The One-of-a-Kind Packard Parisian Coupe Designed by Pinin Farina

Crafted Rarity - In the golden postwar era of automotive design, the world’s carmakers weren’t just building machines—they were sculpting dreams. With America riding the wave of industrial success, car companies were eager to create vehicles that turned heads and made statements. But by the early 1950s, even the most prestigious brands needed fresh inspiration. That’s where Packard, once a symbol of refined American luxury, decided to look beyond its borders and into the heart of Italian automotive artistry. What emerged from that cross-continental vision wasn’t just a car—it was the Packard Parisian Coupe, a graceful blend of American tradition and European sophistication that almost never came to be.

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina, a graceful blend of American tradition and European sophistication, began as a 1952 design that never left the drawing board—until Carl Schneider revived it in 1995, commissioning Peter Portugal to build a full-scale version on an original ’52 Packard chassis. (Picture from: TheGentlemanRacer)

At the time, Packard found itself facing a competitive marketplace increasingly defined by flashier rivals. With a desire to reinvent its image, the brand turned to Italy’s famed Carrozzeria Pinin Farina, led by the legendary Battista “Pinin” Farina. Known for shaping some of the most elegant cars in Europe, Pinin Farina brought a design language that exuded motion even at rest. Inspired by this flair, Packard commissioned the design of a grand touring coupe—a bold step toward combining Detroit steel with Milanese style. Though Packard was no stranger to elegance, this partnership hinted at something entirely new: an American luxury coupe with the poise of a European thoroughbred.

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina was envisioned as a showpiece, and its design delivered, preserving Packard’s stately heritage with an upright grille and signature winged Cormorant ornament that proudly honored the brand. (Picture from: AmericanPackardMuseum.org)

The Packard Parisian Coupe was envisioned as a showpiece, and its design didn’t disappoint. From the front, it kept Packard’s stately heritage intact—its proud upright grille and the signature winged Cormorant ornament stayed true to the brand. But step to the side, and it was a different story. The car’s sweeping lines, low roof, and pillarless greenhouse echoed the grand tourers of Europe, signaling an exciting departure from typical American form. Even the tail carried an exotic air, with subtle fins and bullet-shaped taillights neatly tucked into its refined rear end. Finished in a cool silver-grey tone, the car looked like it belonged on the winding roads of the French Riviera, not just the streets of New York or Los Angeles.

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina, beneath its captivating exterior, remained pure Packard at heart, built on the 1952 Mayfair’s sturdy body-on-frame platform and powered by a smooth 327-cubic-inch straight-eight engine producing 150 horsepower. (Picture from: JustACarGuy)

Beneath its captivating exterior, however, the Parisian remained pure Packard. It shared its foundation with the 1952 Packard Mayfair, featuring a sturdy body-on-frame layout and a 327 cubic inch straight-eight engine delivering a smooth 150 horsepower. Built for comfort rather than speed, the car was more cruiser than sprinter, but it exuded a quiet confidence that didn’t rely on brute force. A three-speed manual transmission (or the famed Ultramatic automatic) channeled power to the rear wheels, while coil and leaf spring suspension systems kept the ride composed. At nearly 4,000 pounds, it was no lightweight, but it carried its weight with grace.

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina, viewed from the side, revealed a striking departure from American norms with sweeping lines, a low roof, and a pillarless greenhouse that echoed the elegance of European grand tourers. (Picture from: ConceptCarz)

Despite the promising design and Packard’s enthusiasm, the Parisian Coupe never saw the production line. The vision proved too ambitious. With an estimated price tag over $10,000—more than triple the cost of a typical Packard sedan—the project was deemed financially unfeasible. In 1952, that kind of price reserved a car for only the wealthiest few, and Packard, facing growing market pressures, shelved the idea. No prototype was built, and the car existed only in design sketches filed away in history. 

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina, expected to feature a lavish interior with leather upholstery, a walnut dash, and modern amenities, was in reality fitted with a Packard Mayfair donor interior enhanced with custom touches for the prototype build. (Picture from: Automobile.Fandom)

But this story didn’t end with faded blueprints. More than four decades later, Packard enthusiast Carl Schneider stumbled upon the original drawings at a Paris auto memorabilia show and decided it was time for the Parisian to become real. He commissioned coachbuilder Peter Portugal to construct the car as Pinin Farina had imagined it, using an authentic 1952 Packard as the base. The chassis was modified to match the original proportions—lengthened in front, lowered in height, and rebalanced for visual impact. It was a painstaking process, blending historical accuracy with artisan craftsmanship. And when it was complete, the Packard Parisian Coupe finally rolled into reality—just 43 years late. 

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina was built for comfort over speed, serving more as a refined cruiser than a sprinter, yet it exuded a quiet confidence that never depended on brute force. (Picture from: Automobile.Fandom)

Only one example exists, making it one of the rarest Packards ever “built.” Since its debut, this singular coupe has captivated audiences at events like the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Beverly Hills Concours. Its presence is always met with curiosity and admiration. How could such a car exist? Where has it been all this time? Visitors are often surprised to learn that it wasn’t built by Packard in its heyday, but by passionate individuals determined to bring an idea to life.

The Packard Parisian Coupe by Pinin Farina carried an exotic air even at the tail, where subtle fins and bullet-shaped taillights blended seamlessly into its refined rear, all wrapped in a cool silver-grey finish. (Picture from: Automobile.Fandom)

Today, the Parisian resides at America’s Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio—a fitting home for such a storied creation. It doesn’t just represent what Packard could have done; it serves as a vivid reminder of the possibilities that once danced between American ambition and European elegance. Visitors come not just to see a beautiful car, but to witness a chapter of automotive history that nearly slipped through the cracks. The Parisian stands proudly among its more conventional siblings, a shimmering echo of a road not taken. | 2ELqKx2UcD8 |

Every detail of the Packard Parisian Coupe, from its sculpted silhouette to its handcrafted curves, tells a story of vision, artistry, and perseverance. It’s not just a rare automobile—it’s a celebration of what can happen when bold ideas refuse to stay parked on the drawing board. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AMERICANPACKARDMUSEUM.ORG | THEGENTLEMANRACER | AUTOMOBILE.FANDOM | JUSTACARGUY | CONCEPTCARZ ]

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