Packard Mayfair

The Packard Mayfair was a hardtop coupe, which produced the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit in the model years 1951, 1952 and 1953 as part of the Series 250. The technical data are identical to the Convertible ( Cabriolet ) of each vintage.

Model history

On August 24, 1950 Packard introduced with its 24th series called model range its latest generation for the model year of 1951. She had been developed under Chief Engineer William H. Graves and chief designer John Reinhart and consisted of the series 200, 200 Deluxe, 250, 300 and 400 Patrician Were available chassis with two wheelbases: 3,099 mm (122 in.) for 200, 200 deluxe and 250 and 3,226 mm (127 in.) for 300 and 400 Patrician latter mentioned only as four-door sedans, at Packard Touring Sedan, were available. Packard called the new, first time in years competitive design contour styling.

1951

The Series 250 was originally composed of a two-door hardtop ( Packard called Sports Coupe), the Convertible followed shortly thereafter simply called convertible. The two variants of the chassis of the split 200, which was additionally stiffened to compensate for the absence of a co-supporting ligand B-pillar. Shortly after launch pushed Packard Mayfair additional qualification for the hardtop after.

While, as mentioned, the chassis and body were derived from the 200 based the technology on the 4-door model 300 also features the standard was increasingly comparable. Very early 250 hardtops and convertibles analog reported external characteristics of the series 200 and 200 Deluxe, so the radiator grille without the vertical "teeth" of the more expensive models. Similarly, there was for the early models no chrome trim on the rear fenders.

This initially appears logical allocation of sporty coupes and convertibles for small series - hence probably also the series designation 250 - turned out to be increasingly unfavorable. The market demanded a more luxurious appearance for such variants. Therefore Mayfair and Convertible received very early in the model year, the grille and four other decorative elements on the rear fender, jokingly called the " bottle opener " because of their shape. Already on the Packard stand at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1951, the 250's were exhibited in the new trim. Because the means for corresponding models on the larger chassis were missing Packard contributed to the market situation by gradual appreciation of the 250 series statement.

Packard retained the traditional line eight- cylinder engine from its own production and used for him increasingly the name " Thunderbolt ", from 1953 on the cylinder head. The now quite aged engine with side- side valves came from the 1930s and was available in two engine capacity sizes. The smaller one with a 4,721 cc or 288 C. I. Displacement and mechanical tappets remained the 200 and 200 Deluxe reserved. From larger with a displacement of 5,359 cc (327 ci) ( Bore × Stroke = 88.9 mm x 107.95 mm) and hydraulic tappets there was ever a version with five-fold, respectively, seven bearing crankshaft. The increased construction costs were not used to improve performance but to make it even quieter anyway a smooth-running engine. He was the Patrician 400 reserved. The marketing started calling " Thunderbolt " for these engines to use.

250, including Mayfair and 300 was the 5.3- liter engine with five- bearing crankshaft reserved. It made ​​150 bhp (112 kW), respectively. 155 bhp (116 kW) with the optional available higher compression ratio of ( 7.8:1 instead of 7.0:1 ). By default, a Dregang manual gearbox was fitted with synchronization of the top two gears. Optional stood overdrive or the new, in-house developed automatic Ultramatic available. Who the existing, not just restrained, chrome trim was not enough could for the Models 200, 200 Deluxe, 250 and 300 has a chrome cap for the rear fender which order as small tailfins worked. A at this time rather unusual option for all closed models had a single windscreen wiper for the rear window.

With 1,588 Mayfair and 2,572 Convertibles sales remained well below expectations.

1952

The 25 series started on November 14, 1952 with minimal changes: On the hood of a coat of arms replaced the brand logo in block letters and the cormorant hood ornament on 250, 300 and 400 Patrician let the wing opposite the 24 series with something larger. Mayfair and Convertible now had three instead of four decorative elements at the trailing edge. The door locks have been revised and incorporated twice as much insulation as last year. The interior was redesigned with the help of fashion consultant Dorothy Draper. For U.S. $ 45, it was the first time tinted windows, called Solex sun shade. The color was green, was darker the windscreen up and down was continuously lighter.

Little has changed on the motors. The 5.3 liter could now also be ordered as an extra U.S. $ 45 for 200 and 200 Deluxe. Also overdrive and Ultramatic cost charge: 102 U.S. $ and 189 U.S. $. For this in-house automatic was not only the only one that an independent (of the major U.S. manufacturers ) car maker was offering them was also one of the best on the market. Only Oldsmobile demanded something less for his version of the Hydra-Matic and those of Mercury was virtually the same price. The biggest technical innovation was undoubtedly the introduction of servo-brakes. When they were called Packard Easamatic and were like the Ultramatic standard in the Patrician 400 For all other models, they cost an extra $ 39 U.S.. Bendix Aviation Corporation had developed the system under the name TreadleVac, the adaptation was done in collaboration with Packard. By the end of the 1950s it was used by various manufacturers, especially in passenger cars. Packard continued TreadleVac at least one to 1956. Typical for the customer service of the brand to offer a retrofit kit for the servo brakes for customers with a Packard of the 24th series was.

1953

The 26 series, introduced on November 21, 1951 clearly brought more changes. On the vehicles there was a minor facelift (the first of the new chief designer Richard A. Teague ). The front mask looked much more modern with a " bars" across the entire width. In addition, the chrome has been refreshed on the flank. Promotional materials and delivered early copies show the three " can opener " called chrome trim on the rear fender; these have been omitted early in the model year.

In addition, there were new taillights (again different for the larger models ) and new names. The cheapest models were called Clipper and Clipper Deluxe, from the 300 to the Cavalier and the Patrician was lost the additional designation " 400 ". For Mayfair and Convertible did not change. Technically identical but because of luxury equipment was much more expensive, the new Caribbean convertible.

The engines were given a power boost by a higher compression ratio and other carburetor systems. Mayfair, Convertible, Caribbean and Patrician rendered now 180 bhp (134 kW), the latter is still with the engine with nine bearing crankshaft. Clipper had the 4.7 liter engine, now with 150 hp (112 kW) and Clipper Deluxe a version of the 5.3 -liter with mechanical tappets and 160 bhp (119 kW).

Especially, the " sporty" ( American standards ) models by Packard suffered increasingly under, to can not offer a V8 engine. Although presented the performance - as always at Packard - from nominal to keep up with the competition can (the large engine was even stronger than the modern V8 with 165 bhp of archrival Cadillac or 123 kW). The gentle, unemotional characteristics of the large number of motors felt anything but sporty at.

For reasons outside the control of management (eg, the unexpected loss of body supplier Briggs Manufacturing Company in 1955 ) lacked the funds to the planned new model with the already fully developed, in-house V8 to enter into series production. Instead, it was sufficient for 1954 once again a facelift - as expected with very poor sales performance. Successor of Mayfair, 1954 Packard Clipper Pacific and in the series there was with the Super Panama for the first time also a hardtop. While the Cavalier with 185 bhp (138 kW) to make do had to Patrician, Caribbean, Convertible and Pacific granted in last year of production of Packard - line engines the giant, now ³ to 5884 cm ( 359 ci) increased eight-cylinder with nine bearing crankshaft and 212 bhp (158 kW) - the largest and most powerful production car engine world.

Production hardtop coupes, 1951-1954

Production figures are based on the model year; 1952: Mayfair and Convertible together. 1954: Super Clipper business coupe and Panama together.