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This is a small pic from far away, just sitting in a field with no sign -- went up to the house and a seasoned citizen came to the door, she said her husband had passed about a month ago and she did want to sell it -- we walked out and even with a weak battery the car started pretty easy -- drove it around the field behind her house -- offered her the money and she was happy to get rid of the car because she had so much to worry about besides the old car --

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The next day I found a wrecker that would pick it up and sent it to a local shop that is owned and operated by an older man that knows A LOT about these old cars -- he was amazed that I wasn't going to hot rod this thing out or rat rod it or as the new trends are, so I brought it to the man and he was amazed at how the car isn't rusted to the ground and all this paperwork and records that were kept -- going today (9/20/09) to help check the brakes out, change the fuel filter, D/A the rust and apply etching primer(?) that will stop the rust -- can't afford the full paint job right now I just want to stop what little rust is there --

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Just a shot of the back so you can see what rust is there --

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The registration from New York, if you can't see it expired in 1972

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Service records and various documents that came in the car

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Joe, you are most fortunate guy to have all those records and paperwork on your '55 Clipper. Like you say it gives you a view into the car's past. A few years ago I bought a 1973 Datsun 240Z. The car was/is in remarkable shape. The log the owner kept on the car (it was in the same family for its first 30 years) was most revealing. It was a comprehensive history of the car, from the first tank of gas in December 1972 until the last entries some 30 years later. He was most a most diligent record keeper. The log went with the car when I sold it, along with all the papers and records from the first owner and my ownership. My 115C came with a lot of records and paperwork and I have transcribed them into an Excel spreadsheet and update it whenever I do something to the car. I will do the same with my '47 Clipper, and have started a log book on my 2008 Mini Cooper. Interesting, Mini provides a log book with its cars.

Thanks man, records on something this old are great, thats wonderful on your cars too -- its a passing thing to keep the actual car much less records anymore --

here are some more pics on what we were doing at the shop

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The shoes were worn out but not terrible and my guy knew just were to get a set --- the bearings had been replaced at some point and were just a little dry, so they are packed tight with lotso grease now -- master cylinder is full of gunk ---- spindles are in great shape as is the underside of the car -- needs exhaust done and there is something somewhere hitting something when the car is in drive with the brakes on, then goes away with a light tap of the gas -- not a motor knock, either my exhaust is loose or I have a bad motor mount I think -- the investigation continues......

Joe,
Great start of a Blog. I like all the pictures. It makes a wonderful history of YOUR breathing life back into the old Packard. Also, gives viewers reference to another 55. looks like a LOT of 'original' still on that machine.
Enjoy,
DanL

thank ya sir -- I am leading the charge but I have to say I am getting a lot of help from the old school guys and this site --- and down here in Texas we have a great network of old car nuts -- I was able to get everything for the brakes at one shop who matched everything up and had it all in stock!! -- Lots of original for sure, its like it was just driven and washed for 54 years and here it is -- time warp