Vehicle Description
The Packard Motor Car Company is one of the most storied names in
all of motoring. Collectors the world over covet the great
motorcars from Detroit for their beauty, quality, and prestige.
Packard motorcars have long symbolized wealth and exquisite taste,
and the company is a true American icon. Perhaps less well-known,
however, was Packard's long-running commitment to the commercial
and professional vehicle trade. Packard contributed substantially
to the development of heavy trucks, building their first in 1902,
and producing as many as 6,700 units annually during the height of
World War I. However, as heavy truck design became increasingly
specialized, Packard bowed-out of the business in 1923 to
concentrate wholly on passenger cars. Even with the shift away from
heavy trucks, demand remained for so-called "professional cars."
This category included taxis, hired limousines, funeral cars,
ambulances, and other specialty vehicles. Much like with road car
production, prestige and quality were driving factors in the
professional car business, which Packard offered in spades. Firms
such as A.J. Miller Company, Knightstown, and Eureka all favored
Packard chassis for their funeral cars and hearses. Among the most
esteemed commercial coachbuilders was John W. Henney & Company of
Cedarville, Illinois. Henney built the world's first motorized
hearse in 1916, and their hand-carved ambulances and hearses were
beautifully crafted. Like Packard, Henney built their vehicles up
to a standard, rather than down to a price. This shared philosophy
would lead Henney to secure an exclusive deal with Packard, much to
the annoyance of competitors such as Hess & Eisenhardt. Period
advertising touted "The Body is Henney - The Chassis is Packard -
The Combination is Exclusive." The two companies forged a close
working relationship, which until Henney's demise due to
mismanagement in 1955. Featured here is an intriguing 1954 Packard
Series 5433 Clipper, outfitted from new by Henney as a Junior
short-wheelbase ambulance. Built in the final year of production,
this is one of Henney's rare Junior models, built on the shorter
chassis and touted for its performance and maneuverability. This
model was favored by the US Military, and it is believed, based on
information from the previous owner that this one served on an Air
Force base in period. It is a lovely and enjoyable car, with a good
quality cosmetic restoration finished in an attractive two-tone
scheme of metallic blue with a cream roof. Important original
fittings remain intact, including the original light/siren assembly
and the stylized chrome crosses, which were a trademark of Henney
Ambulances at the time. The body is in very good condition, with
high-quality paint and detailing. The extensive chrome plating
presents well, with much of it restored to a good standard, mixed
with a few finely-preserved original pieces. The presentation is
strong, making a bold statement - even without the siren! The
interior is trimmed in complementary blue and off-white upholstery,
and it presents in excellent condition. A split bench seat features
up front, while a single jump-seat unfolds from the right rear
floor. The rear compartment is covered in period-appropriate
linoleum flooring. Original equipment includes a rear heater,
built-in first aid cabinet, privacy curtains and metal safety bars
in quarter windows. The quality of the upholstery and detailing is
quite good, again with a mix of restored and excellent original
pieces comprising the dash and interior fittings. The odometer
shows just over 67,000 miles which may be authentic, considering
this car's relatively easy service life on an air force base. The
Clipper's 288 cubic-inch inline eight is a proven, robust, and
bulletproof design that was well-suited to emergency-services. This
example runs exceptionally well, benefitting from meticulous care
and sorting by its previous owner, a dedicated Packard enthusiast
and collector. The underhood presentation is very good, with
features such as an original oil-bath air cleaner and Willard
battery lending an authentic feel. The well-sorted, strong-running
nature encourages regular use on the road, and it would be a
welcome and unique participant on Packard Club or Professional Car
Club events. Henney produced just 120 commercial-bodied Clippers in
1954, and it is unknown exactly how many left the plant as
Junior-series Ambulances. Survivors are very scarce, particularly
those with their original features intact. This wonderful Henney is
a rare and fascinating collector piece that would be equally at
home in a collection of military or vintage commercial vehicles as
it would be in any Packard collection.
