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<p>There's a good entrepreneurial idea! The old guys are dying off and you have an excellent reputation in almost all things Packard and in cars in general.</P>
<p>I'd refer business to you. Plus I have a couple or three cores (maybe some actually work).</p>
<p>Now, the hard part: do you actually have any experience and the requisite tools to overhaul T-Us? Just asking.
<p>
Craig
</p>

It sounds like I need to get in the business of rebuilding Ultramatics.....

Think I found a grill for you.

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Kev, this is what I used on the 56 but don't have an earlier one to compare as to material used on your 54. Before anyone calls me on it, yes it is held on with pop rivets and not staples. About 15 yrs ago & looked for staples at the time. Was unable to find anything remotely close so went the pop rivet route being more concerned with something that worked than something correct. Am thinking now, it might be possible to use stainless or music wire for the material. It needs to be hard & rust resistant wire which that is but unsure how it could be crimped tight like a staple without some special tools.

The antisqueak is as mentioned except it was 3/4 wide instead of 3/8 like I first thought. 1/8 is too thick so anyone doing a 55-6, go with 1/16.

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Chrysler built Imperial as a Luxury brand from the 1930's.

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I stand corrected.

Hi

More than once over the years, I've come across anecdotal evidence the public preceived Imperial as marketplace replacement for Packard.
Anyone else come across this?

Steve

I personally like the 1957 Packards because they incorporated so many of the Packard hallmarks, the oxbow grille, the beautiful 56 Clipper taillights, the chrome side strips, a miniature 56 dashboard. Only wish they had used the hexagons on the hubcaps. The Studebaker V-8 was pretty good. Plus it was supercharged. No, it wasn't a luxury car, but to be truthful, most of the cars Packard made postwar were not. May be one of the best cars built in South Bend. We've got a 58 Studebaker Champion (minus engine) for sale near by. Like the looks. Same basic body as the Packards. Wish I could buy it. But I've got enough on my plate as is.
kens53clip
Ken Dunning

Hi

As much of a '57 or '58 Packard as we'll ever have. They're good cars, just not what everyone would want a '57 Packard to be if they could have been continued in Detroit.

Thanks John, that is a good summation of events. The financial Waterloo of '56 forced decisions no one wanted to make, maybe not even Hurley. But the whole objective was to salvage some portion of the corporation, and since it's main products were cars, and Studebaker had the better chance of volume sales.....lead to the consolidation in South Bend.

I truly wish we could have had at least the '57's that were on the verge of production, and Packard could have lasted through the '60's into the early '70's but then die before we had to have Packard versions of cars such as Lincoln Versailles and Cadillac Cimarron.......Ugh! Shutter!!!

Steve

Frank, if it were me I'd probably get the correct grille, bumper guards, and bumper now, then decide later if I wanted to change. This stuff could also be offered with the car when you sell it. As far as value goes, it doesn't matter until you sell it. You may think of your Packard as being unique.