Donald Mcclellan's 1955 Packard Clipper


THE STORY OF “LUCY”

Purchased:
November 5, 1955 at Millsboro Motor Company in Millsboro, PA.

Original owner: Paul Komicov, a retired coal miner, of Fredericktown, PA.

Model 5547-6353 1955 Panama Clipper Super, 2 door coupe # 6353

VIN # 4461634

Base Price: $2,877.03

Options:
Two tone paint 23.00
Heater – Defroster 199.00
AM push button radio 82.00
Power Brakes 108.80
WSW tires 39.80
Safety glass 45.20
Wheel Trim Rings 11.40
Fender skirts 21.45
Back up lights 32.30
Oil bath air cleaner 12.00
Oil Filter 10.30
Torsion level suspension 150.00
Undercoating 35.00
Transportation and Prep 58.00
License transfer fee 5.00

TOTAL SALE PRICE $3,741.48


Mr. Komicov, being a retired miner with a disabled wife rarely left his home county with the Clipper. He drove mainly to the miner’s club, the supermarket, to church on Sundays and to his daughter Dorothy’s house for dinner on Sunday afternoons.
Following dinner, Mr Komikov would take his wife, his daughter (Dorothy),his granddaughter,(Sandy) and his son in law(Steve Toporcer) in Lucy for home made ice cream at a local dairy.

Yes, you could fit 5 people in a full size car in 1955. Even 6 adults would fit!!

In 1968, Mr. Komicov lost his driver’s license due to poor eyesight and a few minor
“fender benders” with Lucy. He gave the car to his son in law, Steve Toporcer with
approximately 8,000 miles on the odometer. Steve drove Lucy primarily to take Grandpap and Grandma to shop, church, and of course for their Sunday ice cream.
Steve preferred his VW Beetle for his daily drive to the mines.
He saved the “good car” for family driving.
In 1972, the first”gas crisis” hit with gasoline reaching the “intolerable” price of
$0.48 a gallon. Lucy, the gas guzzler, only moved on Sundays!
In 1974, Mr. Komicov passed away and Lucy was put away in a garage in Fredericktown, PA. behind Steve’s machine shop..
There she rested and was forgotten by all until being “discovered” in 2006. ( Top left)

Now for the neat part of the story!

It turns out that Sandy ( Mr. Komicov’s granddaughter) was my “steady” girl during our high school years from 1964 through 1966. After high school, both Sandy and I went off to college and our relationship and contact ended in 1967. I went to Penn State University and stayed in PA. Sandy went to California University of Pennsylvania, graduated, and moved to Hawaii to become a teacher there.

In 2006, we met again at our 40th high school class reunion. After an hour or so of pleasantries with our partners over dinner, we somehow started talking about hobbies with one of mine being toying with of old 50’s and 60’s era cars.
Sandy told me that “ Pap’s” old Packard was still in that garage which was about to be demolished. “Lucy” was going to be given to the demo man in exchange for removing the garage. After a couple of quick calls from Sandy to her Dad and the demo guy, a deal was struck and “Lucy” was mine. Another beautiful old gal saved from the car crusher!

Well, it’s taken 1-1/2 years to gather the parts, rebuild the motor, brakes, and do all the hundreds of other little things that need done after a lady sleeps in the cold for 34 years.

I hope you enjoy seeing LUCY as much as I’ve enjoyed bringing her back to the roads where she truly belongs.
Don McClellan