(Model Body Number, not Chassis)

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

1952

25th

2552

2506

400 Touring Sedan

2552-4710

*MISSING*

*MISSING*

Current Owner

East Grand Forks, ND

Good

princessxtn

Colorado Springs, CO

Good

H

Yosemite Blue Metallic

No longer smells like an old sailor's trunk drug up from the bottom of the lake. Not many non-water stained places. Most of the gauges work-somewhat. I was surprised at the gas mileage I was getting until I found out the hard way the gauge sticks at 1/4 tank.

It's supposed to be Yosemite Blue. Grandpa didn't like that color so before he even told anyone he bought it, he had it repainted.

327 (8 Cyl, 155 Hp)

*MISSING*

Ultramatic

Wish they would have invented power steering in 1952.

Grandpa was the 2nd owner. I'm the third. The first owner was a doctor who used to make house calls. Goes to show ya that it's not just cars they don't make like they used too eh? My Grandma tells me that Grandpa dearly cherished this car. It was his favorite. Which is quite a statement considering its competition. (I really liked the mid-6's(?) model Imperial. The blinker indicator lights on the hood were mesmerizing) She says that he practically loved it more than her. Practically. Whenever they ran out of gas she was the one that had to go get it cause he wasn't going to leave that car alone. Probably had to slee
in it those nights. Alone. I have pictures of when I was about 5 years old, out washing it with my sisters and brother. Took all of us to get it done before sundown. (To this day I still think its a BIG car.) Then he'd take us to Dairy Queen. We called those foot rests in the back "kneelers" cause we used to kneel on them and pray that Grandpa would buy us banana splits instead of a regular cone. Grandpa ordered 5 regular icecream cones. Us kids concluded that those so called "kneelers" must not have been "official kneelers" of the Catholic Faith. The car escaped the Red River Flood of 1997. The dikes and dames from Canada on down couldn't contain the rage of the River. (Perhaps that's where the "RED" comes into play) As luck would have it, Grandpa and Grandma moved u
and over to Lake of the Woods, MN. The car moved with him. I actually have his hand written check list of things to do for proper Packard long term storage. Grandpa had the car sent back to his property in East Grand Forks after he suffered a stroke. This bittersweet inheritance sat outside untouched by caring hands. It keeped it's engine above water through floods, endured the North Dakota blizards before they had names, and wandering wayward boys dreaming of becoming Marine Snipers, for over 7 years. I finally could afford to have it shipped down here in 21. Since then I've had 2 engines rebuilt. The one that came with the car wasn't the original and had a cracked block. The first engine I had rebuilt had 2 hairline freeze cracks on the block. Naturally, those weren't discovered until AFTER the rebuilt. Luckily for me the mechanic was able to locate another Packard engine and rebuilt that one at no additional charge. That's the one that is in it now. Runs smoother than a soft serve icecream dispenser! The summer of 25 "Mavis" held a staring role in a movie -cracked windshield and all. It was going to be entered in the Tall Grass Film Festival but the writer, director aborted the film after locating a better paying job out of state. Thus the movie was never completed. Uff-dah! I was upset! I was going to send copies to my grandmother and everything. Oh well. At least I could have my new windshield installed... if I ever found one. Took me 2 years to do it. Irish ya know. Monday 1-14-7 the windshield repair man showed up. He started around 9am and left sometime after 1pm. He said that not only was that the first Packard windshield he's replaced, it was also his last. I truly hope he was kidding as I've given his number out to other Packard owners needing their glass replaced. Lots of stories. Mavis's future plans are in a state of limbo not sure if I'm going to sell it. So until then I will continue the restorative process one seal at a time. Course I could pack u
the Packard and road tri
it until I can't afford to repair it anymore or drive it until the wheels fall off. Which ever comes first. I am open to suggestions, options, funds or company so please, send any that you may have.!
***
UPDATE July 18, 211
Mavis was relocated to a relative's back yard in Colorado in 28. I take her out and exercise her every time I get back there. Which, incidentally, is quite frequent considering I have to drive down from WY. I recently submitted her to a restoration show on tv and am hoping that she gets selected. I am just not sure if she is "too big" or "not big enough" for the producers ~ they are a rather finicky sort. It would be of great benefit if someone knows how many 52 4's are left and of those how many actually run and are restoreable. Stats like that really are a big pull in these types of shows. But (dee
sigh) she will probably get beat out by a Mustang, Corvette, or some other such "American History" high profile style car. Little do people know that PACKARDS ARE AMERICAN HISTORY DECKED OUT IN CHROME AND STEEL!! Guess its just a matter of time.
P.S. I have no clue who owns the barn in this pic. We "borrowed" it for a photo shoot in May 211. Yes, that is me in the pic.

January 3, 214: FINALLY!!!! Her "time" has come!! "Mavis" (named after my Grandmother) is in Ryan's Rod Service in Englewood, CO., for her outside work and paint!!! I am so excited!!! Now I have to decide her color: original or not??!