Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

SC Vol. 21, No. 12, p. 58 shows same style of compass, though application is not specified.

The article also references a 1946 parts bulletin, which might contain additional details, but we don't have a copy of that one in the P'Info archive.

I forgot to post what I finally did to make the GPS work in my 1956 400. All I had to do was replace the lighter base with a nos one and everything works perfectly. Sorry to wait a couple of years to post how I solved the problem back then. Basically the old base unit worked fine to heat the lighter element but would not power the GPS plug. It only takes a couple of minutes to change this as there is plenty of room to work.

There was a Packard compass in one of the 51s I grew up with. As I recall there is some slotted adjustment screws that you could work with a dime. Remember Dad fussing with it on nearly every long trip. Whether it vibrated and didn't hold a direction or was too sensitive to extra metal in the car or if he had totally screwed it up is open for debate. I know he never trusted it and said it was a gimmick.

12 v jump boxes usually have an accesory plug ,which will power a gps for a long time in a 6 volt car ,you can also use this as a compass and check you speedo as well

I put in one of those 6V pos grnd to 12V neg grnd converters in my 38 (Ebay about $60) along with a socket and it runs my GPS and hidden AM/FM radio just fine