Hello Phil

The only other RHD car I am aware of from that period was apparently a Clipper converted to a utility and remains now residing in Tasmania (or possibly scrapped). I inherited quite a bit of trim, fittings and instrument panel from that one. My Clipper Deluxe is currently in pieces being repainted. Probably at a cost exceeding the value of the car!

Do you have yours on the road? Looks from the pics to be in very nice condition. Perhaps the seat covering is non-original as you suggest. The centre section is probably the right colour, but I guess should have been fabric (or possibly leather?). Cannot see the seat back, so hard to tell.

Cheers

Brian

Yes thanks Riki. Found it in the Steele catalog and ordered from them.

Cheers

Brian

Thanks Mal

I found it in the Steele catalogue. Has to be made to order, but have ordered one.

Cheers

Brian

Does anybody know of a source for a replacement rear window rubber seal for my 1956 Packard Clipper Deluxe?

We are repainting the car. When we went to remove the rear screen, we discovered that the stainless trim is bolted through the rubber seal. The rubber is somewhat perished around the top and probably leaks, so we would prefer to replace it. The actual glass is ok (thank goodness!).

Have not tried to contact Steele Rubber yet. Thought I would try here first.

Cheers

Brian Wilson

Rik

My 1956 Clipper has an Edelbrock carby, and some sort of filter which came with it, but well hidden inside the original style air cleaner body.

I guess from the pics you are doing something similar with the threaded stud etc. You mentioned a concern about intake noise. My similar setup seemed to be fairly quiet with the Packard air cleaner body over it. Hope yours will be, too.

Cheers

Brian

Yes, the price is certainly on the high side.

These are a lovely car to drive and fairly easy to maintain. I had a vary nice 1941 120 Club Coupe in very good condition. It had the 12V conversion which is obviously not original but does have its advantages with an alternator. Worth asking who did the conversion. It's not straightforward (especially the instruments etc) and many are half baked. The original starter motor is usually not changed. It will work like a demon on 12V - at least for a while.

You don't mention if this car has overdrive. These are quite low geared and buzzy at highway speeds without the overdrive. If it's fitted, worth checking that it's working.

Other than that, looks like a pretty nice car!

Cheers

Brian

Hello Phil

Is your 1956 Clipper Australian-delivered? Can't see from the pic if it's right hand drive.

I have a 1956 Clipper Deluxe which was at least partially assembled here by Kellow-Falkiner in Melbourne. It has what looks like a locally applied engine number on the top front of the block (starts with a "P"). There is a pic of the car in the registry, but I am currently redoing the paint. Same colour as pic, but it was originally yellow/white.

Regards

Brian Wilson

Yes, true so we have to drive accordingly to stay out of trouble. And regular maintenance is important.

But Ernie is right. My 1956 Clipper attracts far more attention (of the right sort) out on the road than my Ferrari 575 or Maserati Quattroporte, which are both quite attractive and unusual cars by modern standards. Have to make allowances for the Clipper in modern traffic, but it's hard to beat in a deluge. Behaves like a boat and nothing can stop it!

Brian

Ken, that's a really nice original looking 120 you've got. Bet it will drive nicely, too.

I had a 41 120 Club Coupe for a while which drove exceptionally well.

Seat belts are a good idea, especially if you want to carry family.

I sourced mine here (dark red lap belts) with the mounting hardware. I'm sure you can get the same stuff more easily there. There was one wrinkle. It's best to mount the lower lap belt fasteners through the floor behind the seats. The catch is that this section of the floor of my 120 was double panel - maybe yours too - so much longer mounting bolts are needed. Given this, though, you might not need the strengthening plate which normally bolts under these mounts. Other than that, fitting was plain sailing.

I had a hard look for suitable upper mounting points for three point belts. There are some kits sold for this but I could not see a strong enough attachment point for front belts. The rear parcel shelf in my car was metal (probably yours, too) so it would be reasonably easy to fit them in the back if you wish with suitable strengthening.

Enjoy the car!

Cheers

Brian

Well for those of you who could not sleep at night, it appears that the pictured car is a Fiat 509 of about 1925/26. Most likely Australian-bodied but in the style of the factory two-door "Torpedo" of the time. Apparently the wheels and hubs are a give-away, plus the front drum brake.

Not that I would know.

My friend now recalls that his dad did own a Fiat around that time. Bet he wished he had a Packard. This was a good little car, with almost 1000cc of stump pulling power and a top speed of just over 40mph! But not in the league of a Packard Six.

Cheers

Brian