Re: Peter Wherrett's 1956 Packard Review

Posted by Peter Packard On 2010/2/3 6:53:41

G'day all, I am fairly certain that the RHD conversions were done in Detroit. If you look at the inner dogleg of the body on a LHD there is no hole for the RHD throttle control lever to get to the Twin Ultra. Whereas on the RHD version, the hole is there and has the same colour body deadener as the rest of the body. The conversions were the same as from the post-war 21st Series through to the 54th Series and beyond. It got a bit screwed up in the 55/56/57/58 Series but I have looked at a lot of 55/56 Packards ( must get the Politically Correct pronunciation). I am convinced that the RHD conversions were done in the US, on the production line. I remember in 1968 going to a wrecking yard North of Melbourne which had more than 50 low mileage "trade in" Packards. Every one was RHD Clipper or Custom, No Packards, none had power steering, power brakes or torpedo tube heater. Kellows were not interested in doing conversions and I spoke to their Service Manager in 1968 and he did his apprenticeship on Packards. They were well and truly "orphans" by then and they were worth nothing in the used car trade. They all went for scrap of course, except for the set of rear brake linings I purchased for $5. best regards Peter Toet.