1951 Packard Resources

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1951 Packard Facts – Body Paint Color Mix Codes

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1951 Packard

NOTE: Packards could be painted any of their competitor’s colors on special order.

1951 Packard Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1951 Packard

An all-new 24th Series Packard line was introduced on August 24, 1950. Styling was much more contemporary to the other makers of 1950 US vehicles. They were designed by John Reinhart.  It was a total new look and fell for Packard, who had opened the Post war period with 1941 styling and then the “pontoon” look.

There were now numbered models, the 200, 250, 300 and 400, and a top line Patrician, all breaks from the previous designations of “Packard Eight” and “Standard” and “Deluxe”, “Super” and “Custom”, all quite confusing. A true hardtop model, the Mayfair” was offered, stating mid-year. The Society of Motion Picture Art Directors acclaimed the 24th Series Packard as “the most beautiful car of the year”.

Packard 200-250
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 122 inch wheelbases and lesser trim appointments. Packard 200 standard models were available as a four-door sedan, two-door coupe, and a three-passenger business coupe (without 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 288 CID  L-Head I-8 produced 135 HP with a 7.0:1 compression ratio. Ultramatic automatic transmission-equipped cars received a 7.5:1 compression ratio and 138 HP.  The 327 I-8 was also available as an option in the 200 Series.

The 250 model range was introduced in March 1951, and was specially designed to fill the vacuum of Packard having neither a hardtop or convertible when the Victoria Convertible was discontinued. Besides their unique body styles, 250 models received three jet-louvers on each rear-quarter panel. Better grade trim and fabric were used within. It also featured the 327 CID I-8 as the standard powerplant.

Packard 300
The Packard 300 was built as a four-door sedan only and was mounted on Packard’s 127 inch wheelbase.  The 300 also had a wraparound rear window, which it shared with the 400/Patrician models. All Packards beginning in 1951 offered exterior door handles installed in the stainless steel belt line that ran along the bottom of the windshield, side windows, and rear window.

Power for the car in both years came from Packard’s ancient Super Eight engine, the 327 CID  “Thunderbolt” I-8, which was shared with the 250 line. A three-speed manual shift was standard, while Packard’s Ultramatic automatic transmission was offered as optional equipment.

Packard 400
The highest trim level available was the Packard Patrician 400 which replaced the previous Custom Super 8 model range. It was easily identified from other Packards by its stainless steel trim, including a brightwork extension on the top rear fender – referred to as “the fishtail”. In This year, the model featured three chrome ports on its rear fenders. 300s and 400s also sported a slightly revised grille which included chrome “teeth” in its oval area in 1951. That change occurred to the 250 series soon after introduction.

The Patrician 400 was available only as a premium four-door sedan, outfitted with high-grade upholstery and chrome trimming within. Wilton carpeting and hassock-style rear passenger foot rests were also included with the car. With a list price of $3,662, it was the most expensive senior Packard offered. The 400 rode upon the 127 inch wheelbase shared only with the 300 sedan.

Power still came from Packard’s old 327 CID L-head I-8 engine, delivering 150  HP.  The Patrician’s iteration of the 327 was, in fact, a different engine, featuring nine main bearings instead of five as in other models, without any increase in power.

Until 1954, the Henney coach company built a few nine-passenger Executive Sedans and Corporate Limousines on a chassis with 148 inch wheelbase. Derham coach works built a few Patrician Custom Formal Sedans with leather padded roofs, small backlights and elaborate interiors on the standard Patrician frame.

Historical
Packard also became 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.

An experimental Phantom II Sports car was constructed for Packard design chief Ed Macauley on a highly-modified Club Sedan. It featured a long, wide hood scoop; wide, ribbed bright metal under­scores; similarly ribbed fender skirts; custom concentric circle wheel discs; hardtop coupe styling and two-place seating.

Total sales were 100,132 units.

1951 Packard Facts – Significant Options

• Prices Where Known
• • Backup lights and trunk light ($14).
  • Cloisonné wheel hub shell covers ($16).
  • Cormorant hood ornament ($13).
  • Curb feelers.
  • Door edge guards.
  • Emergency brake alarm.
  • Exhaust deflector.
  • Extension rear view mirror.
  • Exterior sunshade.
  • Foam cushion rear seat ($12).
  • Fuse Kit.
  • Gas door guard.
  • Heater and defroster ($77).
  • Leather trim ($153).
  • License plate frame.
  • Rear fender shrouds ($21).
  • Rear window wiper.
  • Road and fog lamps.
  • Robe cord ($12).
  • Signal-Seeking radio with electric antenna and rear speaker ($125.80).
  • Spare tire valve extension.
  • Spotlight.
  • Tissue dispenser.
  • Traffic light view-finder.
  • Trouble light.
  • Two-tone finish ($20).
  • Ultramatic rear fender nameplates (standard on cars with automatic transmission).
  • Under hood lamps.
  • Vent shades.
  • Visor vanity mirrors.
  • Wheel blocks.
  • Whitewall tires. ($28 exchange).
  • Windshield washer ($9).

NOTE: There are documented several cases where extra ‘jet louvers’ were added to Patrician 400 Series (and possibly other models) by Packard dealers. This was an attempt to bolt-on a little extra prestige by dressing-up the exterior appearance at very small cost.