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25-562: In the early 1950s, Packard used a numeric naming scheme that designated Packard's least expensive models as the Packard 200 and 200 Deluxe, while two-door hardtops and convertibles were designated Packard 250 and its mid-range sedan the Packard 300 . For model years 1951 through 1953, the 250 hardtop was named the Mayfair; for model year 1954 only, the hardtop was given the model name Pacific . The Mayfair, Packard's first hardtop offering,

50-472: A convertible top. The cars were also given innovative exterior color schemes; most were given two-tone paint jobs (for example: "Carnation" (white) and "Amethyst" (lavender)), which were considered fashionable at the time. 1,189 Pacific hardtops were built before production concluded for the 1954 model year. Starting in 1955, Packard renamed its senior hardtop the Four Hundred . Production was hampered by

75-421: A four-door sedan, two-door coupé, and a three-passenger business coupé (lacking a rear seat). While similar in appearance to the senior cars, the junior Packard lacked the noted Packard cormorant hood ornament and had vertical tail lights instead of the horizontal units on the senior models. The junior models also lacked the wrap-around rear window feature found on senior Packard sedan models. The 250 model range

100-469: A wraparound rear window, which it shared with the Patrician models. All Packards beginning in 1951 offered exterior door handles installed in the stainless steel beltline that ran along the bottom of the windshield, side windows, and rear window. Power for the car in both years came from Packard's venerable Super Eight engine, the 327-cubic-inch (5,360 cc) "Thunderbolt" inline eight, which was shared with

125-680: Is an automobile built and sold by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan for model years 1951 and 1952. The 300 represented the upper mid-range Packard model and provided better appointments than the Packard 200 or the Packard 250 models, and replaced the Packard Super Eight . The Packard Patrician 400 became the top level "senior" Packard replacing the Custom Super Eight. The 300

150-711: The Caribbean . Both the Mayfair and Pacific shared the same flat-head straight-eight engines (a 327-cubic inch for the Mayfair and a 359-cubic inch for the Pacific) with top-of-the-line, or "senior" Packards, but used the shorter 122-inch (3,100 mm) wheelbase of the "junior" models. The Pacific came standard-equipped with Packard's Ultramatic automatic transmission., while a four-way power seat, power steering, power assist "Easamatic" brakes, heater and windshield defroster, chrome cormorant hood ornament, and power windows were available as extra cost options. The body style

175-611: The Packard One-Twenty and the Packard One-Ten , and was renamed the Packard Clipper for the 1953 model year. Concurrently, the company also produced the Packard 250 , which shared the same basic body and wheelbase as the 200, but was equipped with Packard's larger 327 cu in (5.4 L) 8-cylinder in-line engine and stylized with more upscale exterior detailing. The 250 model line consisted of

200-515: The 22nd and 23rd Packard Series, Reinhart's "High Pockets" design was more formal than its predecessor, and would serve Packard until the end of the 1956 model year when true Packard production ceased. Both the 200 and the 250 were considered "junior" series cars, and were separated from the Packard 300 and Packard Patrician 400 models by their shorter wheelbases (122 in or 3,100 mm versus 127 in or 3,230 mm) and lesser trim appointments. Packard 200 standard models were available as

225-557: The 250 line. A three-speed manual shift was standard, while Packard's Ultramatic automatic transmission was offered as optional equipment. A total of 22,309 Packard 300s were built in the model's two years on the market with 1951's total of 15,309 representing the high sales mark for the 300 model. The 300 was $ 3,034 ($ 35,614 in 2023 dollars ), with a heater and defroster, signal-seeking AM radio, windshield washers, rear wheel fender skirts, wheel trim rings, full wheel covers, and white sidewall tires available as optional equipment. In 1953,

250-580: The 300 was renamed the Cavalier as Packard moved away from its strict numeric model naming structure. Neither 300 nor Cavalier is mentioned anywhere on the vehicle. The Packard Cavalier is an automobile produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during 1953 and 1954. Produced only as a four-door sedan, the Cavalier took the place of the Packard 300 model that was fielded in 1951 and 1952 as Packard's mid-range priced vehicle, and

275-699: The automotive press and make Packard look less moribund, like the Packard Pan-American and the Packard Panther . The 200 and 250 models were renamed the Packard Clipper Special and Clipper Deluxe, part of Nance's plan to ultimately spin the cars off into their own make in 1956 as the standalone Clipper and return the Packard name to a maker of strictly luxury automobiles. Total Packard production numbers for both years on both models: Packard 300 The Packard 300

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300-465: The convertible and the Mayfair hardtop. The 1951 Packard 200 and 250 were introduced as Packard's least expensive model range on August 24, 1950, taking the place of the low-line Packard Standard models which were eliminated for the 1951 model year. The 200 debuted as part of the fully redesigned Packard line, attributed to John Reinhart. Replacing the bulbous, ponton appearance, 1948-1950 Packards in

325-475: The first car-maker to offer power-brakes in 1951. “Easamatic” as they were trademarked, were a product of Bendix and an exclusive to Packard. Changes for 1952 were minimal, and centered on the requisite annual trim updates. Packard did drop the Business Coupé, a move that other U.S. automakers were also making at the same time. While Packard's overall sales for 1951 were over 100,000 units, too many of

