Autopedia
Advertisement

Search By Model

Defunct

Clipper was a stand-alone make of automobile produced by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation in 1955-1956 for the 1956 model year only. Clipper was aimed at the middle price field of American automobiles which included Dodge, Oldsmobile, and Mercury.

While first used as an upscale model name beginning in 1941, attempts by Packard (and later Studebaker-Packard Corporation)

File:1956clipper.jpg

1956 sales brochure for Clipper automobiles

President James Nance to spin off the Clipper name as a stand-alone make began in the early 1950s when the Clipper name was used on Packard's least expensive line of automobiles. Nance believed that as a Packard model, the Packard Clipper was diluting Packard's standing as a luxury automobile marque.

Clippers began receiving unique trim and rear quarter panels in 1954, and when Packard introduced its heavily redesigned model in 1955, the Clipper retained its older rear sheet metal while receiving two-tone combinations that were unique to its models. For model year 1956, when the Clipper had at last become a stand-alone make, the vehicles received new rear sheet metal and tail-light treatments. Clipper's logo was a ship's wheel. Clippers were sold not only through Packard dealers but also some Studebaker dealers.

Clipper marketed two hardtop coupes, the Panama in the Super model line and Constellation in the Custom range. Both were carry-over model names from the 1955 model year.

Mid-year, dealers began complaining that consumers were lukewarm to the cars because they were true Packards and demanded that the Packard name appear somewhere on the cars. Nance refused at first, feeling that placing the Packard name on the cars would undo his plan to save the Packard name for luxury automobiles. However when Dealers began defecting to Mercury franchises, Nance gave in, fearful that the shrinking number of dealers would harm the company more than just the Parkard marque.

Following the closure of Packard's Detroit, Michigan factory in 1956, the Clipper marque was discontinued, although the Clipper name was applied to 1957 Packards built at Studebaker's South Bend, Indiana factory.


See Autopedia's comprehensive Studebaker-Packard Clipper Review.

Recent Changes

Mention any minor facelifts or major changes made to the vehicle here.

Styles and Major Options

Certain vehicles come in different trim levels or body styles. Features and major options should be mentioned here.

Pricing

Add more fields as necessary.

MODEL Trims

Trim1

Trim2

Trim3

Trim4

MSRP

$Price1

$Price2

$Price3

$Price4

Invoice

$Price1

$Price2

$Price3

$Price4

Gas Mileage

Add more fields as necessary.

As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim

Trim1

Trim2

Trim3

Trim4

MPG

c/h

c/h

c/h

c/h

Reliability

Warranty options and scheduled maintainence information should be mentioned here.

Safety

This section should reference points on safety ratings and features of the vehicle.

Photos

Add Photos of the vehicle here.

Please make sure not to use copyrighted photos.

Colors

List the colors that the particular <MODEL> is offered in.

Main Competitors

Create links to other <MAKE> <MODEL> pages in this section.

Hybrid Models

If there are hybrid versions of this vehicle manufactured, then please elaborate a little bit on it here.

Unique Attributes

If there are any features of this vehicle that sets it apart from other vehicles in its class, then mention those unique attributes here.

Resale Values

Add more fields as necessary.

<MODEL> Year

Year X

Year X-2

Year X-3

Year X-4

Resale Value

$

$

$

$

Criticisms

Please make sure to keep critiques in a third-person point of view. If using criticisms from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Generations

Clipper Models 1956 & Production

  • Clipper Deluxe
    • 4dr Sedan (5,715)
  • Clipper Super
    • 4dr Sedan (5,173)
    • 2dr Panama hard-top (3,999)
  • Clipper Custom

Total Clipper production for 1956: 18,572 (excludes exports, if any)

Worldwide

If the vehicle is sold in other markets worldwide, then this is the section to mention that information. Also, mention if the <MODEL> goes by another name in these other markets.

Design quirks and oddities

Refer to any pop-culture tidbits about the vehicle in this section.

Awards

List out notable awards that the model has recieved while in production. Boldface the company or orgainization that gives out the award, and Italicize the name of the award.

See also

External Links

Please include any external sites that were used in collaborating this data, including manufacturer sites, in this section.

Advertisement