1953 Packard Cavalier - Jalopnik Comments

1953 Packard Cavalier

PackardJohnny — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:57:04 EDT

A pal of mine sent me the link to this one. I've owned Packards since 1966, and in college had a '53 Cavalier just like this one except that it was a $50 car in 1968, having suffered the ravages of East Coast roadsalt. Murilee - I'm exceptionally impressed with the details you gave. All are absolutely correct - good job! The radio is a signal-seeking "Wonderbar", which I believe was a Packard first a year earlier. The body color of mine was all done in the roof color (forgotten the name) of this one; the body here is Orchard Green. The Cavalier was the lesser of the '53-54 "Senior" Packards - the top of the line was the Patrician which differed by having extra chrome on the rear door, fancier interior and 9 (vs. 5) main bearing motor of the same displacement. Both have 4-bbl Carter carbs and a 127" wheelbase.

PackardJohnny

1953 Packard Cavalier

SpudMills — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 22:06:36 EDT

Ya prolly wanna update the brake system. Single reservoir I'm guessing, based only on the '66 Belvedere I used to have, the only pre 1972 car I ever screwed around with. Having lost most of the brakes on an '85 F150 while on a crowded freeway and finally finding an uphill offramp to assist is deceleration, I can only imagine the amount of fear one would have when pressing the pedal to the floor and getting nothing but a squirting sound and knowing there's no secondary reservoir.

SpudMills

1953 Packard Cavalier

quayzar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 20:52:35 EDT

Whoever buys that should just clean it with no modifications. If you want to go nuts painting and chopping a car don't get one that looks great already (especially with all it's originality). Modern five year old cars don't look that nice. That would be a great slow drive car. Something that makes you go nod your head and say, "Yeah, you know it", to onlookers and sure enough they would.

Buy it, polish it, and enjoy it for what it is.

quayzar

1953 Packard Cavalier

anaxomander — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:17:50 EDT

Sweet fancy moses. The grille on the *inside* (under the radio) is nicer than just about anything on the outside of one of today's cars.

anaxomander

1953 Packard Cavalier

MurileeMartin — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:59:00 EDT

I bet a straight eight sounds good with Cherry Bombs.

MurileeMartin

1953 Packard Cavalier

evoCS is possibly NSFW — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:49:02 EDT

Damn what a fine find. The patina is just fantastic. I'm all a-twitter now. Thanks for sharing!

evoCS is possibly NSFW

1953 Packard Cavalier

ZeGerman — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:15:12 EDT

Offer $4,000. Sounds like they would take it.

ZeGerman

1953 Packard Cavalier

kaosfere — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:10:26 EDT

Holy crap, what a beautiful machine.

I wouldn't give it the ratrod treatment. Something about that car is just gorgeous as it is, and I don't think it would be improved much by primer black and a chop top.

I'd refresh the chrome, buff up the paint, and for the love of all that is good keep those fat whitewalls on it.

Then make it fast and loud.

Rowr.

kaosfere

1953 Packard Cavalier

squablow — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:54:14 EDT

If Packard had survived till today, do you think there'd be a bunch of yuppies driving around in $50K Packard SUV's? I wonder what a Patrician EXT would look like.

squablow

1953 Packard Cavalier

mopar_man — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:14:15 EDT

$6000 doesn't seem too bad really. The interior looks good, the body is straight and rust-free. I would buff up the paint and polish the chrome a little and drive it as-is.

mopar_man

1953 Packard Cavalier

MurileeMartin — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 12:03:07 EDT

@biminitwst: $6000 was the first number she mentioned, but it's clear the actual selling price would be lower. Oh, I'm considering it!

MurileeMartin

1953 Packard Cavalier

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:54:06 EDT

so, just how high does that straight 8 rev at highway speeds with a 2 speed?

FЯeeMan is slowly cЯawling out of the new commenting system

1953 Packard Cavalier

biminitwst — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:08:20 EDT

How much did you have to pay for that fine machine?
You DID buy it, didn't you?
The JFG should have at least one Packard, IMO. A prewar car, I would think.

biminitwst

1953 Packard Cavalier

Grib — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:59:25 EDT

I'm such a Packard fanboy now. Great find, MM.

Grib

1953 Packard Cavalier

HoubaHouba! — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:06:06 EDT

I'm a big fan of the rat treatment but IMO this one just oughta be driven. Prefereably while channeling a WWII-vet uncle wearing a panama hat/fedora/fez and smoking a stogie.

"Hey kid! Run downa street and put twenny on Battlegun to place in the 3rd at Belmont, will ya?"

HoubaHouba!

1953 Packard Cavalier

dculberson — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:59:40 EDT

Just gorgeous. The grille alone is testament to Detroit's potential.

Next time I want another car, I should have you do the shopping for me. Quick flight out, and drive it home... less work than fixing most of the rust buckets I end up with in Ohio!

dculberson

1953 Packard Cavalier

Ray Wert Jr — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:43:23 EDT

@HeeeeyJake: Yeah but they used real metal not a plastic/aluminum alloy.

Ray Wert Jr

1953 Packard Cavalier

HeeeeyJake — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:35:06 EDT

I bet the Packard had a better side impact rating than the J-body...2 stars and still sold until like a couple years ago...ERRONEOUS!

This Packard begs to be painted flat black or primered with wide whites and do the rat rod/lead sled treatment. Wery nice, yes?!

HeeeeyJake

1953 Packard Cavalier

Ray Wert Jr — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:14:46 EDT

So this is how old the J-body chassis really is!!!

Ray Wert Jr