350-736: The lesser Packard 200 and 250 models, diluting the Senior Packards of the visual uniqueness that separated them from lesser priced cars. To remedy this, Packard hired James J. Nance , the CEO of Hotpoint to reestablish Packard as an automotive leader. Among Nance's first moves was to begin building model identity by dropping the numeric model designations and renaming the entire range of models. Nance also saw to it that Senior Packards received broader visual cues and trim to separate themselves from lesser models. Nance also began creating different specialty and show cars in an attempt to create "buzz" in

375-477: The sale of Briggs Manufacturing Company who had supplied bodywork to Packard beginning in 1941. Packard 200 The Packard 200 was an automobile model produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit , Michigan during model years 1951 and 1952. Models in the 200 designation represented the least expensive Packard model range, on the firm's shortest wheelbase, and least powerful 288 cu in (4.7 L) 8-cylinder in-line engine. It replaced

400-530: The same 127 in (3,226 mm) wheelbase as the premium-level Patrician series but with the straight-eight engine as in the Clipper. This 327 cu in (5.4 L) I8 engine, equipped with a four-barrel Carter carburetor, was rated at 185 hp (138 kW; 188 PS). For the 1955 model year, the Cavalier name was retired and the line was absorbed into the Packard Clipper Custom series. This article about

425-455: The spartan appointments found on the standard models, and added chrome wheel rings, and turn indications as standard. White-wall tires and full-wheel covers were also extra. The 288 cu in (4.7 L) straight-eight produces 135 hp (101 kW) at 3600 rpm with a 7.0:1 compression ratio - Ultramatic-equipped cars received a slightly higher compression ratio of 7.5:1 thanks to which it offered 138 hp (103 kW). The 327 V8

450-443: The units sold were low-line models in the 200 and 250 series. Senior Packards – the traditional prewar niche that Packard ruled in the 1920s and 1930s – offered during 1951 and 1952 were only available as two models, the 300 and the Patrician 400, both of which were only available in a single body type, the four-door sedan. Dealers, who were quick to appease their customers, sold Packard 300 and Patrician 400 model trim and applied it to

475-427: Was also available as an option on the 200 for $ 45, considerably less than the cost of a heater/defroster. The 1951 4-door Touring Sedan was listed at $ 2,616 ($ 30,708 in 2023 dollars ). Items which have since become standard to the auto industry since the late 1960s such as heater, radio, tinted glass, carpeting, etc., were all optional on the Packard, as well as other premium cars during that era. Packard also became

500-534: Was also used as a convertible, while the name Pacific was used exclusively for the hardtop. The convertible, labeled as the Model 5479 saw 683 manufactured with a retail price of $ 3,939 ($ 44,691 in 2023 dollars ) while the hardtop was offered at $ 3,827 ($ 43,420 in 2023 dollars ). The Pacific was distinguished by high levels of interior trim: for instance, leather upholstery was provided, and the cars' interior headliners were ornamented with chrome strips intended to suggest

525-515: Was created for the 1951 model year in order to keep in competition with the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday , Buick Roadmaster Riviera , Lincoln Capri and Chrysler New Yorker Newport hardtop coupes. The Mayfair was named after the exclusive Mayfair district of London . When the hardtop was renamed as the Pacific, Packard associated the model with its senior level, personal luxury car offering,

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550-609: Was introduced in March 1951, and was specially designed to fill the vacuum of Packard having neither a hardtop or convertible in its 1951 model range when the Victoria Convertible was discontinued. Besides their unique body styles, 250's received three jet-louvers on each rear-quarter panel. Better grade trim and fabric were used within. All Packard 200 models came with twin horns, two sun visors, front and rear bumper guards, spare tire and jack set. Deluxe trim level included

575-458: Was offered during the 1953 model year and was priced lower than the Caribbean. In 1954, the Cavalier was once again offered as a four-door sedan only, but the range also lost its subseries, and the Caribbean was moved into the senior Packard line, where it remained until Packard transferred manufacturing to South Bend in 1956. The 1954 Cavalier featured "slash" trim on the rear doors. It used

600-643: Was positioned against the Buick Roadmaster , Cadillac Series 61 , Chrysler Saratoga , Frazier Manhattan and Lincoln Cosmopolitan . For both model years, the Packard 300 was built as a four-door sedan only and was mounted on Packard's 127-inch (3,200 mm) wheelbase. The car included the basic trim appointments found in the 200 and 200 Deluxe model lines and featured tinted windows, a robe rail for backseat passengers, and striped interior fabrics. Exterior trim included full wheel covers and Packard's "Winged Goddess" cormorant hood ornament. The 300 also had

625-467: Was replaced by the Packard Executive . The 1953 Cavalier was easily identified from other Packards by its unique chrome side spear trim and a "fishtail" chrome fin added to the tail light, shared with all Packards for 1953. Packard also created a Cavalier sub-series under which three other Packard models, marketed under various names were grouped: A convertible model, using Cavalier trim,

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