Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Was stick ever offered on Execs? I know a fellow with a Clipper V8 stick setup in his barn, and I like to shift, so wondering if it would be kosher as far as originality ... it has overdrive too, is that a common or rare option? It was off of a '56 that was junked due to rust. Is the Overdrive setup on V8s electrical or mechanical actuation? Lots 'O ?s.

In 2008, armed with photocopies of several factory Trade Letters from 1955 and 1956 on the subject of optional equipment pricing, I sat down and compiled a table of Regular Production Options, with their codes/symbols, that showed availability by model.

Do a site search on the key word "RPO" and look for "Build Sheet and Production Codes" articles in the results for the Literature and Manuals. I think you'll find the 56th Series chart to be quite helpful.

With no listing for the Executive in the Trade Letters then available to me, I initially made an educated guess as to equipment offerings for that mid-year model, based on my personal knowledge of my dad's car. Yet, it wasn't long after those charts debuted here, that a member privately provided me with a photocopy of a special letter on the new Executive models that had been sent out to dealers and copied to Zone offices, dated March 2, 1956. I immediately made a revision to the charts; only a handful of corrections were required for that model.

While the Executive was built on the Clipper Custom platform, it was fitted with a complement of standard equipment that was more in keeping with a genuine Senior. Ultramatic was standard, with pushbutton control available as an option. While there are some gaps in my series of Trade Letters on the matter, there's no mention of standard or overdrive being available as an option for the Executive in that special letter to dealers. Both Overdrive and Ultramatic were optional equipment for all Clippers.

Now, I've read of one, surviving, Executive hardtop that was built with some very special equipment, after much persistence by the prospective customer. Among its unique features were a Caribbean V8, full leather upholstery in a single-color, and radio delete, but I can't recall whether it had overdrive or merely standard trans.

However, the parts book references standard and overdrive parts for "All 56th" Series models, including the Exec. Clutch and pressure plate differ between Jr. and Sr., which is likely due to the difference in engines, as well as the existence of overdrive equipment.

In composing the RPO charts, I deferred to the Trade Letters, but it is entirely possible that we don't yet have the full picture, due to some missing supplements to those Letters. It's also hard to imagine that the part books was set up like that for only a handful of specials.

Upon donation of additional, bona fide factory letters, further revisions to those charts will be made and announced, as needed.

Any guess as to the ratio of prevalence of Ovedrive standards vs regular standards?

Here's an interesting quote I just found in "Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975" by Old Cars under the 1956 entry: "Three speed manual transmission was standard on Clippers; not available on Packards (except Clipper based Executives). Overdrive was optional on Clippers (and Executives) at $110."

I would be willing to bet that standard and OD was available on an Exec and even on all in 56 if the issue was pressed despite the Ultra only reference. As an addition to the clutch plate info, according to specs, the 5540 was 10 1/2 inch diameter, 5560 and all 56 was 11" and a listing for with and without OD. Surprisingly for an option "not available" on the Packards, there is another number and specific mention of 5680-88 clutch plates with and without overdrive. Not sure of the differences but probably the dampening springs would be first guess.

As to your other question re electrical or mechanical activation, they are electric. Assuming the lockout knob is in the ready position, as soon as governed speed is reached it will go into OD if you let off the gas and allow the solenoid to engage the pawl. Interestingly up to 54 there was also an electrical lockout switch activated by the control knob but that was eliminated for 55-6 so electrics are at the ready all the time.

Is Overdrive option typical with 3 spd, or is there no data to
actually refer to in order to know, or at least surmise..

I don't know but others might if there is any data as to the ratio to be found but know it was optional. A friend has a couple of stick shift cars-- a 56 Patrician with (which I believe was a transplant) and a 55 Clipper deluxe original without.

I have no data to prove it, but in my experience most packards with standard transmission also came with overdrive. It made for a much better road car and a more flexible setup. The only 56 I have actually seen with a stick was a Clipper Super with overdrive and it had been driven from Colorado to the National Packard Meet in Atlanta, Georgia. The owner said he drove it all the time and it would cruise at 70 or higher all day.

The Cormorant of Autumn 1978 has an article about the flip chart Introducing the 56th series the original I have has a page saying "Packard is the only fine car available with Standard transmission or overdrive" The approved codes for 56th series MS Transmission Manual shift 5622-42-47-62-67-77A-77A-82-87-97-99 OD Transmission overdrive (Used only with MS) 5622-42-47-62-67-72A-77A-82-87-97-99

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56executive, that's interesting material. How does one reconcile that with the apparent fact that there is no Utica Plant engine build code for a 56 Caribbean with a standard flywheel, just a flex plate for Ultramatic? Curious.

Do not have any info on the Utica plant