American Icons 1:43 Collection: 1954 Packard Patrician 4-door Sedan by Brooklin Models

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

1954 Packard Patrician 4-door Sedan by Brooklin Models

Brooklin Models BRK 185 1954 Packard Patrician 4-door Sedan

1941 Packard Clipper and 1954 Packard Patrician

The 1951-1954 Packard Patrician was the automaker's newly named top-line standard sedan in the early '50s. Along with other models, it carried the firm's first complete redesign since the Clipper of a decade earlier. The word “patrician” is Latin for a rulling class in Ancient Rome.

The shape of the Patrician, which designer John Reinhart named "high pockets," didn't wear particularly well, however. There was no criticizing the Patrician's integrity, though -- it was beautifully built, comfortable in the Packard tradition, and surprisingly fast.

Most buyers thought it dull and uninteresting next to the tailfinned Cadillac V-8s and the very roadable Lincolns of these years, and spent their money accordingly.

The Patrician for 1953-54 was premium, four-door sedan, outfitted with high-grade upholstery and the highest level chrome trimming, including new side trim, hooded chrome headlight bezels and cloisonné hubcap centers. The Patrician, as the senior Packard in the 1954 model year, was equipped with the finest nine main bearing, 359 cubic-inch straight-8 engine, producing 212 horsepower. This was the final year that Packard would use the straight-8.

This Brooklin Model is, I believe, the first model of the Patrician in any scale, and Brooklin has done it very well, with authentic Matador Maroon paint, an accurate shape and details, and dead-on dimensions. There’s a wealth of carefully fitted chrome-plated parts on this Packard; the new slimmer cormorant mascot is especially well done as the small C-pillar medallion and small chrome tailfins. Only the relief-cast window surround sand tiny rear fender scripts have been painted over. Big wide white walls and hand-painted red Packard “Hexads” in the wheel covers add to the model’s realistic look. Model has correctly painted the dash in body color, but the silver-painted instrument cluster’s accurate gauge faces and other dash details haven’t been picked out. And while the two- tone upholstery looks quite nice, there are no handles, cranks, or arm rests on the inner door panels. These are small sour notes against a very well played song; Brooklin’s ’54 Patrician is a great addition to any Packard collection.