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The lady I rent a garage from has officially named the Patrician "P-3"
I didn't ask what she calls me?

We already have pictures on site of both the OEM and repro trunk liner material for 1956, let me add just for future reference 2 photos of the 1955 material, taken from an original piece in 55 Caribbean #280.

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Thanks for the samples Dave,
and your copper ring arrived yesterday

The Studebaker build sheet arrived yesterday, but it leaves some questions.

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Q. I have to check our dealer list for the dealer and hope he's there.
Q. What does CW stand for? Oh for Pete's sake! I have
to buy another set of wire wheels!@!#$$$$$$$$$$.
Q. What is REQ.
Q. what is 209..
Q. What is /TL CR EQ/

I am assuming that SPEC stands for special interior unless someone else a more plausible explanation.
Note the June 7, 1956 date - rather late.

The dealer is listed but Chipley is misspelled Chipleu.

Randy -

Since this SPEC code is in the same position where a trim set number normally appears on the few production orders that I've seen, I would agree that this a code for a special interior.

Perhaps, then, we should consider "REQ. 209" together. I wonder if this is a reference to the request for a special interior trim. Note that trim sets 90 and 290 are the two Caribbean interiors available for '56 with Vermillion (orange) leather. Might there have been other cars with the interior combo used in your Patrician special, such that the factory assigned a trim set "209"?

I have no idea what the "/TL CR EQ/" notation means, but suspect it has something to do with shipping, rather than build. CR was only an option for Clipper Deluxe and Super models (with small hub caps, rather than full wheel covers), and I've never seen any reference to an EQ option code.

One interesting thing is the optional 2.87 rear end in a Patrician. Doesn't seem to be that common. Great for the wide open spaces but does Pennsylvania have any of those where you can put it to advantage? Be interesting to see if the trans has any of the mods mentioned in some service counselors for the Clippers with that ratio to have the shift points fall in line.

BH, Randy and I were just chatting on the phone before I saw your latest, and we came to the same conclusion regarding the SPEC based on it's location in the string of data. Seems too logical not to be correct.

Regarding the 209, possibly you've nailed it as well; also possible is that the SPEC requests were numbered as they were received and entered into some production system and that was simply the 209th such request to provide a reference to the particular details.

I also do believe the 2.87 rears were very uncommon, I've mentioned before that I lugged an NOS one from flea market to flea market for decades and couldn't sell it. Not only would I think it would be poor choice for PA where Randy lives, it wouldn't have been particularly good for NC either, at least the western part of the state. An odd choice.

Brian and Howard, thanks for your response. I am having fun with this car even though it's not drivable yet. The lady in Virginia was right about NC. That's where the car was originally purchased. I would really enjoy talking to the original owner but guess that's not in the cards.
Brian I agree on the SPEC and your guess on the REQ 209 is as good as any. The headliner is orange without any perforations. I guess it came from the same roll as the door panels.
Howard the Pa. turnpike, which I travel a good bit, has some nice stretches as you get down out of the mountains in the east. It will be a while before I put it on the road, but I will test out that gear ratio and report back.
I appreciate the comments as I am really enthusiastic about this Pat. My friend Chris was going to bid on this car and his high bid would have beaten mine. His son had to use the computer for some college courses and so I wound up with the car, BUT Chris now calls it "Our Car" so I guess I'll make up a plate for the front that says that. Remember that I purchased my 400 from Chris in 1972, so we go back a ways.