Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Taxable horsepower was a system based solely on cylinder dimensions and the # of cylinders.

Thanks again for that document, 56 Executive. It supports other documentation (Utica engine plant manufacturing codes) that only Twin Ultramatic was available in Caribbeans. But it's interesting that no weight is given, probably because the Caribbeans were so late in coming to market that the data wasn't available at the time. Supposedly one of the reasons for the late introduction was the new Caribbean seat.

PS - hard to believe, but perhaps Missouri is still using Taxable horsepower? Seedor.mo.gov/pdf/taxablehorsepowerchart.pdf

PPS - trying to remember- who was the subcontractor/vendor for the Caribbean seats in 1956? Two-part hyphenated name, just can't recall it.

Sundgard - ??

And a big tip of the hat to 56executive for research and taking the time to post the info. Obviously, you were paying for TU whether you bought it or not.

Randy - thanks for the memory jog - Sunstrand (today Hamilton-Sunstrand IIRC).

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That registration information for the 56th Series is very interesting. I've seen similar document for the 55th Series, and it shows all models in the Packard line "WITH" Ultramatic. The 56th Series info certainly supports the factory had, at least, an intent to build Patricians and Four Hundreds with manual shift transmission.

Yet, I wonder why Trade Letter 56-1001, Dealer 1 (the example from the Aller Collection is stamped with a received with date of "NOV 14 1955") shows Overdrive (OD) for the Clipper line only. Moreover, none of the three Supplement letters that I've snee have anything to day about standard transmission or overdrive. I'm still thinking there's a document that was sent to dealers with additional detail that simply hasn't turned up.

Meanwhile, those additional examples of production orders are equally interesting. It sure raises an eyebrow that none of the production records for 5687 models show Manual Shift Transmission (MS). I would assume no Overdrive (OD) turned up, either. Well, in view of the Four Hundred built for export to Switzerland, I've decided to add the Export codes from the to my 56th Series RPO chart.

I luv watching a good mystery unfold - even if it's only a little bit at a time.

Hi, I'm the guy that has the 56 Executive that Randy Berger has written about. To anyone that's interested the car runs and drives and stops. A couple more things to do and it will be inspected. Someone "restored" this car many years ago, painted it, not the correct colors. From the looks of it, everything looks original, engine numbers match, tranny and OD look original.

G'day bobp,
to PackardInfo, you've certainly acquired an interesting V8 Packard.

I invite you to include it in the Packard Owner's Registry here on PackardInfo.

A couple of Randy's posts referring to this car:

Post #1Quote:
Post #14Quote:

Bob for including your '56 Executive Hardtop Coupe in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Bob called me this evening and he has found more history about the car and got the build sheet from the Stude museum. I won't steal any of his thunder except to say that the car was previously owned by my friend Chris who changed some things. What goes around comes around.