Wile Family's Second Packard
Posted by Tim Wile On 2012/2/23 20:57:55
I must have married one of the best women in the world as we are now a two-Packard family. Our first Packard - a 1955 Patrician 4-door touring sedan, is currently in the garage undergoing a mechanical re-build. While perusing the various web sites for parts, I noticed a 1955 Four Hundred Coupe for sale nearby and going for a reasonable price. The Four Hundred had the advantage of being in driveable condition with some of the major body work and interior work already performed. So, with my wife's blessing, we bought our second Packard and she is looking forward to crusing around this spring and summer once all the mechanical systems have been checked out and the power windows once again become operational.
The 1955-1956 Packards have long been my favourites, notwithstanding the beauty of the 1920s and 1930s Packards, I am simply a child of the 1950s and make no bones about it. When the Four Hundred arrived, my neighbours were quick to drop by for a look when they noticed I was working on something or other with the car.
The Four Hundred is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The heater needs to be re-installed and the hoses re-connected and then tested. As I mentioned earlier, the power windows are not operational and have to be repaired. While the power seats appear to work somewhat, there is a problem with one of the motors that requires attention. The engine runs rough and could use some TLC and the brakes need some adjustment.
On the plus side, the car was re-painted about 15 years ago and while it could use a new coat of paint, it is presentable and quite servicable for a driver. There is quite a bit of trim missing and the car currently has '56 tail lights with the hexagon rather than the '55s with the golden "V", but that is minor. The seats were re-upholstered some time ago and the carpets were replaced. All of the guages on the control panel work with the exception of the engine temperature guage. The power antenna works as does the original station-seeking radio. Even the cigar lighter works! (Not that this is important since both my wife and I are non-smokers).
As time permits, I'll be doing the detail stuff so that the car is ready for the road by the Spring. I still have to arrange for insurance and getting PA antique tags for it before we can legally put it on the road -- but that is coming.
The Four Hundred gives us a Packard to enjoy while the major restoration work centres on the Patrician, which I envision as our "formal" sedan while the Four Hundred will be the sporty or around town car.
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The 1955-1956 Packards have long been my favourites, notwithstanding the beauty of the 1920s and 1930s Packards, I am simply a child of the 1950s and make no bones about it. When the Four Hundred arrived, my neighbours were quick to drop by for a look when they noticed I was working on something or other with the car.
The Four Hundred is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination. The heater needs to be re-installed and the hoses re-connected and then tested. As I mentioned earlier, the power windows are not operational and have to be repaired. While the power seats appear to work somewhat, there is a problem with one of the motors that requires attention. The engine runs rough and could use some TLC and the brakes need some adjustment.
On the plus side, the car was re-painted about 15 years ago and while it could use a new coat of paint, it is presentable and quite servicable for a driver. There is quite a bit of trim missing and the car currently has '56 tail lights with the hexagon rather than the '55s with the golden "V", but that is minor. The seats were re-upholstered some time ago and the carpets were replaced. All of the guages on the control panel work with the exception of the engine temperature guage. The power antenna works as does the original station-seeking radio. Even the cigar lighter works! (Not that this is important since both my wife and I are non-smokers).
As time permits, I'll be doing the detail stuff so that the car is ready for the road by the Spring. I still have to arrange for insurance and getting PA antique tags for it before we can legally put it on the road -- but that is coming.
The Four Hundred gives us a Packard to enjoy while the major restoration work centres on the Patrician, which I envision as our "formal" sedan while the Four Hundred will be the sporty or around town car.
Attach file:
(116.74 KB)
(104.93 KB)
(120.09 KB)
(93.62 KB)
(89.82 KB)
(76.38 KB)
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