Got it about 2 weeks ago. Just needs minor interiot and minor cosmetic attention.. Older restoration, but runs and drives very well. Power EVERYTHING! I'm not a huge fan of power accessories, but oh well. Kinda neat. 4 Wheel torsion bar load leveling, 374 V8 - 290 hp/405. Great little driver. I needed something old to drive while i worked on my bike. It's neat to see all the faces of the kids at school in their BMWs their daddy bought em..and when i roll up in this, the girls love it, AND I get satisfaction in knowing nobody just gave it to me. So plan is drive it till mid summer or so and HOPEFULLY trade for a 2 door..somehting with a bit of oomph!
I got one of those! Of course yours actually runs, unlike mine. You sure you don't have a 352 in that? Looks good!
i like that alot. good luck with it. sorry if this is considered hijacking but does anyone have pics of these as customs?
Im almost positive it's a 374, but i could be mistaken. I'd love to see some custom packards! I think most of these end up being restored rather than customized, but they'd look rad with some nice unique touches. I'm probably headed the semi-stock route on this, Just some minor changes. maybe a shaved trunk, cuz i dont have a latch!
Drop it? With the flick of a switch! Torsion bars drop it almost to the ground, or lift it up real nice and make it look like a drag car. It doesnt have springs, just torsoin bars and shocks
I had a 55 clipper that was a jalopy driver that had the self leveling torsion bars and if you find the control box its just a hot lead going to a mercury switch with some relays goin to the front and back drive motors you can byp*** this and wire in 1 2throw switch and 2 3way switches and be able to adjust the suspension on demand and if you want you can switch from self leveling to adjustable. very nice car you got a jewel there!
Isky just uncovered a stash of nos roller cams for Packard V8s. They use Chrysler lifters. In case you want to hop it up.
Nice to see something like that again. Have a good time with it. When your done with it, sell it to someone who will keep it stock. Ya don't see these anymore. Man, thats some big, unusual iron. You don't want to see that thing heading towards you while your jaywalking!!!
What a great looking tank! Tell them high school kids that it eats BMWs for breakfast. The 4 wheel torsion bar set up actually looked like a pretty simple layout, but since nobody else seemed to adapt it I always guessed that it must have been kind of fragile or trouble prone. Maybe not so much, eh? Does it also have the Ultramatic trans with the lock-up converter? That probably makes the difference of getting 13mpg instead of 12. LOL! But isn't this really a late model for a Packard instead of an early model?
my neighbor said when you get tired of it drive it to his house and he will add it to his collection of Packards. you have a really nice car and that was one heck of a find!!!
Haha! Tell him will do.. and have my check ready! Yeah, The Packard name died in '58 [ i think] when they merged with studebaker. And yeah, got the push ****on Ultramatic.. Surprisingly it gets fairly good mileage, better than my chevy truck i had [ '95], and it rides like a DREAM!!
Here's a drawing of a '55 Packard from sometime last years Friday Art Show. Can't remember the name of the guy that drew it but it's killer.
56 was the last real Packard. After that the packard engine was no longer made and the bodys were modified Studebakers.
Sweet! I think I read somewhere recently that single color Packards of that era were special orders, as most mid-50's Packards were two or three tones combo paintjobs. They are welcome at Packard and Studebaker shows, too - if hotrod shows aren't enough for ya!
Oh Yeah!! What a sweet ride. That is some kinda cruzin machine, that baby will put a smile on a face real quick. Enjoy!!-Sololobo
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