Straight-8 Orphan: This 1954 Packard Clipper Panama Marked the End of an Era

Yes, Packard continued to sell cars through the 1958 model year, but the vehicles that hit showrooms after 1956 were actually based on Studebakers. Packard retained the Clipper nameplate for 1957, but sales were low, despite the standard supercharged V8 engine.

Dubbed "Packardbakers" by critics, the 1957-1958 Packards sealed the fate of what once was America's premier luxury car manufacturer. But the decline started in the early 1950s. Packard went under for many reasons, but the Ford-GM price war and the merger with Studebaker were among the biggest blows.

The 1954 Clipper you see here comes from that troubled era. It's not a final-year rig, and it's not even a Patrician, but it's one of the last great Packards and perhaps one of the finest Panamas still on the road. 

What's a Panama, you ask? Well, Packard used this name on a two-door hardtop version of the Clipper. The trim level was introduced in 1954, and 1956 was its final model year. And it's pretty scarce regardless of the year, simply because Packard didn't sell many cars at the time.

1954 sales barely surpassed 30,000 units, a massive drop from the nearly 90,000 examples delivered in 1953. Most of these cars were Clippers, but the Panama version reportedly found only 3,618 customers. Some sources mention Packard built 1,336 Super Panama models, but it's unclear if this figure is usually included in the 3,618-unit run. Whatever the case, it's a pretty hard-to-find Packard.

This two-tone example also appears to be in very good condition for a vehicle that's over 70 years old as of 2026. I don't think it's an unrestored survivor, but whoever refreshed this Packard did a tremendous job keeping everything factory- and period-correct. The color combo, by the way, is Packard Ivory with a Chariot Red top.

The black-and-red interior is also correct, and while not very fancy for a Packard, it's definitely a nice place to be. As for the engine, this hardtop packs Packard's 327-cubic-inch (5.4-liter) straight-eight engine. It was rated at 165 horsepower and was one of the last two straight-eights on the market. The other one was built by Pontiac, and both disappeared in 1955. This Clipper marked the end of an era. 

The Clipper Panama was reportedly driven at least once a month over the last three to four years, but kept under a cover in a dry garage otherwise. And it shows; this classic has next to no flaws and comes with a complete maintenance and repair folder. The seller says the Packard "drives smoothly and is a joy to take on road trips."

Where is it located and how much does it cost? This Clipper is located in Seattle, Washington, and the seller is asking $26,000 for it. I know of a few 1954 Clippers that changed hands for $14,000 to $21,000 in recent years, so that's a tad above the average, but I think it's a good deal given the condition (and rarity) of the car.