More Things You Don’t See Every Day: 1955 Packard Patrician vs 1982 Avanti II

Good morning! For our fourth day of last-minute gift ideas for the hopeless project-car junkie on your list, I’ve got two cars with a historical connection through Studebaker, once the pride of South Bend, Indiana. That’s right; we’re going to dive into a little bit of Midwestern history today, and look at two amazing cars that you almost never see, or even think of.

But first we should finish up with yesterday’s Euro sedans. I honestly didn’t know how this one was going to unfold; I knew my preference, but I didn’t know which one you were all going to want. As it turns out, we were in agreement, and the Peugeot took a comfortable win, almost as comfortable as that blue leather interior is sure to be.

And excellent job with all the Purple Rain references in the comments! That ain’t Lake Minnetonka, indeed. (If you grew up under a rock, or are too young, or, like David, both, there’s a scene from the movie you have to see. I won’t link to it; just Google the phrase “purify yourself in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.” But don’t do it on your work computer.)

Now, for the short version: Studebaker started in 1852 as a maker of horse-drawn wagons, and began manufacturing automobiles in 1902. James and William Packard began building automobiles in 1899. After decades of triumphs and troubles, the two companies merged in 1954 to form the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Unfortunately, all this did was transfer Studebaker’s money woes to the solvent but high-end Packard, and drag both companies down. The party ended not with a bang, but a whimper, in 1958 for the Packard marque, and in 1966 for Studebaker.

Studebaker’s halo car, the brilliant Avanti coupe, was the company’s last gasp, and never got the chance to become the Corvette rival it was meant to be. After Studebaker closed its factory in South Bend, Indiana, two enterprising Studebaker dealers, Leo Newman and Nate Altman, bought the factory, tooling, and Avanti trademark and continued Avanti production, using Chevrolet engines. Avantis of some description continued to trickle out of various factories, under various owners, off and on for another four decades.

So, that’s the origin story of our two heroes. Now let’s take a closer look at them.

1955 Packard Patrician – $4,900

Engine/drivetrain: 374 cubic inch overhead valve V8, two-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Redmond, OR

Odometer reading: ad says 100,000, which probably means unknown

Operational status: Runs fine, but needs brakes to be drivable

1955 was a big year for Packard, even if it was to be its last gasp. The flathead straight-8 engine, in production since the 1920s, was finally retired for a new, modern overhead valve V8. Packard’s own Ultramatic two-speed automatic transmission was upgraded and revised for better performance (sadly at the expense of some reliability). And a fresh new exterior design by famed designer Dick Teague brought Packard out of the postwar era and into the Jet Age.

Packards were never inexpensive cars, but this top-of-the-line Patrician was something special indeed. Intended to take on Cadillac and Lincoln, the Patrician was every inch their equal in every aspect except sales – fewer than 10,000 Patricians were built in 1955, making this a rare car. Its 374 cubic inch V8 runs well, according to the seller, but the car needs brake work before it can be driven. Luckily, old Packards have enough of a following that parts shouldn’t be impossible to find.

Cosmetically, it looks like a reasonably clean survivor. The upholstery is in good condition, as is a lot of the interior trim, but the carpet and headliner are missing, and some other bits look partially disassembled. You won’t find a carpet kit for this car in the typical mail-order houses – this isn’t some common ’55 Chevy, after all – but a good specialty shop should be able to provide the correct carpet in the correct shade of green, and stitch up a headliner as well.

The three-tone paint is in good shape, but not great. But if it’s original, as I suspect, then a little patina is greatly preferable to stripping it all down and repainting it. All the trim looks intact, except for one hubcap. With a little elbow grease and some brake work, I think this could be a really nice weekend cruiser. And it would certainly stand out among “lesser” 1950s classics at shows.

1982 Avanti II – $5,000

Engine/drivetrain: 305 cubic inch overhead valve V8, four-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Crestline, CA

Odometer reading: 64,000 miles

Operational status: Runs and drives great, current registration

When production of the Avanti resumed in 1965, it was christened the “Avanti II,” with no trace of the Studebaker name attached. Leftover Studebaker chassis were used originally, along with Chevy Corvette 327 cubic inch small-block V8 engines. Power levels went up and down along with the rest of the automotive industry over the next decade or two. By the time this 1982 model was built, power came from a rather weak-sauce 305 V8, backed by a TH700R4 overdrive automatic.

This Avanti runs and drives well, and is currently registered and smogged. Underpowered or not, the Chevy drivetrain is reliable, and you can get parts for it anywhere. The rest of the chassis is based on the old Studebaker design, which means a live axle on leaf springs in the rear, and upper and lower A-arms in the front, hung on a conventional steel frame. This one has new brakes and exhaust, and is ready to roll.

The Avanti II’s body, like the original Avanti, is fiberglass; this was originally done for cost reasons, since Studebaker could not afford new tooling for a steel body, especially for Raymond Loewy’s complicated design. This one looks like it may have had some collision repair done on the rear, and it needs to be repainted yet. I guess that means you get to pick your own color. The seller says new replacements are included for the front and rear bumpers, and the small chrome grille that fits below the front bumper.

The interior is quite nice, with red leather Recaro seats, a nice Nardi (or knockoff) wood-rimmed steering wheel, and a full complement of power features. It’s not in perfect shape, but it’s nice enough for a driver. And this is probably the cheapest running and driving Avanti you’re likely to find.

And there you have it: two orphans from the remnants of an ill-conceived marriage between two once-great marques. Either one could be a cool and unique toy with a little work, and both are a good solid starting point. So what’ll it be: the last-gasp luxury cruiser from the ’50s, or the continuation model of a stillborn ’60s sports car?

(Image credits: Craigslist sellers)