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That is a fascinating Patrician, Randy, and I'm glad someone on the forum got it. I hope you can get the build sheet from the Studebaker Museum as it would be an interesting read. The car must be pretty solid as I see it still has its doglegs. Congratulations.

Thanks Ross, friend Chris visited today and I had to leave early, but he said the inner and outer rockers were both solid. He looked the car over carefully and also believes the interior was done by Packard. It is unusual and it will be a while till the Caribbean is done. I'm going to do the brakes and see if I can get it running and then mothball it for a while.

Took a few more pics of interesting things on the Pat.

The rear-end gears are 43:15 giving the 2.87 rear end ratio.
Good gas mileage and a little more top end.
It has Twin Traction - note the "T" plate on rear axle. (although it is upside down )
It has a DANA 53 rear-end.
Also, scraping away some crud and grease reveals the differential cover was painted shiny black, not flat black???
The medallions are in nice condition.
And wonder of wonders it has the original C.M. Hall headlamps!
And they both work - high and low beam! If you click on the headlamp picture and then click on the +, you can just make out the lettering "HALL LAMP" on the bottom of the lens.

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The crests are in really good shape. It must have been stored inside.

Randy,
SMS has stocked both 55 and 56 trunk material in the past. You might try Doug.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of SMS.

The Studebaker museum has my build sheet or whatever documentation they provide. Very nice lady said it would take 4-5 weeks and cost $40.00.
I discovered a Virginia title in some paperwork that came with the car. I looked up the name using whitepages.com and talked to a previous owner in Virginia who wondered where her flashy car was. She thought her husband bought it in North Carolina in the mid to late 60's and they sold it in the early 70's. N. Carolina says the 2.87 rearend makes more sense and also factory A/C. I love a good mystery - as long as it has a good ending.

Randy, I have seen a number of 1956 Packards with the 1955 trunk lining. It is almost for certain that it was delivered that way. Look at the yellow 56 Patrician on eBay right now, 55 liner also.

Randy -

If you recall, one of my Patricians, which was built fairly late in the production run, also has the 55th Series trunk lining - though incomplete. I have always assumed that was the result of material shortage and substitution - as things began to unravel in 1956. (Personally, I prefer the 56th Series material.)

However, it will be interesting to see if your production order has any special instructions - including the trunk lining. I wouldn't order any material until you receive and inspect that document.

Joel and Brian, thanks for confirming the 55 trunk material. SMS has both the 56 and 55 material. They didn't state whether they had the cardboard for the qtr panels or not.

I'm not spending anymore than is required. I did send Bendix TV to Ed Strain. I have new wheel cyl from NAPA. Going to run new brake line also.

A little bad news today. The compensator links are bent indicating either running the TL thru the solenoids or failure of the limit switches. I think it will take a complete replacement of the TL motor and links. The control box also has a broken receptacle for the blue wire. I had never seen one of those break? The splines on the lever assembly are probably twisted because the TL motor will not move either way.

Bright spot is the orange and white leather looks like it will clean up to at least be presentable.