Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hi:

My car had no license plate in the rear when I got it and only, inside the trunk, the 90 degree metal bracket that bolts on top of the rear bumper. I got another one, theoretically complete, to substitute it with, and it came with an interesting part, that apparently goes under the bumper. Question here is, this part has two holes on one side, same as the ones in the 90 degree bracket, but is made of thick plate and has two other holes on the other side. I cannot figure out what these two holes are meant for? Any ideas?

While at it, my car also shows a couple of rather large holes below where the license plate goes, and almost at the most outer part of the bumper, at the 'crest' if I could call it that way. Any ideas of what these were for?

The first pic shows the upper two holes for the license plate 90 degree holder, and the two additional holes I am refering to.

The following two pics are the metal part and how I assume it goes (on my earlier bracket)

The last pic is the license plate holder already painted and in place, though I haven't installed the thick plate under the bumper yet till I find out if it goes there or not.

I am sure the metal plate which I am asking in the first question has nothing to do with the larger holes of the second one, as I got the license plate holder from another car.

Thanks,
Victor

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It looks to me like both sets of holes are for a tag bracket, quite possibly one bracket utilizing both and mounting the tag lower to be out of the way of the trunk opening. I know on my '56 the tag was always in a PITA position when it came to getting something heavy out of the trunk, same way with my '48. I'd like to mount it a little lower but I don't want to drill any more holes than I have to. Looks like you're already set up for it, lol!

And was there ever the option of this lower tag bracket using the four holes? It just seems to low, and the lower holes are really too big for something as light as a tag bracket.

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I think the lower holes were for something added by the former owner. I don't recall ever seeing anything like them. Was the car ever in Europe where they have the wide license tags or any sign of a trailer hitch.

I'm looking at a photograph of an export (RHD) 1955 Clipper taken when new, and the rear license plate is mounted in the conventional location, so I'd agree with HH that the extra holes were most probably done post-manufacture by a prior owner for whatever reason.

Maybe a previous owner had a trailer hitch mounted that used those holes.

If so, I'd hope he added some structural reinforcement there as I believe the bumper is unsupported by even the bumper irons in that area.

The car was in the US till the 70's and then imported to Mexico, as far as I understand. So, the holes were most probably made by somebody.

What about the other reinforcement plate in my first question? It seems to go under the bumper but uses the same two holes that hold the license plate holder in place. It just seems to much to have reinforcement for that purpose. Any ideas?

Thanks,
victor

Mine has no reinforcement on either end. The front is bolted to the bottom side center of top bar of bumper using a bracket with an angle of maybe 80 degrees so license hangs down over lower grill opening and the back bracket is bolted top of bumper at just about 90 degrees and sits like yours.

Have you looked under the car to see if there are any extra holes in the frame ends or bumper support areas or any additional reinforcement on the frame rails. Packard issued a bulletin 55T-27 with some fairly detailed reinforcement instructions on adding a trailer hitch. Maybe if any of those are there or any other unaccounted holes, the ones in bumper are just left overs from that.

I wonder if that plate you have actually went on top of bumper either like you are holding it or maybe turned around. Possibly bolted to something else that was also using the other holes in bumper.

The plate you mention is only used on the 55 senior cars that had the stainless steel extender strip along the top edge of the bumper. It went on the underside. It was not needed on the 56s.