Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The seller is advertising this '56 400 as having less than 5,000 miles from new...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1956-PACKARD-400-2-DOOR-SEDAN-/160852608258?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2573900502

if this is the car from hemmings awhile back i believe it is correct.

I believe this is the car that sold at the Hershey car corral a few years ago for $65,000. If so, it was bought for the O'Quinn collection in TX which has since been largely disbanded after his unfortunate death. Randy Berger and I both looked at the car very carefully - it was impressive and perhaps Randy will have some more comments.

As to what it's worth, depends on what someone will pay for it, obviously it was worth $65K to the buyer that day.

Certainly is a nice car and appears to have been well protected. A good example of some observations in the past mentioning the foam rubber under the dash pad would dissolve or self destruct without any help. Guess Packard didn't expect it to last forever though.

They repainted the mojave on a very nice ORIGINAL vehicle.
It's only original once. I thought they paid too much for it originally, but that is just my opinion.
The buyer sets the price. It WAS a very nice original car, which is what commanded the price.

Considering that new domestic top line cars easily top $50,000, $40,000 seems okay for a car that requires nothing.

The only setback is that it can't be used because the weather will destroy it. A reconditioned car is a better choice for the road because nothing is lost by driving it.

That car is a museum piece.

Of course I can't afford it

How do you put a price tag on desire?

I suppose if I had decided I wanted a '56 400, and wanted a car that was as close to new as humanly possible for a 60 year oldster, then, yes, I'd sit down with this guy and talk. And, one of the first questions I'd ask is how he determined it's value or asking price. Then, why the copper needed to be 'Freshened up'. Frankly, that lowers the value..a lot. A pristine, all original, 5000 mile car that i had to have...i'd be willing to pay for. But, for a car that has a glaring "Repair" (and let's call that repaint what it probably is), it's value to me drops immediately. Therefore, i'd have to ask myself some hard questions and reflect on the other 400's I'd been looking at.

I'm a 'Once and done' guy, so i do my research thoroughly, and pull the trigger on whatever it is I'm searching for with the intent of buying what i want, and buying the best..and then holding onto it for at least a long time, if not forever. As that *other* luxury make rightfully boasts, 'Quality will be remembered long after price is forgotten". But that's only if there's enough awareness to prevent buyers remorse.

In the end unless the item is a must have buying sight unseen is a big problem. I never bought anything on Ebay for over $100.

However, if that car has been seeing weather it is entirely possible that the original paint started to fall off. I remember Turnquist's mint original 39 V-12. The car looked fantastic, but he never never took it out. It sat in his climate controlled garage which is where I saw it. He had a plaque in place of the front license plate stating the history of the car. The car was at the 53 CCCA grand classic, and is pictured in his book. Those are the only times I know of it ever being outside.

So for this case, I would have to make an appointment to see the darn thing, and if it sells beforehand, then okay.