John,

Those are great pictures. Can you add those to the Picture Library so they do not get lost down the forum threads.

Thanks,

Thank-you very much Brian.

Kevin
Tucson

Clipper47: With your post about the article that is the current TPC, got me to thinking. I just realy wonder out loud if the article has any new,to add to what has already been writtten about the 55 & 56 Packard by other writers, and Packard historians. The history of every part of Packard has been written about so many times, that just about all of it by now is just a repeat of prior history already written about Packard.

John, There is a short article written by John Z. DeLorean about the Twin Ultramatic which I believe is new information. In addition there are four articles about the history of specific cars that are very interesting. Maybe not much if anything added to historical information for the expert or researcher but an enjoyable read nontheless for this tyro.

Pushbutton: here are some pictures from my personal collection.

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Hey, John, the more the merrier.

I was thinking the "Show and Concept Cars" category was created more for prototype cars (busting them out of the "Factory Photos" section), but mebbe those auto show pix of yours fit in there. If so, I think Big Kev should move the one with the T-L show chasis to that category. OR do we need a category for "Factory Car Shows" - to keep 'em separate from hobby events?

Elsewhere, you have a pic from a show in a hotel setting. Would that be the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco?

Having seen incorrect ornamentation being used on the 1955-56 cars, I am compelled to respond as matter of public to all Senior V8 owners.

The "PACKARD" hood letters on 1955 Four Hundred and Patrician models were chrome-plated, but not factory-installed on Caribbean. These same hood letters were also used on 1957-58 Packardbakers, but the plating on a set I purchased from a Studebaker vendor left a lot to be desired.

The grille ornamentation uses a chrome-plated vee over a gold-plated circle; the grille crest, used for 1955 only, is done in a gold finish, with red paint for the field of the shield. The castings for the circle and vee used for 1955 are NOT the same as what was used on 1956 models.

The script plates on the front fenders of the Senior cars for both 1955-56, aft of the wheel opening (and ahead of the front door opening), were gold-plated: using "The Four Hundred" for 5587 and 5687 models and "The Patrician" for 5582 and 5682 models. The 1953-54 Caribbeans used chrome-plated script plates, but the same casting was gold-plated for 1955-56.

The "Packard" script plates on the rear fenders of all 1955-56 Seniors models were gold-plated EXCEPT for the 1956 Executive, which recycled the script plates from 1954 models - same casting but chrome-plated.

For 1955 Senior cars, the vees used on the roof pillars were chrome-plated (like the grille ornamentation), but the vees on the taillights were gold-plated. They were not used on 1956 models.

As for the trunk, I believe both the "400" and the traditional "Packard" script were gold-plated, but don't want to rely on my fuzzy memory for this particular area without confirmation from someone else.

1955 Caribbean was devoid of script plates on the trunk. Patricians were the only 1955 Senior models to have script plates installed by the factory above the trunk handle/ornament, and they were chrome-plated. The "Packard" script plate as used on the 1955 Patrician trunk was recycled for use on the 1956 Executive. The rest of the 1956 Seniors cars used gold-plated script plates located above the circle-vee ornamentation, which followed the same plating scheme as the on the grille.

I know of no source that will corroborate all this, but my statements are based on personal observation of unmolested original cars (though from years ago) and "extrapolations" from the parts book listings.

fellow V-8 folks, check out the 1955,1956 and show car catagories, I downloaded a bunch of pictures from my 8 x 10 collection, mostly V-8 cars. I also sent a 41 Cliper photo shoot shot and a 1933 interior shot

JL

A little help is appreciated. Does anyone know of a source that can definitively tell me what the proper colors are for all script adorning 1955 400 HT's?

Packard (modern looking script) - in rear quarter panels?
Packard (older cursive script) - RR of trunk lid?
The Four Hundred - forward of both front doors?
"V"'s found on cathedral tail lamps?
"V"'s found with medallion on rear roof pillars?
Packard letters found on front of engine hood?\

Did I miss any?

Help appreciated?

Kevin
Tucson

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Clipper47: With your post about the article that is the current TPC, got me to thinking. I just realy wonder out loud if the article has any new,to add to what has already been writtten about the 55 & 56 Packard by other writers, and Packard historians. The history of every part of Packard has been written about so many times, that just about all of it by now is just a repeat of prior history already written about Packard.

Pushbutton: So you getting an article printed in the TPC, that certainly clears the air, about a public offer you made to me about a year ago in the AACA forum. However as to not side track this thread, that offer you made will be the subject of another thread later in the week.


John F. Shireman

I was at the 2006 PAC convention in Detroit, and helped in a small way to help bring it off. The observation of the 50th anniversary of the demise of Packard as a stand-alone Detroit automaker was a big focus of the event, there was a special circle of cars at the Wednesday event at the proving grounds where one of every 1956 model was displayed. The attendance was very good and the number of cars registered was terrific, and there were a large number of 1956 models present. Yes, we did have an emphasis on the proving grounds project, where it has been a cut-bait-or-fish year, several kind donations were made by PAC Packard owners as a result of the convention that have helped that project immensely at this crucial time. The meet did not focus solely on the PPG.
I led a two bus tour of 121 people to several important historical sites of Detroit automotive history, including the Packard plant and the site of the Conner V-8 assembly plant (we actually parked the busses on the site of the plant), so in that way we celebrated the 1956 models, 1955 too!
I did not hear as much grumbling like the comments Mr. Persall made in the Cormorant, and in general have not heard much of that from (most) PAC members. There is another club, one that sells red baseball caps, consisting of self-made men who have Roman numerals following their name and who run businesses started by previous generations of their family (not all, but many) having a vocal contingent who HATE anything postwar, really starting with the introduction of the 120 and 110 models, and who truly wish Packard died with ACD, Pierce Arrow, Peerless, Marmon and the other premium brands that did not survive the 30's. When that talk starts it's time to turn the other cheek.
I just wrote and submitted an article that will appear in the next issue of the Cormorant about the history of the Conner Ave. assembly plant, Briggs manufacturing and Chrysler's acquisition of Briggs, with many never-before seen photos of the Conner plant--Mr.Persall will have to suffer through that!