View of cars on exhibit at the 1956 Detroit Auto Show. Packard display in foreground; exhibits for Lincoln, Hudson and De Soto cars in background. "Clipper, America's finest medium-priced car" sign displayed over chairs in foreground. Typed on back: "43rd Auto Show."
Item #: na030032
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of the push-button transmission for a 1956 Packard Clipper car. Label on back: "Push-button driving for the 1956 Clipper models. Laid out like component parts of a radio, this is the system which brings the first real concept of push-button motoring to the medium-price car field. The driver has merely to push a button for the driving selection of his choice. The button transmits an electric signal down through the steering column to a 'servo-motor' mounted on the side of the Ultramatic transmission. This motor picks out the right driving position, as a jukebox picks out musical selections, except that with the Clipper electric push-button driving system, the job is done in the smallest fraction of a second. The Clipper push-button automatic transmission system incorporates a 'safety-park' feature and automatically prevents shifting into either 'Park' or 'Reverse' at speeds over five miles per hour. There is no mechanical linkage in the system for the driver to overcome."
Item #: na050235
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of several 1956 Packard Clipper cars on display at trade show. Handwritten on negative: "20,013-94 Packard, 1956." Handwritten on sleeve: "Packard, 1956,"
Item #: na050236
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of models posing with a 1956 Packard Clipper car at trade show. Handwritten on negative: "20,012-94 Packard, 1956." Handwritten on sleeve: "Packard, 1956,"
Item #: na050237
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
Artist's diagram of electrical push-button Ultramatic transmission system for the 1956 Packard car. Captions on front read: "Selector push buttons; Ultramatic, worm and segment gear; servo-motor; range selector shaft; from battery and ignition." Typed on back: "Packard models offer electrical push-button driving system. The electric push-button Ultramatic transmission for 1956 Packard models provides the ultimate to date in driving safety, comfort and convenience. Operation of the system is portrayed schematically. The driver's forefinger puts touch-pressure on the push-button 'D' for 'Drive.' With no mechanical linkage to overcome, touch-pressure of the forefinger sends electrical signal (course of signal shown by arrows) down from push-button console, located on stering [sic] column, through wire to 'servo-motor.' Upon receipt of electric signal, servo-motor turns in proper direction to actuate worm and segment gear which rotates range selector shaft which, in turn, chooses driving position indicated by driver's forefinger on push-button. The selection made, circuit of electrical power is broken off until need for another driving range selection. All this procedure takes place in smallest fraction of a second. The Packard electric push-button system is the only one to offer a 'safe-parking' feature."
Item #: na030078
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
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