1951 Packard “El Paso” Wagon
Factory design studies from the early 1950s proposed a wood-bodied wagon variant called the El Paso, shown alongside companion concepts named the Parisian and Pacifica. While Packard never built these designs in Detroit, the sketches survived and inspired a custom build approximately 15 years ago by a Packard enthusiast in Eureka, California.
Constructed on a Patrician 400 sedan (the company’s flagship model riding on a 127-inch wheelbase), the conversion features genuine wood bodywork below the beltline rather than applied veneers. The steel superstructure above incorporates woodgrain painting to blend with authentic timber construction.
Period sketches specified a western theme with tan upholstery and cow-print fabric accents, faithfully recreated in this example. The functional tailgate and custom roof rack demonstrate skilled fabrication matching factory construction standards.
Power comes from the 327 cubic-inch L-head straight-eight producing 155 horsepower, paired with Packard’s two-speed Ultramatic automatic transmission and power steering.
The wagon represents what might have been had Packard’s design studies reached production during the company’s final years building cars in Detroit.
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