Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I'm not particularly fond of the current (original) color scheme of Dover white over Eire green over Dover white. The interior is original and in excellent shape, except for the carpets. It is white and dark green leather, with light green brocade cloth and dark green carpet

I am thinking about replacing the Eire green witgh dark green, as I prefer darker colors. The paint is faded to the point it looks more turquoise than green..

Thoughts please...

Pictures of the car as it sits are attached...

Attach file:

---

  (59.84 KB)

Try having it clay-barred and buffed out first and then apply a good polish like Zaino brothers. After you see what it looks like polished you may like it a whole lot more. Only takes a few days and a lot cheaper than a decent paint job.

The passenger side rear door was obviously repainted at one time (look closely at the photo), and it is somewhat "bluer" than the rest of the car. I am planning to do a slow restoration to really nice daily driver rather than show quality condition.

I also like darker colors. The Norwegian Forest, to my mind, is very petty and being metallic has different hues in different light plus it's about as dark as it gets in 56. It would also be an option for the upholstery you have, either as a solid or another 2 tone with one of the other greens (which all look darker on the chips than your present color).

Of course, nothing says you have to stick with original colors either. Some of the greens from other years are available also. In mid 54 there was a Gulf Green Metallic made available that was quite attractive. I put that on a Pacific that I did, and while the picture doesn't do it justice, it was really quite nice.

Attach file:

---

  (21.58 KB)

First, i'd try Randy's advice to buff it out and polish. Then determine what u want to do based on the results.

I like the dark green color also.You could have it green like this one

Attach file:

---

  (25.47 KB)

For what it is worth, I never liked the Packard two-tone approach on Patricians, one color on the top and the same color below the stainless steel beltline. I prefer either one color on top and another for the rest of the car, or a solid color. If you aren't happy with buffing and polishing the existing paint, try painting it a solid dark green, which is what I am planning for my 1955 Patrician. Good luck!

Funny you should bring that up, Chuck.

Two-tone paint schemes are a hallmark of '50s styling, and what I like to call the "over-and-under" approach used on the '55 and '56 Four Hundreds looks great. However, I prefer a solid-color on the Patrician. There's something very stately about a Patrician sedan in a monochromatic paint, and dark colors seem to help play down the pillars and posts.

Although I generally prefer a car be painted in its factory-orginal color scheme, I may just refinish my '56 Pat in all-black. The car was originally painted in a Dover White and Corsican Black two-tone, but someone repainted that car in a single shade of dark blue metallic decades ago. However, the finish is in terrible shape, poorly repaired in several places, and will require a complete strip and repaint.

If authenticity for judging is not a factor, I can't knock anyone for changing colors on their car - as long as the color is selected with good taste and applied with craftsmanship. Selecting a color from the palette of the same model year (or series) is usually least controversial.

I saw a '56 Caribbean convertible done in a dark blood red (a color Packard never offered in '55 or '56), two-toned with white, and hated it. Yet, that's just my opinion. To each their own.

I personally hate dark green, and think the '50's cars should be painted something more festive to reflect the era. However, to each his own. But I was wondering, since I am looking to buy a Packard and chances are it will not be in a color I like, what is the general opinion on painting them a different same year Packard color? It seems that everyone keeps demanding to know the original color codes on ones that are for sale. A guy in the Imperial club had a car with a black vinyl top and black interior which could have been painted any color, yet he repainted it the same repulsive color even though he didn't like it, because that was the original color. I don't plan on winning awards with it, I am just curious if that affects its value. I know I passed on a couple that had beautiful paint jobs, but were nowhere near any original Packard color.

Fact is, when it's your name on the title, you can paint it any color you like - even with a roller.

That said, if you don't like the original paint and just gotta change colors, you'll get a lot less flack if you stick with the factory palette - IMHO. When shopping to buy a car, purists certainly will check for original colors, but there are plenty of people who shop for a car in a specific color. A lot depends on whether you're doing this for yourself or reselling the car.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. The more you personalize a car, the greater the risk of a narrower appeal; then, the law of supply and demand really kicks in.