Packard Motor Car Information

1956 Packard Patrician for Project or Parts- Asking $3,000

Posted by Carl Jr On 2023/9/24 12:01:38

It's finally time to sell Dad's Packard.

This 1956 Patrician has been parked in the family garage since around 1961 . Dad said it was running when it was parked. But it surely hasn't been started in decades.

I grew up with this car patiently waiting for attention in the garage, and often thought about getting her running. But now that my dad has passed, we're finally clearing out my parents house. And it's now clear that we need to find the Packard another home. We hope to get a reasonable price for my Mom.

We're asking $3,000 based on a professional appraisal by PVPPI in May 2022 and slight market appreciation. We intend to list it in several places soon. But I wanted to start a post here, in case somebody wants to swing by Pittsburgh after the Hershey meet in this October.

Pennsylvania title is clear.

Car is stored in Pittsburgh PA.

Please contact me if you're interested or have any advice to help us find a good home.

Carl Ott
carl.ott.jr@gmail.com
or send a DM

This car has 68,300 miles.
In all those years, Dad only shared a few details about the car:
* Push button '52 Lincoln hydrostatic transmission (installed by a mechanic on Pittsburgh's North Side, due to issues with the OEM transmission).
[28 Sept correction - Dad's notes indicate '52 Lincoln Hydromatic transmission - surely he meant "Hydra-Matic"]
* Electric windows
* Lots of non-OEM parts, for example, Dad put extensions to one or both torsion bars, since it started to bottom out. He said this was the first vehicle on highway with torsion bar suspension vs coils.
* About the electric shift mechanism, Dad said he disabled the shift contact mechanism, and reordered buttons, so could retain the Packard pushbutton mechanism. (to avoid the aftermarket guy who normally cut a hole int he floor to add a shift lever). Dad said it was not strong enough to pull out of the pawl, so dad had to park without putting the weight of the car on the transmission, a few times had to jack car up to get out of park...

Excerpts from the May 2022 appraisal
The last oil change sticker in door jam reads 1961, PA state inspection sticker on windshield also reads 1961, and the windshield is cracked in that area. It is believed that the car has been in storage in the same garage ever since. Since it has been in storage for over a half century without running or driving, this is a mostly complete #5 condition project vehicle. Much of the vehicle in inaccessible due to long-term storage.
The exterior body panels are in fair condition to poor, with large rust holes in the front fenders and quarter panels. Majority of chrome on the car is heavily pitted in poor condition. While the interior is mostly original and in good condition, there is mildew present but most of it can be saved.

Undercarriage exhibits heavy surface rust throughout which is common for this geographical region, but not completely rusted out. Majority of it is quite solid with the worst areas being the rocker panel rusted through. The Paint Code (MR) is Dover White & Mojave Tan Metallic with Trim Code (69) Tan Striped Broadcloth.

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