(Model Body Number, not Chassis)

(####-#### Format)

1955

55th

5582

5580

Patrician Touring Sedan

5582-5454

*MISSING*

*MISSING*

Current Owner

Oregon City, OR

Original Survivor

Jim L. in OR

Portland, OR

Original Survivor

60

ED

Ultramarine Metallic / Zircon

Leather is amazingly soft and supple. Cloth inserts are like new except for some silver threads missing in the driver's seating area. Headliner flawless and carpets and door panels very good. Only problem area is the dash pad and it may be fixable

Original paint is still good to very good. Only problem spot is where the roof meets the "C" pillar where it looks like someone got a Power Buffer for Christmas and decided to learn on the Packard - burning the paint right down to the primer.

352 (8 cyl, 260 hp)

5582-5454

Twin-Ultramatic

Power: windows, seats, steering, brakes
and antenna; Radio with rear speaker; dual
side view mirrors; Heater/Defroster with
under seat aux heater

In 198 this car was for sale in the display area of Matthew's Memory Lane Motors, which is a "high end" seller of fully restored and outstanding original special interest, classic and collector cars. It was sold to a couple in their early 6's who planned to give it to their son for a graduation present. He made it known that he'd rather have a Honda Coupe, so the couple kept the Packard as a "Sunday Driver". About 1985, the Packard suddenly just died in the street. The man had it towed back home and put in the garage where he tried starting it again resulting in one "pop" then nothing. A "Friend of the Family" said he would fix it and for some reason removed the driver's side door panel before jacking u
the front and removing the starter. And that was that. For the next 23 years the car sat in the garage front u
tail down with the starter in a box under the car. The couple, now in their 8's decided to sell the house and of course, the Packard. The guy I bought it from, Scott, trailered it home to his garage where it sat for two more years. Then I came along.









My plans are to do some cleaning and such over the winter then come Spring, begin a slow gentle return to life of the car's mechanicals.

The only info I have on the car pre-198 is an Oregon DMV receipt for a woman in (I'm not making this up, folks) Shed, OR - town in the mid-Willamette Valley, not far from the town I grew u
in.

Strange footnote: When I was about 8 or 9, I traded one of my toy cars for a Two Tone '55 Packard Patrician made by "Dinky Toys". 53 years later the '55 Packard Patrician I buy, without thinking about it, has the same two tone paint job as the toy Packard. (enter Twilight Zone Theme).

2/1/11 class

After tracing the non-running condition down to a bad ignition switch and blown ballast resistor I replaced those then pulled the spark plugs and having re-installed the starter (after testing), changing the oil and minor tune-up, I ran the starter to bring oil to the usual suspects that haven't seen oil in 26 years. Then I put new spark plugs in, put some gas down the throat of the carb, crossed my fingers and turned the key. The engine fired u
immediately. VERY GRATIFYING ! I had hooked the fuel pum
u
to a 5 gallon gas can as whatever is in the gas tank smelled very strange. I let the engine run long enough to know that I needed a new water pum
and a carb kit - but she did run and re-start when asked.

I took the gas tank to be cleaned and when they pressure washed it, the force of the water blew holes through the tank. Got a new tank from Mike back east and now not needing the 5 gallon gas can, I was able to drive it enough to see that the transmission at least did what it was supposed to in the lever positions called for. The brakes pumped u
with new fluid so technically it could start, move forward and back and stop.

Next ste
is to take it to my mechanic for complete servicing and inspection

4/13/11

Had car towed to my mechanic and picked u
my '51 (another story).

He will work on the Patrician when he has slack time.

1/12/11

My mechanic called with a shopping list so work has begun.

11/1/11

Brakes have been re-done along with fluid change in differential, new seals for the axles. Transmission pan has been dropped and cleaned and refilled with Type "F" fluid. Just about everyone in the sho
has driven it but I'm still waiting for my chance. I bought a new windshield wiper motor from Max Merritt as the monsoons are upon us in Oregon. They are replacing the points and condenser this week so I hope to drive it soon.

5/5/12

All has been done with the exception of rebuilding the fuel pump. In talking with my mechanic, he mentioned that the oil pum
doesn't have the vacuum component. Last known work done on this car before me was before 1985.

Howard gave me the history of oil pum
variations.

6/26/12

Took delivery of "Sleeping Beauty" and drove her home - at last!