40-50's Luxury coupes/sedans options.

Going to be putting my money where my mouth is here in the next month or so. I have always wanted a luxury cruiser from the 40-50's. the 1950's gives me cars that can actually be used on today's roads in a semi modernized restoration the 40's less so but it can be done with some work.

So I have been looking at S1 Silver Cloud locally that fits the bill 27K would need another 7-8K to make it really really good. It hits all the right buttons, except well not the easiest thing in the world to get parts for. Luckily its a pretty basic car mechanically. If I wanted to go American with some style and grace but not another Cadillac where would you start looking. I have a 1955 Tbird which I love and I want something in that stylish vein with a roof and a bit more luxury.

Lets keep the budget sub 50K.

I've been finding this quite luxurious for the last week or so:

A Packard Hawk Sport Coupe turned up to our local little Cars and Coffee this morning. That would be the closest thing to a roofed fifties Thunderbird I've seen lately.

I like, no make that love, early fifties Lincoln Cosmopolitans. I have a feeling that they are at least an order less in magnitude that what weary considers luxury though.

travellering wrote: A Packard Hawk Sport Coupe turned up to our local little Cars and Coffee this morning. That would be the closest thing to a roofed fifties Thunderbird I've seen lately.

I am thinking for Packard super8 then sport coupe for this one.

I was going to say Cadillac, but if you're not interested in them maybe look at 1955-1957 Buicks.

Note that things changed quickly in the 1950s for US cars - early 50s cars were a lot like late 40s cars (which means they weren't that far removed from prewar cars); from about 1958 on they were more like the early 60s.

I've got a thing for Hudsons. Buick, Pontiac, and Packard for the era if you don't want a Caddy.

See also: Stude Hawk.

Studebaker hawk all the way.

Chrysler of the era were even a little higher end than tbe cadillac.

Dude...Tucker!!!

FWIW, a friend of the family owns a Silver Cloud that has been used in several of the Grey Poupon commercials.

He has owned it for about thirty years except for a few years where he sold it to somebody and then bought it back from them at a significant discount.

Anyway, it has been surprisingly trouble free over the years despite the fact he drives it frequently. He even has a chauffeur’s uniform and will do stuff like drive kids to their proms for free just for fun.

The perceived value to actual value ratio on that car is probably about the highest of anything on the road…I’ve gone to high end restaurants in it and the valet’s will consistently put it right in front ahead of other cars that are worth several times more.

I doubt you care about that but it is an interesting characteristic of the car and you sure don’t want one if you’re trying to avoid attention.

Well since you didn't want a Caddy, I would say Packard, Lincoln and Chrysler in that order. Personally I wouldn't touch a Rolls because of the cost of their parts. I would rather have one of the old Jag sedans.

Was also going to say Packard. Earlier styling is more upscale than later in my opinion. Don't forget the Bentleys. For a coupe maybe Aston - early DB. More obscure, Facel Vega

Luxury coupe/sedan of '53 - ' 57

Eldorado

Whatever it is, it's gotta have a straight 8.

1947 Packard Club Sedan:

Superior build quality, uncommon enough to have the only one around but common enough to still be able to get everything for it.

Hidden door hinges and running boards, 356cid straight eight with 165bhp, 292lb/ft of torque and optional air conditioning.

Why buy a Cadillac when you can buy one of the finest things to come out of Detroit?

Chrysler New Yorker?

You just don't see them and they have their own little coolness to them.

Chrysler 300.

Hemi. Great lines (at least until '59 or so). Common enough to find them, rare enough to be worth something and unlikely you'll ever see another one at a show that's not marque-specific.

psteav wrote: Chrysler 300. Hemi. Great lines (at least until '59 or so). Common enough to find them, rare enough to be worth something and unlikely you'll ever see another one at a show that's not marque-specific.

This is what I was going to post stunning car, gorgeous from any angle, and only going up in price.

Facel Vega?

Duke wrote: Facel Vega?

They are gorgeous!

Dunno about the $50 large budget, though.

Duke wrote: Dunno about the $50 large budget, though.

I think a nice Facel is 100k plus. GAWD, they're pretty though.

wearymicrobe wrote: I have a 1955 Tbird which I love and I want something in that stylish vein with a roof and a bit more luxury. Lets keep the budget sub 50K.

Continental Mark II??? too similar???

travellering wrote: I've been finding this quite luxurious for the last week or so: A Packard Hawk Sport Coupe turned up to our local little Cars and Coffee this morning. That would be the closest thing to a roofed fifties Thunderbird I've seen lately.

I really want to check one of these out in person; I hear that the interior is excellent.

Though, I don't think a DS screams luxury to the masses like a Rolls does, for whatever that's worth. Older Rollsmodels also seem to have a lot less of the "Move, peasant" vibe that the modern models project.

Trans_Maro wrote: 1947 Packard Club Sedan: Superior build quality, uncommon enough to have the only one around but common enough to still be able to get everything for it. Hidden door hinges and running boards, 356cid straight eight with 165bhp, 292lb/ft of torque and optional air conditioning. Why buy a Cadillac when you can buy one of the finest things to come out of Detroit?

+1. This is what I was going to suggest.