Thanks, Owen!

I was pleased to find that the hassocks were an optional thing. In my limited travels, I'd seen them in one or two Patricians from earlier Series, but neither of mine 5682s has them. Used examples of these hassocks turn up, occasionally, on swap meet tables, but I won't worry about them, now, unless I find a build code strip (or production order that shows either of my cars was shipped from the factory with them.

Yeah, other than a Caribbean, I wouldn't trust the appearance of a 2x4 setup on any Packard V8 as factory install without bona fide documentation. You might remember a low-mileage Exec that resurfaced some 2o tears ago and had the Caribbean V8 (among a few other things), with correspomdence to and from Packard that document it. I believe this vehicle was first reported in the October 1987 issue of Nostalgic Cars magazine (no longer in publication). It was one of those few cases where, if an owner persisted, the factory would bend the rules to make a sale.

I don't recall any production code for the chrome-plated rocker covers, but know that they were available over-the-counter as a dealer accessory item. I have a bulletin on that, which I will be uploading with others to P'Info next month.

(Edited on: 2009/03/22, to correct magazine name and date of issue)

Hey guys
Since this was an ambulance combo car, the hole held the light siren combo. I have a couple parts of the original one (the lens and cover) but would like to find a complete federal set. I am trying to keep it as original as possible so i opted to keep the hole in it. Everytime I go outside I have a crowd around it. I still have the original gurnee and jump seats also, I will try to get some interior pics later today.

Brian, congratulations again on a nice job and on gathering additional info and adding it. Hopefully more such info from authoritative sources will come to the fore in the future.

My 54 Patrician had the hassocks (and my 34 has 1) and I've seen them in quite a few others. I doubt we'll ever know the full details of some of the other codes. Export cars were equipped differently for most of Packard's history, things like a different and more expansive tool kits, heavy duty shocks and I believe the larger diameter torsion bars (in 55/56 of course), and maybe even the 6 ply or 6-ply rated tires.

As to the 2 x 4 bbl Rochesters on Patricians and 400s, of course we see that very often and the owners most always claim "from the factory" but I think we know better, more than likely it was a dealer conversion to clinch a sale. I believe the Caribbean chrome rocker covers however were legitimately available across the Packard line.

HH56 -

While the Hassock (HK) was 5682 (Patrician) only, the High Speed Car Equipment (HR) was listed as 5680 only.

That means it (HR) was not limited solely to the Patrician, but - depending on how you wanna interpret things - that might have excluded the Caribbean, which was, technically, on the 5688 chassis.

Could it be, then, that High Speed Car Equipment was the Caribbean powertrain details? I've never personally seen a 2x4 set-up on a Patrician or Four Hundred.

Until factory documentation comes to the surface, we may never know for sure. Also, keep in mind that this additional info covered the 56th Series only and may not necessarily apply to 55th Series.

I think the site may have some issues with Firefox. I have to use IE to get it to completely load.

Jim, I was wondering the same thing!

My curiosity is driving me crazy; What occupies the large hole on the drivers side of the grill shell?

And a side note, you must have the worlds best body shop to have gone from the unfinished shell in the post the other week to painted and instilled already.

Your car looks great! Enjoy...

Jim

Brian's updated versions (55 & 56) have now been posted. Same article pages, just updated PDFs.

Thanks!

Jack,the site came right up for me. Perhaps they were having a service issue when you tried earlier.

iburyem,

Beautiful colors. Rich combo. Makes a striking formal classic.

I was at a local car show at the Senior Center this week. A local funeral home brought a 1949 Pontiac Silverstreak Hearse that had not been restored. It was striking, BUT NOTHING TO compare to your Packard Henney. A very elegant, celebrative vehicle. Sounds like you will enjoy using it.

DanL