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I have wanted to own a Packard for most of my life. Am in my early seventies and better jump before it's too late. I saw a frame off restored 1955 Constellation Hardtop(yellow/white) on eBay. It is a very beautiful car and is priced in the mid forties. I have very little mechanical know how, just love Packards and would like to get one as I said. Could someone give me some help in giving me their opinion on the 1955 model and what a car like this would be valued at. Also, is the torsion -level ride something that would require constant maintenance? Thanks for any help you can give me.

saw that car...pretty clean. its worth what you are willing to pay for it. but my two cents. its way overpriced.

http://nadaguides.com/Classic-Cars/1955/Packard/Clipper-Constellation/2-Door-Hardtop/Values

Appears to be a very nice car, I have not seen a V8 Clipper sell for over 22K for the last 5 years & this is watching many many venues. If this is as good as it looks, it could push 30K but it would not return that value come sale time.
If it really is that nice & all it costs it a couple of grand on exit-well has a woman ever cost you that little?

Unless the owner did all the work himself, if it was a frame off resto I expect he has more than the asking price in the car. I agree that for a Clipper it is overpriced and except for a Caribbean, maybe even for a Packard too. I doubt he will recoup his investment.

Weak spots in 55s were the transmission and in V8s of both years, engine oiling issues. If the car has had the transmission updates as issued by Packard at the time and any later updates found by experience and installed by competent mechanics it should be as reliable as the 56s have become. Modern fluids and linings are a big improvement over the original fluids and cork linings but options to install a modern GM transmission are also available. The engine oiling issue is an ongoing subject with both 55 and 56 cars. The latest solution seems to be installation of an Olds oil pump conversion to eliminate the original pump and some of the perceived issues it might have had. Many of those conversions have been installed to apparently complete satisfaction. The oil pump replacement does require the removal of the crankcase mounted aux vacuum pump for the windshield wiper motor so that is another project to consider. Some have installed electric wipers and others have reverted back to dual function fuel pumps to supply the aux vacuum source.

Torsion level is quite reliable and requires no special maintenance. 55 is a bit different than 56 with the 55 electrical components all being under the car and a slightly different mechanical arrangement. The exposed electrical components are subject to road moisture and being hit by debris. If it still has the original 55 control switch then as long as waterproofing is kept intact over the exposed terminals and the bracket the limit switch and solenoids are mounted on is not bent or damaged by road debris all should be fine.

G'day DeputyBill,
to PackardInfo. If you purchase the '55 Constellation Hardtop I invite you to include it in the Packard Owner's Registry.