Although its cars continued to be built to exemplary standards, Packard in the post-war years failed to match the pace of styling change that its customers, and the rest of the US auto industry, had come to accept as the norm.

Nevertheless, Packards of the late 1940s and 1950s are amongst the most collectible of post-war US automobiles, representing as they do the final flowering of that magnificent straight eight.

When post-war production commenced in October 1945, Packard fielded a range almost unchanged from that on offer for 1942, as did almost the entire US auto industry.

The Packards continued virtually unchanged, either stylistically or mechanically, for 1947 and it was not until the 1948 range was announced that there was a wholesale makeover.

Known as the 'inverted bathtub' or 'pregnant elephant', Packard's new look was longer, sleeker and more streamlined than before and would serve the company until the arrival of the all-new John Reinhart-designed 24th Series in August ...