Packard Cavalier 1953

by

Model number: BOS308

Review of the model:

The 1953 Packard Cavalier is a midrange four door sedan. Many producers of 1:18 scale die-cast model cars are for the most interested in the top of the line models. Therefore this model is a fresh breeze among the others models. The German manufacture Best of Show “BOS” have a wide range of American motorcars from the 1930’s to present. This model of the 1953 Packard Cavalier is very beautiful and well made in resin, as this maker is known for.

As a resin model the buyer most be aware of, this is a closed model, were doors and hood can not be opened. You can have a look to the interior through the windows, but the trunk and engine room is not available. The windows themselves are made of very thin plastic, that anyone should avoid touching, but they are very transparent and looks realistic with no distortion at all.

The 1953 Packard Cavalier is known for the big chrome spear along the body of the car is well made, but is only painted in silver instead of real chrome. When this is said, some of the other chrome parts are extremely good.

Best of Show model cars are known for fantastic paint work and this model will not let you down. The dark red metallic paint is as good as it comes. Hood ornament, emblems, and door handles are very good made and gives the model a vibe of De-Luxe, high-end model. Other details as head lights lenses are so realistic. The wheels, tires and hubcaps are very good made too.

I have before mentioned, some issues regarding the quality control can sometimes be seen, but when you got a flawless model, it is hard to not be a fan of BOS-models in scale 1:18.   

I will give this model 5 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and some movie clips for the real car. So please enjoy!

History:

During the summer of 1950, buyers were anxiously awaiting the all-new Packard's that were on deck for a 1951 model year debut. With over $20 million invested, the all-new lower, longer, John Reinhart-styled 1951 models were introduced on August 24, 1950, and they began rolling out of Packard's plant on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit. The reception was quite positive, and model year sales rebounded from 1950's lackluster figures to just over 100,000 automobiles despite material shortages due to the Korean conflict, government-imposed production limits and a rail strike. In mid-1952, James Nance, from the Hotpoint division of General Electric, replaced Hugh Ferry as president of the Packard Motor Car Corp. He wanted to revitalize the model lines and the corporation, but would face some growing issues that affected most Independents.

The Big Three enjoyed myriad economic advantages over the Independents, due to their high production volume (and vast dealership networks). It allowed them to lower prices to better compete in the marketplace, while still maintaining a favorable profit margin by keeping per-unit costs down via bulk discounts on raw materials and by spreading the cost of design, engineering, manufacturing and marketing across more vehicles. Yearly styling changes were more costly and risky for the Independents as well, because given the investment required, one bad styling cycle that hurts sales could take years to recoup due to their lesser resources. Realizing this, there was talk of Independents uniting in an effort to create a fourth high-volume player in the American auto industry to compete on a more equal footing with GM, Ford and Chrysler, but the large-scale merger never happened. By the time the few smaller ones did, it was essentially too late to save many from ruin--Packard among them.

A coal strike, a steel strike, a worker walkout at Packard, and government limits on manufacturing, adversely affected 1952 production, and model year sales dropped by more than 20 percent.

Nance's plan to improve the image of the medium-price cars to better compete with the Big Three's like offerings and return exclusivity and prestige to the senior Packard line to help it excel in its market included renaming the 1953 junior Packard's Clipper and Deluxe Clipper. The mid-line series became the Cavalier. Nance's desire was for customers to view the Clipper as a separate make from the senior Packard's. Drawing more attention to the senior line, the company also revisited long-wheelbase (149-inch) car production with the new Corporate Executive series. Model year sales bounced back to about 90,000.
 

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.

The 1953 Cavalier was easily identified from other Packard's by its unique chrome side spear trim.

Packard also created a Cavalier sub-series under which three other Packard models, marketed under various names were grouped:

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.
A convertible model, using Cavalier trim, was offered during the 1953 model year and was priced lower than the Caribbean.

Technical data:

Manufactured by Packard in United States
4-door sedan body type
RWD (rear- wheel drive), automatic 2-speed gearbox
gasoline (petrol) engine with displacement: 5361 cm3 / 327.1 cui, advertised power: 134.5 kW / 180 hp / 183 PS ( gross ), torque: 407 Nm / 300 lb-ft.

1953 Packard Cavalier Touring Sedan Ultramatic Drive (aut. 2) Horsepower/Torque Curve

Dimensions: outside length: 5541 mm / 218.15625 in, width: 1978 mm / 77.875 in, wheelbase: 3226 mm / 127 in
reference weights: shipping weight 1864 kg / 4110 lbs estimated curb weight: 1945 kg / 4290 lbs

Top speed: 159 km/h (99 mph) ;
accelerations: 0- 60 mph 14.1© s; 0- 100 km/h 15.2© s ; 1/4 mile drag time (402 m) 19.7© s  1953 Packard Cavalier Touring Sedan Ultramatic Drive (aut. 2)

 
Fuel consumption and mileage: average estimated by a-c©: 19.7 l/100km / 14.3 mpg (imp.) / 11.9 mpg (U.S.) / 5.1 km/l.

 Retail price was $2,750

Old brochures of the car

Video of the real car from YouTube

If you have any question or comment your are free to contact me at: aeronautic@stofanet.dk

Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Feb. 2022

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