Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I truly admire the restoration of your 55 400. You have spent time and money wisely. It is a job that would make your partner in this project very proud.
A tip of the hat for excellent work.

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Thanks Randy for the compliment. The car has become the sort of experience I wouldn't trade. It's a grand time indeed and I look forward to making her as pretty as possible. (MAYBE SOME CHROME SPOKED WHEELS IF I CAN GET THE APPROVAL OF THE WOMEN WHO MUST BE OBEYED?)

55Clipper.... No worries....... I feel the age thing too more & more as time FLIES by! I love what Charles Barkley once said, he was quoted as saying, "the older I get, the fasteri I was".

i LOVE the new interior. WAY better then the old for sure, no doubts!

Hank.......thanks for the compliment.

I had a neat surprise today went I went over to the upholstery man's shop. He found original remnants underneath the back seat's material. That's just so very cool! Also, repairs needed to be made to the original center arm-rest, as the masonite was broken. The hinges inside also needed some very important lubrication. More in a couple of days.

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That old stuff looks really good! Is it stiff?

The leather looks green, is it?

Where does the wood go? Is that used on the arm rest

Yes the boxy thing will serve inside the arm rest.

Reference the 57 year of fabric, it is surprisingly supple after all these years. And you are correct that the leather looks green. The picture seems to make it darker but in truth also, it is not the more turquoise coloration of my car.

I am thinking of trying to make a shadow box of sorts with the remnant material to preserve it. Not sure why actually, but I just think I need to hold onto it.

Is that how the arm rest is supported, or is that the part in the hole once the arm is down?

Dunno! Laughing out loud. I suppose I should know that, BUT I don't. My upholstery fellow determined it was broken and made parts to fix it. As I write and think about it, it was years ago that I even opened mine up in the 400 prior to this process.

Were are getting down to the wire. I hope to have the 400 home by this Friday. Here are some more pictures of the progress as we wind down to completion. The fellow just needs to finish the center arm rest and then the package shelf will be last.

At this point I am also soliciting some comments related to the left-over new material.

I was thinking about some phoo-foo fluffy pillows for the rear seat ???? My upholstery man suggested some slip covers with the remaining material (1 yard+), but at $95 a yard, I just don't know? I was thinking of much less expensive slip covers and then obviously remove them when she goes to a show. Thoughts appreciated. Maybe center arm rest for the front seat?

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Kevin..you must be proud of such a beautiful interior. I hope mine will be so nice

As for the extra material, I was contemplating a replication of the rear arm rest in the front seat. As you have a split front seat, it would have to be a 'portable' arm rest, maybe even sink a couple of cup holders into it?