Packard Cavalier
The Packard Cavalier is an automobile produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during 1953 and 1954. Produced only as a four-door sedan, the Cavalier took the place of the Packard 300 model that was fielded in 1951 and 1952 as Packard's mid-range priced vehicle, and was replaced by the Packard Executive.
The 1953 Cavalier was easily identified from other Packards by its unique chrome side spear trim and a "fishtail" chrome fin added to the tail light, shared with all Packards for 1953.[3]
Packard also created a Cavalier sub-series under which three other Packard models, marketed under various names were grouped:
A convertible model, using Cavalier trim, was offered during the 1953 model year and was priced lower than the Caribbean.[2]
In 1954, the Cavalier was once again offered as a four-door sedan only, but the range also lost its subseries, and the Caribbean was moved into the senior Packard line, where it remained until Packard transferred manufacturing to South Bend in 1956. The 1954 Cavalier featured "slash" trim on the rear doors. It used the same 127 in (3,226 mm) wheelbase as the premium-level Patrician series but with the straight-eight engine as in the Clipper. This 327 cu in (5.4 L) I8 engine, equipped with a four-barrel Carter carburetor, was rated at 185 hp (138 kW; 188 PS).[5]
For the 1955 model year, the Cavalier name was retired and the line was absorbed into the Packard Clipper Custom series.
- Packard Caribbean 2-door convertible based on the Packard Pan-American show car featuring coachwork by Mitchell-Bentley of Utica, Michigan
- Packard Mayfair which was based on the two-door Clipper Deluxe, but featuring higher interior luxury through fabrics and chrome trim.
