Vehicle Description
Last of the straight-8 Packards. Mostly original car with one
repaint in great colors. Strong-running 327 cubic inch straight-8
with 4-barrel carburetor. Unusual factory A/C, power steering and
brakes. An attractive '50s cruiser that's not the same old
thing.The Cavalier was Packard's senior model in 1954, offering the
traditional buyer the kind of luxury and quality that they had
enjoyed since the 1930s. While is debatable whether that was part
of Packard's downfall, there's no arguing that even in 1954, this
car felt special. There's a tangible feeling of quality throughout
that belies the car's price tag today and the company's dire
straights in the mid-50s. Wearing a beautiful combination of
Meridian Blue over Polaris Blue, it's a big, handsome sedan that's
understated in a way few '50s cars are. In fact, 'understated' was
a Packard hallmark, but the closer you look, the more details stand
out. Note the little fins on top of the headlight rings, the side
trim that highlights the muscular quarter panels, and the door
handles neatly integrated into the side trim to make them almost
disappear. There were still some brilliant guys at work here. The
car was repainted perhaps 20 or 25 years ago but the work is
holding up well, with a nice shine that looks period-correct and
excellent stainless and chrome that really sparkles. The familiar
Packard grille still has echoes of the original shape and the hood
ornament is still a cormorant, which dates back to the '30s. There
are a few signs of age and use, of course, but the car presents
quite well and represents a lot of luxury for the money. Exterior
notes: Nice trim, older repaint holding up well. A few minor
bubbles on the rockers but not serious. Lenses and glass very good.
Doors close like a bank vault with good gaps all around. We believe
the interior is mostly original and holding up well, supporting the
believe that the 54,000 miles on the odometer are a correct
reading. There are, of course, some signs of age like the discolor
carpets, but we're not so sure we'd be in a hurry to replace
anything. It has an inviting, all-of-a-piece feel that suits the
big sedan just fine. The big steering wheel frames a simple set of
gauges that cover the basics, with working warning lights for the
generator and oil pressure. Secondary controls are underneath with
heater and defroster controls flanking the radio speaker in the
center stack. This car is equipped with a rather rare FrigiKar air
conditioning system that includes a large chiller in the trunk and
ducts coming out of the rear package shelf. The system is not
operational but it is complete, so it could probably be made
functional if that's what the next owner decides to do. The back
seat area is incredibly spacious and the upholstery looks quite
fresh, so there hasn't been much traffic back here. There's a newer
headliner overhead that's in excellent condition and the trunk has
been reupholstered with blue carpet that looks tidy. It also
includes a full-sized spare and jack assembly.Interior notes:
Possibly original upholstery in good condition. Back seat is
excellent. Carpets are discolored but in good condition. Factory
A/C complete but inop. Gauges all work. Radio inop. 1954 was the
final year for Packard's legendary straight-8 engine. In the
Cavalier, it displaced 327 cubic inches and used a 4-barrel
carburetor to make a fairly robust 180 horsepower. Impeccably
smooth, it's really the torque that makes these engines special. It
starts easily, idles nicely, and just behaves like a luxury car
engine should behave. There's a big radiator up front to keep
things cool and the A/C hardware is neatly hidden out of sight?even
the compressor is mounted down low where it doesn't dominate the
engine bay. It's got a 6-volt electrical system that spins it over
easily, so no concerns about a 12-volt 'upgrade' that isn't needed
and it's reasonably tidy in the engine bay. We don't believe the
engine has ever been opened, but with just over 50,000 miles on the
clock, it should have plenty of life left in it. Packard's 2-speed
Ultra-Matic automatic transmission shifts cleanly and allows the
straight-8 to do the heavy lifting without a lot of fuss. 3.54
gears in back mean it's a comfortable highway cruiser at today's
interstate speeds and the suspension has that pillowy soft ride
you'd expect. The car has never been fully restored, so don't
expect a highly detailed undercarriage, but as a Texas car, we can
detect no critical rust or rot and the floors are quite solid?even
the spare tire well is in excellent condition. There's a newer
exhaust system that gives it a hushed tone and newer shocks to help
with the ride quality. Steel wheels with hubcaps wear 7.60-15
BFGoodrich Silvertown wide whites for an appropriate '50s
look.Mechanical notes: Stars and runs well, a little grumpy when
cold. Very correct under the hood, looks mostly original.
Windshield wiper motor missing on firewall. Starter and generator
recently rebuilt. New muffler and rear shocks. Very solid but not
shiny underneath.Documentation includes the original owner's
manual.The Packard name still resonates today simply because they
were built up to a standard, not down to a price. Even when the
writing was on the wall, Packard insisted on building the very best
cars they possibly could. Today their low survival rate makes them
stand out at shows and if you're looking for an unusual '50s
cruiser that still has good parts availability and club support,
this Cavalier is a good choice. It feels tight and smooth like a
low-mileage car should and has clearly lived a good life. For the
money, we think this is a lot of Packard. Call today!Harwood Motors
always recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections
of any vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
