Re: 1956 Build Slip Codes
Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2009/2/15 17:55:11
Owen,
I was familiar with the lack of ambulances, hearses, and other long wheelbase "professional" cars in the 55th and 56th series. I didn't know how else to refer to police and other government purchased vehicles.
The conventional suspension was standard on all early '55 Clippers, and optional on only the Custom/Constellation. Later in the model year it was offered on the Super/Panama. T/L was only a $150 option for an almost completely different driving experience, so it almost seemed to be "standard" in '55 because it was so frequently ordered by the dealers.
The spring suspension was even apparently available in '56 (according to the options listed on this thread), so Packard definitely had conventionally sprung chassis available that they could have stretched.
I don't know why they didn't--Lack of outside resources for bodies would be my guess, as well as cost. Unless it there was good potential for profits, Packard had a lot of other things to worry about.
But that still leaves the question of the "high speed equipment" unanswered. Perhaps somewhere there is a detailed breakdown of what this package contained, and whether it was part of what is often called a "police package" that has sometimes been available to the general public. Chrysler corp used to do that.
Here are the references for '56 provided by Brian:
HR......High Speed Car Equipment 5680 only
RC......Racing Car Equipment 5660 only
Interestingly, the "Racing" package was available on the top-line Clippers only and the "High Speed" package only on the Seniors. Once again, this indicates to me that "High Speed" would be a police pursuit type of vehicle provided on the Patrician, and similar equipment on the Clipper, but you wouldn't want to call a potential police car a "race car." Perhaps Packard thought re-entering the stock car circuit would beef up their image. I do recall an article in "Circle Track" where Smokey Yunick wrote about a NASCAR event in which a V8 Packard was entered, but broke a valve spring in a warmup lap.
I was familiar with the lack of ambulances, hearses, and other long wheelbase "professional" cars in the 55th and 56th series. I didn't know how else to refer to police and other government purchased vehicles.
The conventional suspension was standard on all early '55 Clippers, and optional on only the Custom/Constellation. Later in the model year it was offered on the Super/Panama. T/L was only a $150 option for an almost completely different driving experience, so it almost seemed to be "standard" in '55 because it was so frequently ordered by the dealers.
The spring suspension was even apparently available in '56 (according to the options listed on this thread), so Packard definitely had conventionally sprung chassis available that they could have stretched.
I don't know why they didn't--Lack of outside resources for bodies would be my guess, as well as cost. Unless it there was good potential for profits, Packard had a lot of other things to worry about.
But that still leaves the question of the "high speed equipment" unanswered. Perhaps somewhere there is a detailed breakdown of what this package contained, and whether it was part of what is often called a "police package" that has sometimes been available to the general public. Chrysler corp used to do that.
Here are the references for '56 provided by Brian:
HR......High Speed Car Equipment 5680 only
RC......Racing Car Equipment 5660 only
Interestingly, the "Racing" package was available on the top-line Clippers only and the "High Speed" package only on the Seniors. Once again, this indicates to me that "High Speed" would be a police pursuit type of vehicle provided on the Patrician, and similar equipment on the Clipper, but you wouldn't want to call a potential police car a "race car." Perhaps Packard thought re-entering the stock car circuit would beef up their image. I do recall an article in "Circle Track" where Smokey Yunick wrote about a NASCAR event in which a V8 Packard was entered, but broke a valve spring in a warmup lap.
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