Orphan of the Day, 01-30, 1947 Packard Clipper Fleet/Taxi

[8E45E]

A beautifully restored example of one, and one that needs restoring:





Not for the faint of heart:



This project is best having a doner body with all the unique Taxi components such as the framed door glass and opening rear window transferred over.

Craig

[silverhawk]

Very cool Craig! How many were produced?

[raprice]

Did you notice the Patrician behind the taxi?
Rog

[Bob Bryant]

Frank Wogoman had a taxi service in Kendallville and in the late 40's the primary vehicle was a black Packard like in the picture. I cannot recall if there was a light on the roof.

[t walgamuth]

Frank Wogoman had a taxi service in Kendallville and in the late 40's the primary vehicle was a black Packard like in the picture. I cannot recall if there was a light on the roof.

Frank must be a distant cousin to me. Wogoman/Walgamuth...?

[t walgamuth]

The Packard certainly looks similar in a general way to the Checker in the Taxi Livery. The Packard is better looking and probably rides better though.

[Robert Crandall]

I did not know what the things in the rear window of the Checker were, post #26 here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...le-Checker-Cab

Now I do. Nice photos of nice cars! Thanks for showing them.

[WinM1895]

Did you notice the Patrician behind the taxi?

It's not a Patrician, it's a 1952 Packard '250' convertible. 400/Patrician is a 4 door sedan.

[8E45E]

The Packard certainly looks similar in a general way to the Checker in the Taxi Livery. The Packard is better looking and probably rides better though.

The taxi version of the lwb/7-passenger sedan must be even rarer: http://www.junipergallery.com/galler...PY-N4-038A.jpg

Craig

[56H-Y6]

The 141" lwb version is the Chassis 2220. Body No. 2280 New-York-type which met the required passenger capacity. Quoting from Packard 1948-1950 by Robert J Neal, page 166, 1342 were built. The sole survivor belongs to the same fellow who has the 21st Series Clipper taxi pictured above. It is in rough condition, slowly being restored.

Thanks posting the link to the period photo of one in operation.

Steve

[8E45E]

Thanks for the information!

I suspect the rear licence plate relocation and the exterior luggage rack were factory. The Checker I posted a photo of in another thread also has the rear plate in the same location as on the Packard.

Craig

[t walgamuth]

Thanks for the information!

I suspect the rear licence plate relocation and the exterior luggage rack were factory. The Checker I posted a photo of in another thread also has the rear plate in the same location as on the Packard.

Craig

Looks like maybe it was relocated up there so it is visible when there is a suitcaseon the rack below it.

[8E45E]

Looks like maybe it was relocated up there so it is visible when there is a suitcase on the rack below it.

I agree on that. The Checker cab in the other thread is either missing its rack, or was never ordered with one.

Craig

[56H-Y6]

New York City had very detailed taxi vehicle specification, in addition to minimum passenger capacity, the trunk had a metal grating installed in the opening to prevent anything being carried in it. This was intended to preclude the ubiquitous taxis from being used to transport contraband. The exterior folding trunk racks were installed to replace the capacity when needed. The high-mounted license plate relocation was intended to make identification easier if the taxi was driven in an unsafe manor. By the way, the competition for a slice of the overall taxi market versus the major makers Checker and Desoto Sky-View was extremely cut-throat. The foray into that segment proved an ultimate failure for the company.

Steve

[8E45E]

New York City had very detailed taxi vehicle specification.....

Yes, and you got to love Studebaker's solution to the meeting that challenge: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...-(June-3-1963)

Craig