Re: 22nd/23rd Series Engine Color Survey

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2013/9/1 12:38:09

This topic has been subject to seemingly endless discussion. I've always assumed that when Packard revised the engine manufacturing to have all engines with a common bore of 3-1/2" (replacing the 282 with the 288 and introducing the 327) for the 22nd series, the change in engine color was intended to coincide with that event. Maybe yes, maybe no - just my assumption. I can say of the hundreds of 22nd and 23rd series cars I've seen, I've never seen any 23rd series engine or any 22nd series 288 or 327 that could lay legitimate claim to being originally green. In fact the only original 22nd series engines I've seen which were almost certainly originally green are the 356s (Custom 8) made quite early, all had the old prewar style patent plate and had selling dates prior to January, 1948. Most of these also had the headlight door painted in body color, and had the 1947-style front sway bar.