Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I would love to find a set of those external A/C intakes used on the 53-54 cars.

I'm wondering if Cadillac, lincoln, Chrysler and Packard et-al maybe all used the same scoops. Maybe supplied by one manufacturer????

Can't speak for the others but Cadillac and Packard are most definitely different. Cadillac is much shorter than Packards and IMHO, rounder or not as streamlined.

thanks HH56.

Chrysler's scoops looked more like Cadillac's in 55 and 56...in 53 and 54, the Imperial and other Chrysler products used a flat intake.for.the Airtemp unit. That unit used hot gas bypass technology which gave a degree of automatic temperature control ...the driver only selected fan speed...much like the front mounted 55 and 56 Packard system. It.is interesting.to me that.GM used.the front.mounted system first in 54 for Pontiac then in 55 and 56 for Chevrolet and Pontiac...just as Ford.did...the better brands...including Lincoln and Cadillac continued with the trunk units. Buick went to an in dash system in 56.

Great info, thanks. Was not aware Packard had moved the evap case to underhood in 55. Chrysler in 58?

Another interesting fact...even with trunk mounted unit, Cadillac offered AC for convertibles in 56...they even described it as "perfected" in their brochure that year. To knowledge, no one else using the rear systems offered air conditioned convertibles or station wagons. There was one custom 54 Packard wagon which was described as having AC.

The convertible with trunk AC would be interesting to see if anyone has pictures. A lot of unit to cram in an already compromised space and then to see how they did the ducts.

The hot gas bypass system did a surprisingly good job for a lot of years but guess the complexity and P.I.A. servicing issues if a valve failed finally won out. The Frigidaire electric variable temp control Packard and Cadillac used on the trunk units with bypass was an interesting solution albeit a bit complex. I rather wish they had kept a version of it instead of going with the fixed temp adjust the fan only system in 55-6 though.