My 55 Clipper with the 352 V8 and the Chrysler 727 transmision, gets about 13 mpg. I drive a lot around town and in Jan 10 drove it round trip from Phoenix to LA for the Nat'l membership meet and still got about 13 mpg.

I can see spending $17,000 and not seeing much progress on the car. I bought a 1955 Packard Clipper Custom for a bargain price of $1000 and I thought I was getting a deal. It did not run, had 4 flat tires and was a mess, my wife gagged when she saw it. I also thought that I could invest only $5000 and have a real nice running car, a Packard at that! I was wrong. After many mistakes and $35,000 I have a very nice looking and running 1955 Packard Clipper. I rebuilt the motor myself and parts alone were $1900. I have rebuilt nearly everything on it. My car is no where near worth what I have spent on it, but I have gotten my money out of it. I have had it 12 years and 40k miles (8 years on the road). I go to car cruises every chance I get.

Yes this particular car needs body work and it can be done. Just remember the journey and take lots of pictures.

I don't have enough pictures of my cars' journey as it was being rebuilt. One of the best rewards I have is that not only is my wife willing and ready to go anywhere in this car, she will drive it with out me!

Enjoy the journey fixing your car and the ride afterwards.

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Hope to see you there with me driving my '55 Clipper from Phoenix. I'll be spending the night at my sister's and saving that $75 a night, maybe more money for parts at the swap meet??

I was driving my 55 Clipper home from a fellow Packardites funeral when across the intersection at a stop light, a fellow was waving the Hemmings Packard issue at me. It seems he enjoyed the magazine too.

I bought my 55 Clipper and was told it was running. After I dragged it home I found it had 4 bent pushrods. After rebuilding the engine, transmission, brakes, patching the floor boards, rocker panels, rust holes in the front fenders, new paint job, new interior, and repaired many other things the car was running. This should have been labeled a parts car. It was bought by the owner as a parts car. It is now running around Phoenix, looking pretty as it should. But I now admit I bought a parts car and put it back where it should be, on the road.

With my 55 Clipper I found a jack from the game of jacks, 2 cigarette lighters with a 5 digit phone number and the RCA logo on them and the best one was a black plastic ZORRO ring. Woo-hoo! I still have them.
With my 51 300 I found a newspaper from the 60s talking about Howard Hughes, kept it with the car and the new buyer.

When I first brought my 55 Clipper home it was a parts car and my wife hated it. It took only 4 years to get it to where it is today. I brought her to the club to on the outings, what woman doesn't like to eat out? She got to know the other women in the club and now loves it. She has even driven my 55 Clipper to a Packard breakfast when I could not make it. She has gone to a couple different Packard functions without me. She also has claimed one of my other Packards for her and it needs work. This has taken awhile and she now has the bug. I'd like to thank all the friendly gals in the Packard club who are now her friend. Take her to the club meetings, breakfasts, lunch, dinner and socialize. She'll come around when she has friends in the club.
Good Luck.

I am 51 and have only owned a Packard for 11 years.
My first car at 15 years old was a 1952 Cadillac Coupe. My high school car was a 1966 Mustang convertible. I miss both of those cars.
I currently own a 1955 Clipper Custom that I 'repaired' everything on it.
I own a 1953 Patrician that needs work.
My new Packard is a 1940 160 sedan that I am currently rebuilding the engine. Can't wait to drive the 40.
My wife wants me to fix the 53 for her.
Have let my kids drive the 55 to prom without me!
Don't have any room for the 3 Packards, but we are having fun.

My 55 Clipper is an automatic, I did install a Chrysler 727 with a kit that's offered from CA.
I don't have a shut off valve for the gas tank.
The filter I used near the gas tank was an inline metal can from NAPA or Autozone or Checker. I just did not change it enough. I had trouble with my gas tank, I don't like to use sealers in my gas tank because the new gas ate my old gas tank sealer and sent junk through my entire fuel system. The gas filter was replaced after the tank was cleaned, so I don't know what got in it. But I am back on the road. Thanks for the help.

Thanks for the help. I checked a lot of this out and before I was going to put the points back in, I remembered about the fuel filter back by the gas tank. I replaced it with a hose and the car drove fine. The car was smooth so I could not feel it sputter and shut off. I should have checked the fuel filter first. Thanks.