Having owned and driven a 2 stroke 3 cyl SAAB (RIP ) model 96 over 35 years ago, which was light years ahead of a Trabbi, I can't imagine how slow that thing would be.. The 96 was out of breath at 65mph on the highway! Good as a curiousity, I guess.

"why anyone would want to" ... as I said I love straight 8s, and once you get old you don't care so much about going fast..
one of the benefits of age & experience, not in such a rush all the time... you learn to smell the roses!

Excellent firewall pics, many thanks HH! I can see it would not be an easy or straightforward swap.... hmmm, so maybe a Packard six?... just kidding!

Jean Harlow, bad hair day, good taste in cars....

I'd be interesting to see if the firewalls were different between 51-54 and 55-56, seeing that Teague did a re-style on the cheap re-using the basic 51 design with new windshield and front & rear end look but retaining what was in between, if I recall correctly.

FYI the aluminum Buick engine was discontinued at Rover 3 or 4 yrs ago, but it sure had a long lifespan! It was even installed in MGB-V8s in the UK (never brought here) for a few years in the mid 70s.

Too bad they scrapped the Packard V8 production line, with refinement it potentially was the strongest V8 ever!

What would it take to put a straight 8 in a '56 Patrician? I know the body is basically the same as 51 to 54... is it a straightforward install with a manual trans? I love flatheads!

Thanks for the info. Gotta say imo that mascot is cooler than the Packard originals!

So what would a ZIS that is restorable bring in the EU nowadays?

This is a fascinating thread, I just read all 26 pages of it, thanks for starting and adding to it!

Growing up in the 50s I always wondered how the Soviet Union got US Packards! Later on, of course, I heard about the Lend Lease deal. But I'm a bit unclear, is it actually known now whether or not dies really went to the SU as part of Lend Lease? Were the later ZIL-111 Packard "inspired" but actually completely homegrown?

I had no idea that ZIS were "common" enough to be in any private hands, I'd assumed they were only in Russian museums or maybe Russian plutocrat-gangster collections. So how much does a ratty but restorable 110 bring in the EU nowadays? Can any be seen in US museums?

I absolutely love the Red Flag hood ornament-mascot - are there reproductions of them available for purchase?

Lots of questions, sorry if they've been asked/answered before!
Roger in NY

I am sure that is quite true. Are the vendors providing Packard parts of Chinese provenance, and if so, are they upfront about it? That's all one can ask, I suppose, but it is good to be able to have the information one needs to make a choice.

No doubt the Chinese are "able" to provide quality when they wish to, but too many recent examples can be cited of intent to do otherwise. One is not reassured that that will be the case, and vendors may not be asking for it in any case, if pure profit and not quality and service is uppermost in their minds.

There are some excellent threads on MOPAR websites showing, including photos of dissected parts, clearly inferior ball joints, for example, being sourced in China by hitherto dependable companies such as Moog. It is enough to give one pause. I, for one, would be more than happy to pay the price for top quality parts... with vendors,I'm not so sure.

Perhaps I should have made this a separate thread, it is an important topic for all of us.

Back to 6 cylinder engines, are there desirable mods, upgrades, or material improvements to be made for cars to be used frequently with alcohol gas? Or best oils to use - straight or multigrade, synth or dino? ZDDP needed for these engines?

Those ceiling suspended Hot Dawg heaters by Modine look pretty good, and don't take up valuable floor space in a tight garage - anyone have experience with one of them? We just have to have heat here in upstate.