I know this post is 6 weeks old but...
Is the car worth it? Only if it has sentimental value. It is cheaper to buy a car done than to restore it. I have spent $35,000 on repairing a 1955 Clipper Custom Sedan and it is not worth any where near that much. Since then I have put on over 55,000 miles and I am having fun. Yes I could have bought a car cheaper and done the same thing, but I did not know it at the time and I thought I did not have that kind of money. I still don't have that kind of money. I just bought a 40 160 Sedan and put that kind of money into it and I am not done yet. The 40 160 is beautiful, but not done yet.
If the car has been in the family for years then yes it is worth doing and the guys here in this forum would love to help you by giving advice but you get to do all the work.
Good luck and have fun. I am!

My 55 Clipper was vapor locking. After trying various things, I finally found that my gas line, by the rear tire where it crosses through the frame, had a pin hole in it. So my mechanical fuel pump on the engine was sucking air and the electric fuel pump near the gas tank was pushing gas out the pin hole. After replacing just a short line I have not had vapor lock since and I am still driving in Phoenix when it's 110F, of course not every day just on the weekend to a car show and it cools off to 100F for the ride home at 8pm. Keep on checking the fuel lines, you may have to get under it and look for somewhere wet.
Good luck.

I got the 'Long Distance Drove" award meaning the Packard that drove the furthest distance. I think I beat out Robert McAtee by 20 miles or so.
I just got my 55 Clipper out of the shop with a new crankshaft because my Packard oil pump wore out after 50,000 miles. I also had the new Oldsmobile oil pump conversion kit installed in my Clipper (352 V8) and I have 60 psi on my mechanical oil gage and the car cruises at 75+mph. Here's to more than 50,000 miles on this oil pump.
Hope to see more of you next year. My wife enjoyed herself, instead of the 'Tech Session' she went shopping! I think I had more fun at the 'Tech Session!'

I have noticed that when people see something to read, they'll stop by and read it. I have a small piece of paper that I put on the driver's side wing window that says:

1955 Packard Clipper Custom
352 V8, twin utramatic, 12V Pos gnd.
Torsion bar suspension with auto load levelers
Cost $2782 new

The paper is half of a 8 ? by 11 and sits in the glove box. When it wears out, I print a new one. I also like to show off the load leveler feature. Many people are amazed at how it works and that it still works and are happy they stopped by.
When I drive my 1940 160 Sedan I have no information for it, but I am working on it.
People do ask if they can take pictures and I let them. I also try to get out of the picture they are taking.
I work every other Saturday night and my wife lets me go to a car cruise when I get a Saturday off, sometimes she even comes with me.
Yes I see too many muscle cars, but not many Packards as I have the only one there. I get lots of comments and I answer a lot of questions. There have been a few nights I had to leave the car to relax because many people stopped by and asked questions or made comments. I love the stories.

I drive a 55 Clipper Custom with 235-75R15 WWW Coker radials. I have over 40,000 in 8 years. I enjoy driving the car.
I have heard the only problem with radial tires is the rim flexes with radials and your wheel cover may come off. I have lost 2 wheel covers. I don't use show quality wheel covers but I do have a pretty car and I want to keep it looking good.
If you want radial tires, then get them and enjoy the ride.

I own a 53 Patrician and the white steering wheel was falling apart in my hands so I found a black steering wheel to temporarily replace it. When I get back to the car I will want a white steering wheel. So count me in as wanting one of these if/when you do make them.

I had the Chrysler 727 installed in my 55 Clipper. I enjoy it now, but it was expensive. The shop that installed it learned how to do it on my money. I could have sent the car to the east coast or west coast to get the ultramatic rebuilt cheaper than the swap cost. If you did the swap the transmission yourself, it would be cheaper.
There is a guy in Phoenix who is working on installing a 700R4 so he'll have overdrive. I'll be watching that conversion.

Sounds like a good time. I'll put it on my calendar. I might have the time next year if I start saving for it now.

I asked the question about vapor lock in the Phoenix area to my local Packard club and I got 4 replies:

1. Electric fuel pump back by the gas tank.
2. Add a gallon of Diesel fuel per tank.
3. Replace the metal fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor with a thick rubber fuel hose (it resists heat build up).
4. Put clothes pins on the metal fuel line from the fuel pump to the carburetor. Of course this was an old school fix, but these are old school cars.

I guess any one of these would work. Currently I am using the diesel method and it's working. I might try the rubber fuel line next, that way I don't have to look for diesel fuel.

My first vapor lock was because I had my left front tire wheel nut too tight (the one holding the drum on). The wheel bearing got hot, the heat traveled up the spindle and heated up the fuel line and the brake line (which melted my stoplight switch) but that's a different story. After loosening the wheel nut that problem was solved. I was too new to know how tight or loose the front wheel should be but after 40,000 miles I think I got it right.
Now this problem of vapor locking now has been bothering me for 3 years. I hope I have it licked!
Good luck with yours.

I own a 55 Clipper Custom. In Phoenix, AZ I added a 5 row radiator, a Chrysler 318 mechanical fuel pump (that bolts in) and a Chrysler 727 transmission. In 8 years I drove it 40,000 miles. Yes I have had some troubles, but I expect that. I just drove from Phoenix to LA and back in January. I do own modern cars but even in the heat I enjoy my Packard more and I find I am smiling while driving my Packard. I don't have AC, a stereo nor cupholders, but I am smiling. It used to be a daily driver, and enjoyed it every time. Of course I even let my kids drive my 55 to Prom, by themselves. Go ahead and enjoy it. I have scratches on my doors and the top of the back seat is fading fast from the harsh sun here in AZ but I'm driving it and going to car cruises twice a month, I'd go more often but I work every Friday night.
Go for it. I get lots of thumbs up, I hear horns honking and see a wave. People come up to me at car cruises to tell me they have seen the car driving in town and they love seeing it. So drive your Packard, it is fun.

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