Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Avanti,
I agree on the stand out :) But thought the front end of this car sat quite a bit higher than those I have seen. Though I am definitely not a Packard expert in any sense of the word.

I think it has been discussed here on this site, and I have had discussions at some PAC meets about where the back skirt should cross the red hex or should it be above the hex.

Have had people say the fender skirt should 1/2 it, others say the skirt should be above the hex.

I have had discussions at some PAC meets about where the back skirt should cross the red hex

Easy question to answer; get the car level by obtaining the same measurement from the door sills to the ground both as far front and as far rear as you can measure. Then wherever the skirt intersects the wheel shell cover or hub cap is correct for whatever ground clearance that particular car is set for.

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Due to other pressing matters, it's been a long time since I even looked at my Caribbean Hardtop, but don't recall such part. I suspect that the subject pillar trim is a convertible only item.

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Yes. However, I don't think this is the result of the car simply being out of level, but (somehow) really jacked-up.

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Parts book illustrations of the vehicles in profile show the skirt covering half of the wheel cover center. Artwork in showroom brochures is a little more liberal and often varies. Perhaps there's some artistic license there, but suspect it's rooted in intent.

However, this aspect of the car is should not be considered an exact science since, even when new, overall riding height changed as load varies. I doubt if even the manufacturer intended it to be dialed in that precisely.

A big mistake some people make is using the side spear moldings as a reference to level the car, when those lines were actually intended to run downhill, fore-to-aft, on a level car.

As a result, I've only ever proffered the 1/2 rule as an eyeball check - in lieu of laying on the ground with a measuring stick.