That 56 400 is beautiful. What a gorgeous car

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Agreed - well said Kevin.

Thanks all for indulging me,

~Q

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Agreed! Living on the east coast certainly has my eyes peeled for rust and corrosion. This example is much nicer (body-wise) than many counterparts of the era.

I also wonder with this particular example if the 3 speed manual transmission is viewed as a hindrance to owning. Obviously, I feel it's one of its greatest strengths. The irony is the R11 overdrive makes this manual transmission very automatic!

While my grandfather owned a 55 - and I think them to be beautiful and stately 50's cars - I have a certain attraction to the 51-54s - in large part because of what you can't see: the flat head 8.

Also because by this time, it certainly appears that Packard had perfected that straight 8. Yes, holding on to the flathead had a hand in their demise, but that 1954 body style with those tail lights does it for me.

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Totally agree about the bidding matching its value, how the car was marketed (or lack of marketing), as well as the leaking of pretty much anything that can leak. There wasn't even a mention of one of it's greatest assets: overdrive.

It even more drives my point that no one really knows about these things...nor, I'm guessing, cares to know. Makes me melancholy.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125204031345?nma=true&si=UGxpkerf38vtjnieeRtKz9z9Yo0%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

It's been featured on the Classic Auto Mall website as well as the other major classic car sites for a while and most recently been on offered on an eBay auction 3 times.

I'm not in a position to grab it but I find it interesting that this clean 68 year old car first topped out at $9100, but only around $6000 the last two times. The buy-it-now was more than twice as much as the last two highest bids. I love everything about this car – 327 straight 8, 3 speed w/overdrive, wide whitewalls, cormorant, dual spot lights, driving lights, and neat-as-a-pin cloth interior. It has all I need (and even want).

Packard was already in the history books during my formative years. I came up being hauled around in American-made station wagons (mostly Chryslers). As I became able to drive in the mid-1980’s, I first owned a Mercury and two Chryslers. All were big, torquey-but-thirsty 400ci or larger V8s. Japanese cars were cheap, fairly easy to maintain, and good on gas so I owned several. I still drive one today (even though my Fuji Heavy Industries example was made in Indiana).

With that said, my appreciation for all things American-made has grown and, for the last 20+ years, my for-fun cars have been Mopars. Currently, I play with a cheap, nothing-special 1974 Dodge Dart Sport. Even with something as mainstream as an A body Mopar, these things can be expensive! Thankfully, enough were made that you can generally find what you need affordably. It’s a good thing because I’m one of those people who enjoy driving around in a nearly 50 year old car! Especially when I can use it on a daily basis when the snow and foul weather go away for about 6 months here in northwestern PA.

When I learned that my grandpa owned a 1955 Packard Clipper, my intrigue with the company grew. And not just for Packard, for all those decades-gone American brands. Now, projecting into the future, I can't help but think: will the Packard marque fade just enough for someone like me to afford and enjoy one? Maybe never, and that’s fine – I’m not necessarily complaining. I reason that if prices are high, demand is still there. The name is still on the minds of enough folks that it remains alive.
I also believe the market dictates their value. But, in this case, the market is people. I venture to say car enthusiasts mostly. If in the years ahead, the new up-and-coming auto aficionados turn their attention toward what they came up with, will Packard prices remain up or go down? Will I get my shot when those folks with disposable income turn toward their age-of-dominate-influence-automobiles such as Honda V-TECs, Hyundai Tiburons, Tesla Model 3s, or even a Toyota Prius?

I don't even know what point I'm trying to make other than as time continues to move along, these beautiful cars (and the make’s rich history) continue to lose their admirers. Is it possible we get to the point where Packard gets lost to history? Selfishly, will I get an opportunity to own and operate one or will they become so exclusive that my opportunity has likely already passed?
This musing wasn’t to elicit pity on my financial position, rather, it was just an off-the-cuff thought – dread, really – that a car company – once so vibrant and full of life – could fall so far that it could fade into oblivion. I certainly hope the Packard name and story don’t get enveloped into the passing years.

And, finally, I can also hope to experience looking over the long hood, up over the glorious hood ornament, while the velvety–smooth straight 8 shifted through a 3 speed overdrive transmission pulls me and my family down the road to get ice cream some summer’s evening.

And having someone ask me what it’s like because I’m a man who owns one.

What a project and what a fun read! So enjoy this rebuild thread. Thanks for sharing Troy - keep up the good work!

~Q

I'm almost done with reading The Fall of the Packard Motor Company and just passed the point where they were talking with GM. Maybe I need to reread that section but I came away with the impression that the talks weren't anything but that - just talking - and eventual rejection by GM.

To hear/read that GM could have reserved the Mark III designation of their big blocks to use with the Packard V8 is very interesting. Tells me maybe it was more than just talk - or maybe I'm reading too much into it.

Either way, while, evidently, a well-known & thoroughly discussed topic for those not previously exposed to or currently immersed in the Packard story, it is certainly interesting and helpful to get up to speed. Thanks for helping the newbies!

As always, great people and great history on this site -

~Q

The collective knowledge on this site is so vast I am reading each post like a kid in a candy store.

A couple more...

My uncle with a toy six-shooter replete with cowboy hat and boots.

And another random shot from the late 50's at one of the conventions my grandfather attended. I believe that's a Packard right in front...hopefully I'm correct on that.

Enjoy...

~Q

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Thanks JW. Enjoying my time looking around the site. The Packard-Merlin engines were incredible and, in concert with a number of other factors, a reason why the US and the Allies were able to win the second world war. I grew to appreciate everyone (all US manufacturers) who stopped what they were doing and went full steam ahead to do their part to 'help our boys' win the war.

From little Willys (as well as Ford) and the Jeep to Packard and the P51D & PT boat engines, to Chrysler and the cars, trucks, engines, & tanks and others that I'm probably missing, I just love reading about the US's can-do spirit and attitude.

So, naturally, when you grow up with some Chrysler products you have a natural affinity for them. When I got older and started reading about them, I was drawn to their engineering approach to automobiles. Now, having re-discovered grandpa's Packard and all the memories surrounded it, I couldn't help but read more about the company. The more I learn about about Packard, I see that they also were very high on the engineering aspect of their car. It's a no-brainer that I would like them too.

For a small company to undertake the first completely in-house design & manufacture of an automatic transmission speaks to the stubborn way they liked to do things. And I mean stubborn in the most complimentary way possible. That same USA can-do attitude showing through in a very American car.

I also read somewhere that around 55-56, Chrysler actually helped with the manufacture of the bodies??? Maybe someone could comment on that. Either way, it more than confirms to me that, in liking both Chrysler & Packard, I have my priorities straight

Scanned some more slides and found some more Packard pics. My grandpa was a pastor and traveled with my mom & uncle all over the USA preaching in revivals or other special services. They put a lot of miles on cars over those early years. When they moved to Flint, MI to pastor a church there, he thought it was time to buy a car. That's when and where he bought his first new car - a '55 Clipper Custom (thanks again for the help on the specific model Steve).

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