Packards, Anyone? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Jim B. · #1 10-24-2007, 09:11 AM

American's finest? Or Satan's Chariot?

In 1956 You could get a Chrysler Imperial, Lincoln Premier, Cadillac Fleetwood - or a Packard.

American luxury meant something in those days. Cadillac was "The Standard of the World"

These were the cars of plutocrats, potentates, captains of Industry, Diplomats, the Mega rich, and American cars ruled supreme, and these were the best.

"Ask the Man Who Owns One" - that was the slogan.

A "baby boomer" friend of mine had to, just had to, relive his past, which was
a 1956 Packard 400 coupe his father had bought new long ago.

He finally found an original, a San Francisco bay area, local, lifetime car, from the same family as new, that had bought it brand new from the Packard dealer in Berkeley, Webb Motors, back in 1956. It had plenty of provenance, including the original yellow and black 1956 California license plates, books, , manuals and accessory brochures, and about 90,000 miles on it.

I would have called it Satan's Chariot, though, because the complex Ultramatic transmission kept breaking over and over, and it was practically impossible to get parts for it, and it had to be shipped to Los Angeles.

At ome point they found someone in LA who said they could mate the indestructible Chrysler Torqueflite transmissiom to it, but then it wouldn't be original any more.

It had the famous self-leveling suspension that was awfully unreliable, too.

Not being a gearhead, and he would have been committing a felony if he picked up a wrench, so he was over $20,000 in repairs to it, before he knew it!

That car OWNED HIM!!! And that was before the interior, chrome, glass, and paint were even touched!!!. But it's getting there, back to its days of glory.

But talk about a tank! A huge stately dignified thing that drew gasps everywhere! Sitting inside of it made you feel you would hear the announcement of the Russian Sputnik launch from 1957 over the AM radio at any minute.

Mad you wann shout: "I like IKE!!!" Maybe screetch the tires a couple of times in honor of good American ingenuity.

He's had it for about 15 years now, and is deep into the Packard Club, and writes articles for their club newspaper and goes on tours with it.

I saw it a cople of weeks ago, along with the other cars in his stable: a 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spur, 2003 BMW 330i and 2003 BMW 525i (and wife's Honda Accord).

He told me that one of the cars had to go, the Insurance is getting bothersome, and he tried to convince me I'd like that little cobalt blue BMW 3er.

But, he is gonna keep that Packard. What a time machine. I wish I had a link of a picture of it to post up.

But -:
It looks just like this, though it really does:
http://exotic.collectorcartrader.com/details.php?adId=adcache.exotic.collectorcartraderonline.com/ad-cache/10/exotic/3/9/86534939.htm

nate300d · #2 10-24-2007, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

American's finest? Or Satan's Chariot?

In 1956 You could get a Chrysler Imperial, Lincoln Premier, Cadillac Fleetwood - or a Packard.

American luxury meant something in those days. Cadillac was "The Standard of the World"

These were the cars of plutocrats, potentates, captains of Industry, Diplomats, the Mega rich, and American cars ruled supreme, and these were the best.

"Ask the Man Who Owns One" - that was the slogan.

A "baby boomer" friend of mine had to, just had to, relive his past, which was
a 1956 Packard 400 coupe his father had bought new long ago.

He finally found an original, a San Francisco bay area, local, lifetime car, from the same family as new, that had bought it brand new from the Packard dealer in Berkeley, Webb Motors, back in 1956. It had plenty of provenance, including the original yellow and black 1956 California license plates, books, , manuals and accessory brochures, and about 90,000 miles on it.

I would have called it Satan's Chariot, though, because the complex Ultramatic transmission kept breaking over and over, and it was practically impossible to get parts for it, and it had to be shipped to Los Angeles.

At ome point they found someone in LA who said they could mate the indestructible Chrysler Torqueflite transmissiom to it, but then it wouldn't be original any more.

It had the famous self-leveling suspension that was awfully unreliable, too.

Not being a gearhead, and he would have been committing a felony if he picked up a wrench, so he was over $20,000 in repairs to it, before he knew it!

That car OWNED HIM!!! And that was before the interior, chrome, glass, and paint were even touched!!!. But it's getting there, back to its days of glory.

But talk about a tank! A huge stately dignified thing that drew gasps everywhere! Sitting inside of it made you feel you would hear the announcement of the Russian Sputnik launch from 1957 over the AM radio at any minute.

Mad you wann shout: "I like IKE!!!" Maybe screetch the tires a couple of times in honor of good American ingenuity.

He's had it for about 15 years now, and is deep into the Packard Club, and writes articles for their club newspaper and goes on tours with it.

I saw it a cople of weeks ago, along with the other cars in his stable: a 1989 Rolls Royce Silver Spur, 2003 BMW 330i and 2003 BMW 525i (and wife's Honda Accord).

