Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

There is a 55 400 on e-bay today that appears to not have power steering. First time I have seen a 55 Senior without it. Thought it was standard equipment.

Based on my examination of factory Trade Letters for 1954, 1955 and 1956, power steering was standard on Caribbean only - optional on all other models. It's duly noted as such on the RPO charts that I composed for this site (see the Misc Packard Information section of the Literature and Manuals archive).

I've not yet found similar letters for 1953, but I suspect that power steering was standard on the '53 Carib, as well.

Curiously, there's no mention of such equipment in either of the two letters I've seen for 1952 (25th Series) models. However, the 48-54 parts book shows applications for all chassis EXCEPT 2513 - hearse and ambulance.

I think the 'Packards' only required options were the torsion-level and Twin-Ultramatic. That 400 certainly is an odd duck. That car would be nice to have just on the basis of not having to worry about the electrical gremlins that inhabit old cars. To have the 400 style without ever worrying about stuck seat/windows, leaking hoses, etc. I still wouldn't want to parallel park it. lol:
Still, it seems to have the dreaded Easamatic power brakes.

All the senior cars I've seen usually had power everything, although once in a while there is one without power windows, and I would guess without the power seat as well. They seem to be a combination. Where one was ordered the other option was as well.

Also a strange coincidence there is a Clipper Constellation that has power everything listed on Ebay.

Another option curiousity, or at least it appeared so to me, is the (relatively) high percentage of Executives that came with push-button shift.

My 55 Caribbean has manual windows. Don't know if it was ordered that way or done later in its life. If it was done later, they did a fine job.