Packard’s inaugural post-war 1946-to-1947 Twenty-First Series cars were effectively the beautiful 1941 Clipper models, with modest changes to the trim—a logical maneuver, as production of the freshly designed car had been abruptly curtailed due to the war. They were imposing yet elegant, with flowing styling, integrated fenders, and delightful Art Deco touches both inside and out. At the pinnacle of the line was the Custom Super Clipper Eight, which was powered by a 165-horsepower 356-cubic-inch straight-eight. Nine main bearings ensured superlative smoothness from this expertly engineered powerplant, while a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive gave it long legs for high-speed cruising. These top-of-the-line cars benefited from a richly appointed interior complete with wool upholstery, Mosstred carpets, and beautiful wood-grained trim.

In total, 5,690 standard-wheelbase Custom Super Clippers were built for the Twenty-First Series, a figure that includes both Touring and Club Sedans. Of the two variants, the two-door fastback Club Sedan is inarguably rarer, with research by the current owner estimating that only about 60 were made, with fewer than 10 still in existence.

The Club Sedan offered here was sold new by Frank B. Smith Motors of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, reportedly to a local airport runway contractor. After some years of storage at an airfield, it was sold to its second owner, longtime CCCA member Steve Chapman of Waxahachie, Texas, then passed in 1986 to Toby Yows of Tyler, Texas, who undertook its restoration. Mr. Yows sold the restored Packard to Max Graham, also of Waxahachie.

Another well-known CCCA member, Ray Kroll of Minneapolis, purchased the car in 1990 while it was being displayed at the Grand Classic in Dallas, Texas, and proceeded to drive it home to Minnesota—a two-day journey that it reportedly completed without incident, despite having only 1,400 post-restoration miles on it at the time. Kroll would go on to add another 14,000 miles to the car during over 20 years of excellent care, during which time it received its CCCA Primary First Place in 2007, and an AACA Second Junior in 2010. It was also reportedly featured in several enthusiast and club publications.

In 2011 the Club Sedan was acquired by the present owner, himself a longtime Packard connoisseur and historian. It has been well-kept in his care, while continuing to be enjoyed as an excellent, comfortable, and very dependable tour automobile. Among other adventures, it has completed three long-distance CCCA CARavans—the Williamsburg CARavan of 2013, the Gator CARavan of 2014, and the Classic New England CARavan of 2016.

Still in very attractive order and ideal for further comfortable touring, this is a wonderful, much-loved example of one of Packard’s finest offerings—a beautifully engineered, solid machine of modern line but traditional quality, sure to win new hearts on its next CARavan.