Nowadays that insurance company is headquartered in Seattle; could this dealership photo be from Seattle or somewhere else in the Pacific Northwest?

I just finished the book and enjoyed it a lot.

No ZIL content -- that will have to wait for someone else's book. But if you like personal stories well-told, many of which you can identify with yourself, then you'll enjoy this chronology of cars and Southern towns and family characters. And yes -- there is "the one that got away." Haven't we ALL been there?!?

Palazuelo has no firm plans for the property at the moment. The last article I saw on this topic (which was also on Crain's Detroit Business) said that he had basically given up on trying to rehab anything except for the Building 13 Administration structure fronting on E. Grand Boulevard. The rest of the property has been advertised as being "available for redevelopment." So it will probably all be razed fairly soon.

I just picked up a 1955 Caribbean that needs a new top, so I’ll be following this thread with interest. From what I can tell, no one makes the 1955 original [Orlon] top material, and I believe that even in 1956, replacement 1955 tops were make of the 1956 diamond pinpoint vinyl [Hypalon] material. No one is offering 1956 tops with the color pads and headliner, so the two Caribbean owners in our PAC region have simply bought the raw materials and had the top and liners made from scratch. Prohibitively expensive, but they look stunning!

Edited 2/5/21 to reflect corrections from Leeedy

Yes, 1956 Clipper headlight trim -- I'm guessing to help hide either rust or rust repair. And yes, it has a radio with Clipper buttons on it. Not sure why; I'm guessing the factory ration stopped working and someone swapped it out. I don't believe the steering has been changed. The hood prop rod was removed or missing before I bought the car. I've owned the car about a year now.

1955 Packard Caribbean convertible -- #1190, White Jade / Rose Quartz / Gray Pearl (MUH)

Needs complete restoration. Approximately 72,000 miles, mostly original including original top fabric, with 95% of the parts present. I'm the third owner, buying the car in 2019 after the second owner bought and then stored the car in 1979. Matching numbers engine is original and turns freely, but needs intake manifold and carburetor installed to be able to run. (Intake, single Rochester 4GC four-barrel carburetor, air cleaner, and carburetor linkage from a 1955 Patrician will be included with the car.) Re-cored radiator also included. Starter and three of the four power window motors work when a battery is installed. Equipped with standard steel wheels with wheel covers, and Packard Accessory spotlights with mirrors. Original leather upholstery is intact but would either need reupholstery or heavy conditioning/conservation and repair of some stitching. Original carpeting needs complete replacement. Transmission is not operational and will need a complete rebuild. Known missing pieces include the complete dual carb intake, air cleaners, and linkage; "Packard" rear fender nameplates; "Caribbean" front fender nameplates; belt rail stainless moulding that sits on the body at the base of the convertible top (it has snaps on it for the top boot cover); rear bow moulding; and the fender skirts. One power rear antenna is intact, while the other antenna has a snapped shaft. rust in the typical places in the front fender eyebrows, rocker panels, and rear quarters. The rear body mount locations in the trunk appear to be solid. The driveshaft is currently disconnected; can roll for transport. Has clean Michigan title. Car is located near Lansing, Michigan.

Asking $15,000 for this "highly patinaed" example that still has a lot of its originality still intact.

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Wow, no kidding on the price of that 1955 Patrician. 😳😳😳

I believe it's in Oklahoma City.

Wow, that has to be one of the worst "updates" to a Classic Packard, ever. So sad!

That's what I'm afraid of, too. Someone could take a very doable project like this 1928 six-cylinder coupe and give it the Jegs-Summit-SBC treatment, complete with metalflake paint and flames and air bag suspension. But, you can't tell someone else how to spend their money, so cars like these are probably just going to get turned into "car-icatures."