Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Except for those few aberrations in 1955, all post-1950 theft proof numbers began with an alpha prefix.

OD I meant on the data plate.

That 4200 vehicle number on the 56 400 shown must mean it's a very late car. My corresponding number (4121) on a late May/early June car put it in the last hundred or so hardtops made. This one came out of Conner 79 senior hardtops later. Too bad it's useful only as a parts car.

I did not realize the paint codes and interior trim were punch stamped on the early cars. Just assumed they were all embossed. When did they make the change from stamped to embossed?
That firewall and cowl of the white car pictured above with the blank TP number looks different to me. I have been told I have a better knack for spotting suspect body work, metal work, bondo and such even through layers of paint. I guess 35 or 40 years of pouring over vehicles may give a leg up on such issues compared to the casual observer. That white car is quite rusted and is a parts car in a salvage yard I take it from the post so I will make observations that I would only make upon inspecting a car in person had it been an owners restored car. That pinch weld lip looks suspect to me. Just does not look right. The angle on the lip, the edge not straight. There is no indent over the heater box with the seam sealer blob like on mine and many others pictured here. Are we sure there were no stampings with blank TP to be used for collision repair back then? Maybe just an early production inconsistancy?
As for an aboration, I dont agree. As an owner of a 55 Clipper Custom with the only known 222XXX TP I find it an interesting and as yet unexplained oddity.

Maybe just an early production inconsistancy?

Yes, all the 55 cars without a TPN are VERY early cars, 5582-1001 among them. Also 5542-1035 and 5588-1035. As I've noted before, things at Connor Ave. must have been pretty chaotic, learning how to and knocking out the first bodies Packard had built since 1940.

Well OK. maybe the rust and bent pinchweld on the white car is due to the car sitting in some bone yard without a hood and people yanking parts and pieces off? Strange though all the paintable seam sealer in the corner near the hinge is gone also where those large rust areas are showing and besides that, all the unmolested cars I have seen incl mine have an unpainted dum dum sealer over the 2 bolt heads on each side of the cowl. The ones going through from the top as seen there on that car have none.

The pinchweld is the same on 5542-1035. Probably typical for early production cars.

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Looks suspect in this pic posted above also.
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/uploads/newbb/1137_5525381872691.jpg
Not sure if it is dirt or the photo quality but I would not have any interest in such a vehicle. I do not believe this is correct, early production or otherwise.

The paint in the door jambs and on the fire wall is protected and those areas can show original 60 year old paint quite well and should be consistant in quality on an untouched original car. The inside of the trunk lid should be examined and compared also. Damage repair and or tampering are quite obvious to those who know what to look for and for the untrained- they should enlist a trained eye if they are looking to purchase a classic.

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I do not believe this is correct, early production or otherwise

Well, they ARE as Packard built them, regardless of one's definition of "correct".