1954 Packard Series 5431 Convertible

Lot details
Registration No: USU 129
Chassis No: 54792083
Mot Expiry: April 2004

James Packard started making his own motor cars through being dissatisfied with the 1898 Winton he had bought. James and brother William were manufacturers of electric bells, dynamos and lamps in Warren, Ohio, where they built their first Packard automobile in 1899. The first Model A Packard had a large horizontally single-cylinder motor of 2337cc capacity and a 2-speed epicyclic transmission and single chain drive. Almost immediately the rich and famous drove Packards, the marque's famous slogan, first employed in 1901, was 'Ask The Man Who Owns One'. The company's first and soon to become legendary Straight 8-cylinder engine appeared under Packard bonnets from 1923.
Post WW2, Packard did not return to making large automobiles and, as a result, lost out to main competitor, Cadillac, who took over the American Number One luxury car maker mantle. Instead, Packard concentrated on making medium-sized cars and Ultramatic automatic transmission was a noteworthy addition to the spec from 1950.
Offered here is an extremely rare, 1954-manufactured Packard 'Straight Eight' convertible with the benefit of several desirable options such as power steering, automatic power-top and original wire spoked wheels. It is most unlikely that there is another such Packard in the country.
The Northern entrant tells us that the car has been mostly and sympathetically restored over a number of years. Providing lots of open car 1950s American automobile motoring, it is great fun to drive, he says.
Please Note: This vehicle is MOT'd until April 2004.