This 1955 Packard Clipper Super Panama hardtop is one of 7,016 examples produced for the model year. The car was purchased by the seller out of Indiana in 2014 and was subsequently fitted with a replacement, overbored 352ci V8. The brakes, suspension, and electrical system were also overhauled under current ownership. The car is finished in two-tone green over green, blue, and white upholstery. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission and a 3.90:1 rear end, and additional features include an Edelbrock carburetor, an Oldsmobile-sourced fuel pump, a Torsion-Level suspension system, a heater, and lap belts. This Packard Clipper is now offered at no reserve with a Packard 320ci V8, spare parts, and a clean Wisconsin title in the seller’s name.
The Super Panama was styled by Dick Teague and was offered for one year under the Packard nameplate before the Clipper was spun off into its own marque for the 1956 model year. This example is finished in two-tone green and features chrome bumpers, a driver-side mirror, and Clipper badging. Areas of paintwork and filler, as well as paint chips and bubbles, are noted by the seller, and rust on the rear bumper can be seen in the gallery below.
The dark green-painted 15″ steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps and are mounted with Coker whitewall bias-ply tires. The Torsion-Level suspension system was introduced for 1955, and new shocks were reportedly fitted approximately 10k miles ago, at which point the four-wheel drum brakes were also overhauled. The car is equipped with non-assisted steering, although a collection of power steering components is included in the sale. A service of the suspension is recommended by the seller.
The cabin features bench seats trimmed in teal and white upholstery with two-tone green door panels and green carpets. Features include lap belts, a heater, a clock, and black rubber floor mats. The factory AM radio does not work, and wear on the front bench seat and front passenger door panel can be seen in the gallery.
The green two-spoke steering wheel frames a textured aluminum dash panel housing a 120-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges. The fuel-level gauge is said to work intermittently, and the speedometer is said to be inaccurate. The five-digit odometer shows over 99k miles, approximately 10k of which were added under current ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 352ci V8 was reportedly sourced from a contemporary 1955 Packard and installed under the seller’s ownership. The engine features a block that was bored .030″ over, a crankshaft that was ground .010″, hardened exhaust seats, aftermarket valve springs and keepers, port-matched cylinder heads, and an Oldsmobile oil pump. A replacement radiator is also fitted along with replacement coolant hoses, belts, and an Edelbrock carburetor. A Packard 320ci V8 is included in the sale and can be seen in the gallery.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission and a 3.90:1 rear end. A replacement driveshaft was fitted under current ownership along with dual exhausts.
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