Thanks for the report, Al. I'll have to go in on the next run for 2 or 3 of these. Does it have the brushed finish for the background where it's labelled "STARTER"?

Glad the provision for the little white lens was retained. I like how it shows you the opening for the key at night.

Although I seem to recall a production order posted on this site that directed the PA mirrors to be installed at the factory on a V8 Packard, you are correct that they were NOT a regular production option (RPO).

Factory-installed driver's outside rearview mirrors did not become commonplace in the industry until the 1960s. Availability of passenger side remained spotty until the mid 1970s.

See this post from 2014 for pix of the repro mirror that Don Sommer stuck me with decades ago, which I had purchased for my 56 Packard. Long story short, it is clearly a 51-54 base, but he insisted it was a 55-56. Notice the angle of the head and stem. Further down the post you'll see a correct 55-56 mirror.

Quote:
I beg to differ, but the mirror shown in your photo is for 51-54. Note the angle of the stem. Mounted upright on a 55-56, there's no way the head can be adjusted to give much of anything but a view of the pavement. Note the little "tit" at the bottom of the tail; that is designed to engage a locating hole that's drilled in the 51-54 belt molding - per the accessory installation instructions.

Quote:
A stretch north of Mercer PA, which ran past the small town of Fredonia. Some hills and curves, but plenty of straight stretches. Nothing like Pittsburgh.

There was a good bit of discussion about these mirrors some time ago, when I brought then up as an alternative:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=13898&post_id=213390#forumpost213390

Fine by me for a driver, but I wouldn't recommend them for a car like Randy's Caribbean.

Take a look at:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/partslist5556/PartPlates.pdf

... the Parts Diagram Plates from the 1955-1956 Parts and Accessories List in this site's Literature Archive.

I ordered this title shortly after this topic appeared.

I have nothing against the use of media mail, but this package came to Western Penna. by way of Dallas TX, and arrived late. No wonder the postal system keeps losing money. Also, the package was in pretty rough shape by the time it arrived - dirty and with one corner crushed. However, the books survived, thanks to Dwight's use of heavy stock for the pages. While the wire comb binding was deformed near the top of Volume Two, I nudged it back into shape. It will be awhile before I have time to read this set from cover to cover, but I paged through both volumes to make sure that everything else was OK.

I've been looking for a book like this for decades. With all due respect to all, if it weren't for my late father's ownership of a brand-new 56 Executive, I would never have gotten interested in Packards.

Over the intervening years, I collected a lot of literature on the V8s, but was surprised by the details on the proposed V12 - more than what the well-known, stretched V8 illustration could ever tell you.

I especially looked forward to the info on the 57s. Back when I first started reading about Packards, there was just that one picture of Black Bess circulating around, and I thought it was just a hastily cobbled-up 56 Clipper. This books show that it was clearly not and that a lot of time and engineering went into it. Yet, I wonder if Packard, after all the talk of issues with the 55-56 cars, would have been able to do any better with the 57s.

As for moving to Conner being a bad decision, I'll have to disagree. It's one thing to talk about moving body assembly, paint, glass and trim to East Grand, but what about sheet metal stamping? I once toured Chrysler's Twinsbirg OH plant, which had been a Briggs facility, and can tell you that it takes a lot of additional infrastructure to accommodate a stamping facility. Just one panel has to go through a series of dies and presses.

These books are a must read.

Al -

Your labor continues to bear fruits that are true to Randy's vision for this car.

Keep up the great work!

Kev -

I am shocked and dismayed by the news of your health problem. We have lost far too many good people in recent years. You deserve so much better than this!

I can think of no other single person who has touched so many in the Packard hobby - not only by virtue of the resources you collected for this website (with a little help from some friends), but through the leadership by example demonstrated with your project blog. You took a car that was languishing in a back alley (and probably would have been crushed/melted to make Toyotas) and made a reliable, show-worthy cruiser out of it.

Yet, I am buoyed by the news of your response to treatment. Stay vigilant, hold your oncologist's feet to the fire if necessary, and recognize when it's time to get a second or even third opinion from another provider/system.

Meanwhile, I'm glad to hear you are able to enjoy woodworking. There's just something about working with those organic materials. Wish I had time to do more of that.

In closing, I wish nothing less than a long, full life for you, my friend. Although I have less time than ever for hobbies right now, it has been a pleasure helping you with content for this site.