Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

This frame has been on the rear bumper of my Executive for as long as the car has been in the family
Would it be period correct and be worth saving?

Can’t seem to rotate the photo

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While it does appear to be period correct for a mid-1950's car, it is definitely not a Packard OEM part. This is apparently an off-brand generic aftermarket frame probably purchased at an auto parts store of the era. I have seen correct reproductions of the original Packard OEM license plate frame. This frame is in multiple pieces and may be adjusted to fit marker plates of various sizes. I think Kanter had them, but they may be available from other sources. I'm not sure that I'd want to go through the expense of re-chroming your old frame when it is not a Packard approved accessory.

Here is what the official 56 factory accessory looked like. Of course the clear plastic sheet over the license plate would be illegal in many states today if you did chance upon finding an original. The repros may still be out there and I don't think those had the clear plastic.

Might be interesting to guess how many opted to pay for the accessory when many of the dealers would place their own on the car for free so they could prominently display the dealership name.

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They are definitely illegal in California as we got a ticket for them on a 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham that the original owner had installed. In the Acura parts department once and saw them for sale on a display, I mentioned to the counter person that selling them in California was not illegal but using them on the street was and next time they were gone.

Thanks for the feedback all of you. I will look for something more suitable

Dads 56, I think that is the best course of action. The OEM Packard license plate frame looks very similar to a frame I purchased a few years ago in a Pep Boys auto parts store for my vintage Chrysler. It came with a clear plastic cover, but if these are illegal in your area, you can just opt not to use it. It is a nice frame as it is chrome plated die cast, like the period originals, and not cheap plastic. I think I paid about $15 for it. As your frame is die cast and appears to be rather heavily pitted, re-chroming may not be a viable option. It is very difficult and expensive to re-chrome die cast and the results often aren't very good unless you have a perfect core. Any pitting on the existing core would stand out on the finished product. So you could spend a fairly significant amount of money and have an unsatisfactory result with your part.

Thanks again packardsix1939 for your advice

so what does the bracket, that attaches to the rear bumper actually look like? minus the frame

Here is the 56 rear bumper bracket. If yours is missing Mike Dulinksi probably has a few he can take off his parts cars.

The frame is one I picked up from one of the parts stores. Don't remember where exactly but even with sharper corners it was similar enough to the factory frame I went with it. Does provide a bit of dress up but the license really doesn't look that bad without it either.

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Thank you for the time and effort to remove your plate and show me HH56

I do have one that looks like that on my parts car, just doesn't currently look so pretty. we can change that

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What makes the holder in #3 illegal is the clear plastic (same applies to any material) covering the license.