He told me that one of the cars had to go, the Insurance is getting bothersome, and he tried to convince me I'd like that little cobalt blue BMW 3er.

But, he is gonna keep that Packard. What a time machine. I wish I had a link of a picture of it to post up.

But -:
It looks just like this, though it really does:
http://exotic.collectorcartrader.com/details.php?adId=adcache.exotic.collectorcartraderonline.com/ad-cache/10/exotic/3/9/86534939.htm

I am a bit leery of the 1955/56 Packards. There were some neat technologies which means a more complete car to maintain. I refer a post-war up to 1954. I have seen many pictures of the 1951-1954 models and I always thought that they were a bit smaller.....then I saw one in real life; it was a tank and a half!!!

speace · #3 10-24-2007, 06:14 PM

I understand your concern for the 55/56 technology.

I never experienced a problem with the leveling system more than an occasional blown fuse, but I recall others that did. I suspect they, or their mechanics did not understand the system. It is well documented in the service manual. In most cases, the owners forgot to disable it before jacking the car to change a tire. Many mechanics were quick to jump into the leveling mechainism when it was usually only a blown fuse in a hard to find location.

The transmissions were great until they needed servicing. The torque converter contained a clutch that connected the engine directly to the tail shaft for an amazing cruising efficiency. There was something about the front pump and pressure to this torque converter clutch that only an experienced mechanic could get right. There are still experienced transmission rebuilders available through ads in Hemmings, etc.

Their engines were bullet-proof other than a failing harminic balancer. (Sounds like a recent Mercedes, no?) ...and there are lots of spare parts available.

Other than these items, there are no further quirky technologies involved.
Brakes are Bendix, Electrical items are Delco and Autilite.

Oh, and the 56 Caribbean convertible had reversible leather seat cushions. Meaning, when the top side became worn or soiled, you could simply flip them over and have new seats...

Good luck in your search. They were all grand cars in that era!

nate300d · #4 10-24-2007, 09:52 PM

I got some backing in my search today. My Merc friend that I mentioned is very good friends with the curator of the Auburn/Cord/Duesenburg museum in Auburn, IN. As well as being curator of the museum he was once the president of a Packard club and is very familiar with the 'bath tub' Packards. HOW COOL!!! Nothing like having connections.

LUVMBDiesels · #5 10-24-2007, 11:40 PM

My favorites are the '34-'35 big cars (not the 120) and the 1941-42
The older cars are exactly what you want a 1930's vintage car to be and the later ones have that cool grill. I always liked Packards and wish that I could afford to get one. However the only ones I could get would be Packardbakers, and I would not get one of those -- except maybe the Hawk- it looks better than the Studie version.

As far as a $52000 Hudson -- I cannot believe these cars are going for those kind of prices. I mean Hudson Hornets are nice and sure they are fast, but 50K is Packard money!

just my dos centavos!

Jim B. · #6 10-25-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

My favorites are the '34-'35 big cars (not the 120) and the 1941-42
The older cars are exactly what you want a 1930's vintage car to be and the later ones have that cool grill. I always liked Packards and wish that I could afford to get one. However the only ones I could get would be Packardbakers, and I would not get one of those -- except maybe the Hawk- it looks better than the Studie version.

I believe President Franklin Roosevelt gifted the prewar Packard body dies to the communist dictator, Joseph Stalin, his wartime ally.

The pictures of the black Russian ZIL or ZIS limousines from the late 1940s and early 1950s I have seen, seem to back that idea up. I am pretty sure it is true.

http://www.svvs.org/1950_ZIS_110_Saloon.shtml

nate300d · #7 10-27-2007, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim B.

I believe President Franklin Roosevelt gifted the prewar Packard body dies to the communist dictator, Joseph Stalin, his wartime ally.

The pictures of the black Russian ZIL or ZIS limousines from the late 1940s and early 1950s I have seen, seem to back that idea up. I am pretty sure it is true.

http://www.svvs.org/1950_ZIS_110_Saloon.shtml

The Russian car looks very much like the Packard. In the pictures that I have seen that hood lines of the Russian cars do not look to have as sharp of a bend as the Packards. If this is so was it a requirement so that it 'did not look like a Packard' or did the Russians have steel and /or stamping problems that required and alteration to the tooling. I used to work in metal stamping and if you are going to make a sharp bend of that length you better have very good steel, good tooling, and a precision press.

My Packard 'itch' is getting really bad.

t walgamuth · #8 10-25-2007, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate300d

I got some backing in my search today. My Merc friend, that I mentioned is very good friends with the curator of the Auburn/Cord/Duesenburg museum in Auburn, IN. As well as being curator of the museum he was once the president of a Packard club and is very familiar with the 'bath tub' Packards. HOW COOL!!! Nothing like have connections.

The ACD museum in Auburn is worth a visit. Very very nice restored art deco building and a lot of very nice cars. The Duesenbergs alone are worth the trip.

Tom W