Re: Information- 55th Series Caribbean Hardtop
Posted by Leeedy On 2016/12/1 14:24:16
Quote:
randy berger wrote:
For once I disagree with Leeedy, and I offer the build sheet for my 56 Pat. I would never have known about chrome wire wheels on this vehicle w/o the build sheet I got from the Stude museum. I did find MITCHELL BENTLEY'S stamp on the inside of the door panels which explains the "SPEC" notation on the slip.
This is not an arguable issue since such arguments are based on factory documentation. But for the most part, there was not factory documentation on the Caribbeanizing done to these Four Hundred hardtops. This may have been authorized and even ordered by the factory... but it was not done by the factory.
Build sheets do not document AFTER-factory alterations. Build sheets also do not document alterations done by dealers. For instance on V8 Packards... there is no way to determine from a build sheet if a dealer added factory air conditioning or wire wheels. There just isn't anyway to back time up and insert all this on documentation issued by the factory. Could not happen...would not happen.
Having worked in the automotive business on the OEM level most of my life, I can tell you there are concept cars out there right now that I personally was involved with. If you look up the original build info on those cars they will send you off on a total wild goose chase to nowhere.
There is a specially-built metallic honey gold convertible with special oversized alloy wheels out there that I personally planned and worked on. It is not a custom car and not a concept car. But if you find the "build sheet" for that particular custom-built factory engineering feas car, it will tell you it is a red hardtop with standard wheel covers.
I repeat: the important thing -the most important thing for this particular 1955 Caribbeanized Four Hundred hardtop-is to trace the provenance... former registrations/owners/sellers any way possible. There is a very important reason why I suggest this. I am not merely saying it to say it or for argument's sake.This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=185168