Re: Random questions about 51-56's, Ultramatics and A/C

Posted by 19482255 On 2018/3/7 20:05:10

for the expanded info! That's sound reasoning that the first Ultramatic sacrificed accelerating performance to be a smooth and refined as possible. But it also makes sense that they'd realized they needed to increase performance by the mid 50's.

I'm glad I was wrong about the actual operation of the transmission: it didn't make sense to me that the first gen Ultra would make you shift the column lever while driving! Would have defeated the purpose of it being an auto trans



Regarding the rear taillights of the 54 models, I was referring to the Clipper taillights as "fin lights", those which you say are impolitely called 'sore thumb' lights. In poking around, it looks as though this style of light was intro'd in 54 with the optional round white reverse lights mounted separately down near the license plate on either side. I see how Packard began integrating the reverse light within the sore thumb style light in '55. My original question was about senior models using this style of taillight. It seems none of them did...


In researching dashboard design between '54 models , I see how the Clippers used the more horizontal grey-backed dash, and the senior Packards used the half-round silver dash, but confusingly, I also notice the Clipper Super Panama HT (5467), used the 51-53 dash design. Weird to have that design overlap

Thanks for answering my question about the availability of Overdrive with the Ultras. I guess that's one reason to like the three-speed manual trans...

If anyone else wants to chime in with additional information about some of my other nit-picky questions about optional equipment like power steering or air conditioning, please do. All ears.