Re: Tips for moving a Patrician that has been parked for 35+ years?

Posted by HH56 On 2024/7/1 15:09:06

Appears to be a 53 from the rear. Back up lights on senior models such as the Patrician were separate in 53 but in 54 they were integrated with the tail lights. Horizontal chrome strip used as the trunk lid handle first arrived in 53 but was carried over almost unchanged thru 55.

On the registration, since so many engine, body or trim pieces of the 51-4 models will interchange and something from a scrapyard could have been slapped on a car if something got damaged the only sure way to verify year is by the vehicle number on the door jamb. It will start 26xx for a 53 and 54xx for a 54.

Doors and ignition share the round head key, glovebox and trunk share the octagonal head key. I believe that combo was chosen back in the early days so parking lot attendants could open and start the car but could not open and look thru the glovebox or trunk contents.