engine powering the Clipper was capable of producing 125 horsepower Packard quality made the Clipper Series very desirable.

In February of 1942 the United States Government ordered all manufacturers to cease production of automobiles and shift their priorities to war related efforts.

Packard began the production of aircrafts and marine engines,

President Dwight Eisenhower had 4 of the clipper specials, two went to Europe and two in the states.

Packard made a limo version of this car for him, that now sits in the Smithsonian museum in Washington D.C.