Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

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I don't believe a rear defroster was an option nor an accessory in the V8 models.

How did it even work in the other cars? Plumbed into the coolant system?

I one installation I've seen that comes immediately to mind was on a 1951 Patrician. I'm sure I posted pix of it on thus site at the time.

Rear defroster listed in accessories booklet for 1956 also in 1954 and 1955 booklet. which is listed on our site for 1956. Had similar part on a few Buicks I have owned
They consisted of a fan motor which directed air on to the rear window. They worked not as well as heated glass which came out later

I have a rear defroster for my 54. I haven't installed it, but it a formed piece of tar paper like housing that has an electric coil and a fan motor. So when you give it power the fan turns on and the coil heats up. Like a hair dryer on low speed. The housing mounts under the package tray, and the is a metal grille mounts on top. I'll see if I can find a picture.

Both housings are the same but the one of the left has no heater coil, the one on the right does. I think the left one is 55/56 and the on the right is a 51-54.

Here’s one with aftermarket speakers since removed. The option that seems more odd to me on a '50s car is a rear window wiper! I have an NOS one but haven't been able to make myself install it on my 1954 Patrician.

As I recall there is a small wire resistance type heating element mounted on the black enclosure positioned so that it sticks up in the airflow. As acolds said, it takes a long time to get much heated air up on the glass. Probably good for a fogged up window and maybe some light frost but I wonder how effective or how large an area it would clear on a glass with a thick coating of ice.

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I can't speak for the Packard unit but my 1965 Imperial LeBaron's rear defroster worked quite well and had no heating element. I later replaced it with a factory rear A/C unit which not only does the same job but also uses the same dash control switch labeled Rear Air for either option.

In 1965, Rambler built a total of 20 Ambassador station wagons with the console-shifted automatic transmission with bucket seats. It was considered a sporty option and not something for a station wagon, but 20 were ordered.

Only 1 of those 20 had manual steering and manual brakes.

That 1 car also had a headrest on the passenger's seat only and not the drivers seat, because they were separate options and the husband and wife who ordered the car couldn't agree.

That husband and wife were my grandparents, and my family still owns the car.

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I also own a 1977 AMC Hornet that was ordered by the biggest idiot in Topeka, Kansas. Normally, you ordered the "air conditioning package" that included A/C, power steering, and tinted glass. However, each of those items could technically be ordered as separate options. Whoever ordered my car ordered it with A/C and power steering separately and did not order tinted glass. It has regular old clear as crystal glass all-around, which was the dumbest thing ever in sunny hot Kansas. They ended up paying $5 more by doing this than if they had just ordered the package.