Re: 1956 Clipper Hot Rod

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2009/3/14 19:11:50

AL,

Sorry to be a pest, but I just looked up your description in the Owner's Registry. What an interesting history! If your Clipper was customized by a Packard Employee, I wonder what his motivation was. If he wanted a "sleeper" he would've just left the exterior plain Clipper. The hood scoops would be a dead giveaway at a stoplight.

It seems that the effect sought was both racy looks and the best power-to-weight ratio. As I recall, the Executive was quite a bit heavier than the Clipper series, though lighter than other Seniors, so an Execu-Clipper would be the best looks vs weight combination. The addition of the 374 dual quad would add the Caribbean power, with the scoop hood as an honest cue to what was underneath.

I suppose it's possible that the engine displacement is original 352 Clipper. If there is a stamp or other code on the block that would verify this, it could be one more piece of the puzzle.

Anyway, it's the car I woulda wanted if all the pieces were available to me... that is if it includes the Twin Traction differential option... a must-have to take full advantage of the hotrod potential.

It'll never be a "stock" Packard but could very nearly qualify as a "factory one-off." The mods might've even been done on the line. If Packard was generous with customer requests, they could've been so with employee requests--if said employee had enough "pull."

It'll be interesting to see what else you might find out about a car with such a potentially colorful history.