Thank you. I have not purchased the car but if I do, I will purchase the book. I believe it has been or is advertised in the back of the CNB if I recall.

I believe about 5600 Custom 8's were made in the 22nd series but there is no break out for the Club Sedan (2 door fastback).

Does anyone know anecdotally (educated guess) what the production might be for the 22nd series Custom 8 club sedan?

Sorry. I am on a business trip but received the photos shortly before leaving. They were printed on paper.

This is the Chicago suburb car IF the one you are referring to is yellow and white.

Yes, missing the front clip, engine missing, transmission missing. Body is solid.

This would be a good rebody candidate. The seller indicated I could purchase the front clip, the engine, etc from the parts fellow in Duluth.

But, as soon as I do, the parts guy will know I need the front clip, drivetrain etc and the price of admission would be pretty high I am sure.

I knew this going in but with a few days to let my better sense prevail, and 35 years of collecting weighing on my spider sense I will pass. A person might be better off getting the 1st production 55 Patrician rather then buying the parts for this car.

That said, it does give carte blanche to someone to drop a 374 in that engine bay and get a fast junior car, and I suppose the 2 are visually similar you could put Clipper decals where applicable.

This car was meant to fill a 2 car garage next to a very special Prewar CCCA Packard project coming in, as a 1-2 punch where I could tag team the restorations when one bogged down and was frustrating I could work on the other, then in a few years have 2 restored Packards to enjoy.

But I can buy any number of post war Packard projects, all complete and worthwhile, for $1000 or less where if I start with the yellow/white Executive, $1000 is the price of admission, Dulinski (I think that is his name) will want $2000 for the front clip, radiator, engine, trans, etc, at least.

I pretty much know what car #2 is going to be but I am still clearing some space out, car inventory wise, then I will pull the trigger.

But, with the ability to step back away from it for awhile, I will pass on the Executive. It can be restored, and like the 1st production 55 Patrician, it should be grabbed by someone. Great senior grille, last year, heck, probably last 2 months of Detroit production car.

Thanks for providing the numbers Steve. I figured it was rare, and we know they were built in the last days, so I believe I am going to move forward on this purchase.

It's interesting to note quite a few 56 Packards survived and when you think about it, production numbers in the 3000's as with the 400 and the Patrician, allow a good decent survival rate. (6000 + total).

I hope that the Executive was given a unique model number and I am going to have to determine where the badging is located. The car I am considering is sans front clip.

It's cheap, so no issues but...

Would have been a great idea - 374. Buick did it for years putting the big senior motor in the smaller B Body, called it a Century. Customers wanted that more then luxury, in a way, in 1955/56.

The Century shared their wheelbase and interior with the bottom of the line Special, so in the respect of having a lesser "Clipper" interior, it would have been the same.

But the 374 4 barrel would have smoked a 56 Century with 322 4 barrel.

I used to have a Collectible Automobile magazine on the Executive, but I may have to re-purchase.

There is a seller in the Cormorant News Bulletin advertising a 56 Executive 2 door hardtop for sale. I spoke with him yesterday.

I did a google search on 56 Executive and found a nice article which refreshed my memory.

The production numbers for the Executive were 2815 in 2 door and 4 door.

What is the actual production for the 56 Executive 2 door hardtop? I understand they basically were last minute desperation replacements for the Clipper Customs.

Since I read the book The Fall of Packard Motor Car Company by James ward, I have wanted a 56 Packard because he made it seem like "I was there" in the final days of Packard.

My thinking was that by buying and owning a 56 Packard, I was owning a better portrait of automobile history then, say, a 1966 Ford Galaxie.

I could sort of feel the anguish of Packard line workers as they knew they might be assembling the last true Packards.

So, here is a 56 Executive, arguably less then a 400 or Patrician BUT a definitely unique last minute desperation tactic by Nance to "save" Packard.

What intrigues me is that production of the Executive did not begin until - what? - February 1956. By June all production had ceased. Therefore, all Executives had to be made in the last 4-5 months of production.

The reason for my post is to get the experts to chime in on facts or fiction regarding Executives, whether the Executives are seen as interesting artifacts in the eyes of Packard collectors, whether they are indeed rare in the 2 door hardtop configuration and whether they are seen much at all in the meets and events.

I like the looks of the Executive with the heavier front Packrd grille. I like the smooth looks of the Clipper Custom and could care less whether a 352 or 374 powers the car, it would be adequate.

I called on a 55 400 for sale here in Iowa and the seller said it was SOLD to a guy in Duluth MN who called on it one day after posting.

Here is the ad:

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/cto/4539354233.html

I have seen some reference to a V8 Packard parts guy on the forum from up that way. I want to look at the car for purchase as a restoration project so wanted to talk to him.

Can someone pass along his contact information to me, or mine to him?

Also I was looking at a 56 Executive 2 door hardtop and if I don's get the 400, I will need parts for the Executive.

Thanks
Bryan Moran
Des Moines, Iowa
515-520-2611
abc.moran@netzero.net

Paint cost is one main reason, along with engine kits and interiors, that old cars are 1. not getting restored any more and 2. why there is such a demand for "survivors".

Lots of value in survivors.

Having said that, there is a lot at stake it seems by trying it yourself.

He should not have to pay any taxes, maybe a small amount to cover potential fire and rescue - until it becomes a money generating enterprise.

Right? I mean small towns and some big towns give tax abatements to get neighborhoods going and regoing.

A fair question to ask since the model year introduction was in the middle of winter.

I would expect they would have sent them to California. El Paso in the fifties was not a booming affair. So there may have been some pull or payback reason for sending them to Texas.