Okay, I've been searching, and what I've found is tantalizing - an Ultramatic bellhousing adapted to accept a Jeep T90; and several references to a '56 Patrician-cum-high-speed-tourer, but no in-depth tech article.

Can you provide a link, Mr. Packman, or perhaps recap what you've done to give the old Eye Eight some legs?

-Dave

Whatever it is, I propose you buy it, refurbish it, get a chauffeur's uniform made (double-breasted maroon with brass buttons and tall boots would look good) and start hiring yourself out for proms and weddings!

-Dave

Seller is apparently a Packard collector who is "thinning the herd." I'm sure he'll know the story on what the trans woes are.

I'm certainly not shelling out $3000 to rebuild what is effectively a single-speed transmission. I do have a line on a parts car in Wisconsin that's got all the stick-shift bits.

I did the Powerglide-to-Muncie thing on my Camaro and it wasn't too bad, I just hope I don't have to buy the entire car in Wisconsin to get the manual transmission parts. I haven't got any way to get it home.

-Dave

"Sounds like a good deal to me. Buy it. I would. But again, don't expect parts, prices and repair service availability to be as easy as your 68 Camaro."

I certainly don't. In fact, I hestitated to even mention my Camaro, as I realize that parts availability is unrealistically good for first-generation Camaros as compared to virtually any other car aside from perhaps 1932 Fords. I just wanted to know if there was some unknown (to me) "dark side" of post-war Packards that was keeping them from popularity, or whether it was just that Joe Six-pack wasn't interested in the brand of car his father's doctor drove.

"Also note that the Packard is most likely 6ix volt + ground which makes electrical parts availability more challenging unless someone has done a 12v conversion."

I was aware that would probably be the case. I love old cars, so I knew I'd end up doing a 12V conversion eventually.

"How many miles are on the car???"

That I don't know yet, but one thing that gave me some discomfort was that at one time the car had a sign in the window that read "needs transmission work." So it might be that an aged Ultramatic is what's holding this one back. I'd forgotten about the sign until this morning.

Maybe I just missed the clutch pedal and it's really a 3-speed. That'd be swell.

-Dave

I do like Tri-5 Chevies, and if a '55 210 4-door found its way into my garage, I wouldn't be crying in my beer, but I already own a '68 Camaro and kind of want something different. Up 'til now, I've been thinking in terms of a '61-'63 Ford Falcon, but the more I read about Packard, the better I like the idea of owning one.

I think I'm going to give the seller a call soon - that is, if the wife likes the "high pockets" styling.

BTW, my research tenatively shows that this car is probably a 1951 or 1952 200 Deluxe. It has "teeth" in the grille and the vertical tail lamps. The side trim is off the car due to some bodywork having been started. Whether the trim is included will probably make or break the purchase in my mind.

Thanks again for all the input. Oh, and one last question. This car is painted a kind of medium blue, any idea what that color was called?

-Dave

Thanks, and thanks for the warm welcome!

I think owners of orphan makes are friendlier.

-Dave

Oh, and for the record, the car in question has an Ultramatic, but I have a line on some stick-shift parts. Do these cars have torque tubes, or an open driveshaft?

-Dave

"As to whether you will have a constant battle and a headache, I am sure you will."

I'm not too worried about things going wrong because they're old, that much I expect, I'm concerned about not being able to find the part I need when the one I've got goes bad and can't be rebuilt. That's the scary part about an orphan make or one that is unpopular with the hot rodding crowd, the hunt for parts.

"They are good cars but not that good."

I dunno, you paint a pretty picture when you compare them to a Ford or Chevy of the same era. It's easy to forget that they were still priced up with Buick.

Speaking of Buick, that's what my paternal grandfather was driving when "my" Packard was built. I'm a stick man myself, but I suspect he probably had a Dynaflow in his '52.

"As to whether you enjoy driving it and working on it, that is up to you. But you will stand a fighting chance."

I'd much rather drive and work on any '50s car than anything made after the time I was born - so I guess I needn't have asked that question!

Thanks greatly for the input, I just needed to know I wasn't going to make a mistake.

-Dave

Hello,

I've been looking for a 1946 to 1961 four-door sedan for some time now to use as a good-weather daily driver. I'd been primarily focused on obtaining an oldie from Ford or Chevrolet, as there seems to be good support for those brands in the aftermarket and reproduction parts industry, but I may have just found a deal on a Packard I can't refuse.

I just moved to a new town and at an old gas-station-cum-repair-shop downtown there is a '51 to '54 Packard sedan (not sure of the model or the exact year). I've always appreciated these cars, but never really encountered one for sale in my price range. This one is marked $2500, but I was quoted $1800 when I asked, and was told it runs and drives, though I'm taking that with a grain of salt or two. Anyway, the point being that it's not in mere parts car shape, and if it were anything other than a four-door I'm sure it wouldn't still be sitting there.

So my question to you is - If I take the leap, will I be rewarded? Seems like there's a good enthusiast network for these beauties out there, and quite a few sources for New Old Stock bits, but driver-type upgrades (i.e. disc brakes, overdrive transmissions, etc.) seem to be largely a build-it-yourself affair.

Assuming this is the least-desirable Packard from the era (an era which seems to be ahead of only the "Packabaker" era in desirability itself), will I still like driving it and have fun working on it, or will it be a constant battle and headache? Any input is appreciated.

-Dave