Expanding the 1941 Packard Clipper Line for 1942

Into the 1930s, Packard was considered by many to be America's leading luxury automobile brand.   But the Great Depression of that decade was harsh to firms making expensive cars.  Packard management was faced with the decision to either (1) continue exclusively in the high-price field and risk corporate failure through low sales, or (2) enter the middle price range, running the risk of lowering the brand's prestige.  They opted for the second alternative, launching the 120 line in 1935.  Ford's Lincoln brand did the same sort of thing for 1936 when the Lincoln-Zephyr was launched.

Medium-range Packards were redesigned for 1938, so 1941 was a logical time for another redesign.   That yielded the 1941 Packard Clipper (Wikipedia Clipper entry here).

The '41 Clipper was added to the non-redesigned  carryover line from 1940.  Its wheelbase was 127 inches (3226 mm), the same as Packard's 120, 160 and 180 models.  For 1942, the Clipper line was expanded, as is described below.

The United States' entry into World War 2 resulted in curtailed car production by February 1942, so 1942 models (20th Series, in Packard's terms) were and are comparatively scarce.  Presumably a line of convertibles would have been added in 1943 or 1944, but in fact did not appear until Packard's heavily facelifted 22nd Series arrived for 1948.

Gallery

1941 Packard Clipper Touring Sedan - car-for-sale photo
This was an excellent design that combined contemporary design elements with inherited detail touches such as the vertical grille.

The hood is suitably long.

The curved character line extending along the C-pillar across the trunk is another more traditional detail.

1942 Packard Clipper Custom Super Eight Touring Sedan - Mecum Auctions photo
This is the equivalent 1942 model.  The most noticeable difference is the group of horizontal "speed lines" wrapping around the front fenders.  This detail was absent from the new entry-level '42 Clippers.

1942 Packard Clipper Special Eight Touring Sedan - unknown photo source
The wheelbase for entry-level Clippers was 120 inches (3048 mm).  Note the carryover 1941 grille without the flanking speed lines.

1942 Packard Clipper Special Six Touring Sedan - car-for-sale photo
The shorter wheelbase yielded a stubbier hood.

1942 Packard Clipper Special Six Club Sedan - Mecum
The new body style added for 1942 was the 2-door fastback Club Sedan.  It was also used for a Business Coupe that looked the same.

The passenger compartment greenhouse had a heavy appearance due to all its sheet metal coupled with fairly small side windows.  The car's profile looked better on 160s and 180s with their longer wheelbases and hoods.

The lens used for this photo probably exaggerates the fastback feature.  Nevertheless, the heaviness spoils any sportiness.