This is it! A 1956 Packard Executive which was among the last of the true Packards produced as the ’57 and ’58 models would be Studebaker based. Packards seem to hold car guys and gal’s imaginations, such as this 1955 Clipper featured last week, so it seemed logical to cover another example that is one year closer to the end. This sound subject car is located in Citrus Heights, California and is available, here on craigslist for $12,000, OBO.
Packard’s Executive model was a 1956 offering only and introduced fairly late in the model year. Its goal was to occupy a space between the highfalutin Patrician and the more commonly found Clipper, which was now a separate marque. As a result of its abbreviated production run, total Executive output barely reached 2,800 copies. Two body styles were offered, a two-door hardtop (about 1,000 examples), and a four-door sedan making up the balance. This is a rare car!
The listing claims little info. and the images do most of the talking. It’s stated that the paint has “patina” (of course it does) but the exterior shows well with no indication of rot or crash damage. The extensive chrome and stainless are surprisingly bright and all appear to be in place. Even the original wheel covers are still attached – it would be good to know something about this car’s back story, however. The seller advises that he has lots of parts, “new, still in the box“.
What’s not said is whether this Packard’s 240 gross HP, 352 CI V8 engine is operable (one image shows the car on dollies so maybe, maybe not). Regardless, the engine certainly looks good and belies its reported 80K miles of use. The seller claims there are both a remanufactured radiator and fuel tank employed. Unbeknownst to me, the “Ultramatic” automatic transmission is push button activated – similar in nature to Chrysler products of the early ’60s.
The interior is showing signs of age and use but is still in reasonable shape. The fabric and vinyl upholstery is worn and split in places but is certainly salvageable. The engine-turned instrument panel is referred to as rendering “inimitable ‘fine jewelry’ touches of Packard craftsmen” according to the sales brochure. I don’t know whether I’d go that far or not but it is an impressive-looking layout. I can’t get a good look at the floor but I’ll run with the assumption that it is carpeted and not wearing just a rubber mat.
The seller is up for a trade and lists his preferred items as, “Will consider trade for trailerable sport fishing boat, 4×4 truck or old school station wagon 70s, 80s with working A/C” – all a pretty far leap from a Packard hardtop; to each his own, I guess. Depending upon the operational status of this Executive, and considering its rarity, this Packard would be a great example to acquire, wouldn’t you agree?
I checked the listing this morning and the price is now $12,000
“Executive”( whistles), think of the poor schmoe in the mailroom, after 17 months, FINALLY gets his Packard “Executive”. Later, he moved on to a Pontiac “Executive”,,but still in the mailroom, however. Fun aside, this was a pricey car, but not the most expensive Packard. I read, this car sold for around $3465 bucks, a top of the line Patrician was over $4100. Almost DOUBLE a Chevy, but not quite a Caddy, at $6100. I read, it took a long time for delivery, over a year, and many cancelled the orders. Also, this car has the “Twin Ultramatic”, and the push button was a complicated affair, with electric servo motors, and was troublesome. I believe Chrysler push button used a cable. Better, but still problematic, especially in the cold.
Naturally, at $12 grand, doesn’t seem to do this grand automobile any dignity, when rusty Mopars or Broncos are bringing allegedly twice that. Just shows, people today wouldn’t know a great car if it ran them over,,,Some lucky person will find out that Packard went out in style, Packardbakers, not included.
i had a 4dr and the seats had better fabric on them than this 2dr. it had the auto leval on this car and you could get air but this car never was to hot in summer so not needed. all the good things the big car had was in this car but with a simpler look to it. but dash was almost same as high$ car and bumper was close to same. parts for bumper was also on caddies as i had to replace one part. one thing no one says is that it was fast! 1st v8 to have HP same as cubic inches. i did 120 and had much more to go but without speed tires i would not push it faster. it did 100 all day long and got there fast. i think faster than numbers that they posted for it.
Sterling,
The bumpers [front or rear] do not match Cadillac’s bumpers. I’ve owned many Packards and Cadillacs of the 50s, and I suspect you might be confusing the 1955 and 56 Senior Packard rear bumper ends with the 1954-55 Caddy bumper ends. They do look similar, but if you have examples parked next to each other, you can clearly see the difference.
I know when I was building custom cars in the late 60s and 70s everyone wanted these taillights. Put them on my 49 Mercury and my buddy’s 56 ford.
front bullets on bumper are same as caddy. even the holes are in same spot. only the bullets without the rubber tips. only one caddy had them. as no packards were in junk yards at the time. one place had the book that told what other car had the same parts. trim was also on many cars from many years. many parts were used on farm stuff. it was hard to find parts for this car in the 1970s in minnesota anyways.
I have restored multiple V8 Packards and 1941-60 Cadillacs. The Packard bullet has 2 cut-outs on the sides so it can fit over the main bumper. There are 2 variations, because the ’55 version is just inside of the centerline under the headlight, and the ’56 centerline for the bullet matches the centerline of the headlight.
The ’54 to ’58 Cadillac bumper bullets are actually part of each bumper half that wraps around the area under the headlights. The 1953 Cadillac bumper bullet tips are chrome, and a separate piece from the main bumper uprights, but they are not even similar to the V8 Packard bullets. The 52 and earlier front bumpers don’t interchange at all.
None of the Packard bullets, or the Cadillac bullets, interchange without significant re-working of the bullet. Perhaps you found a car in which someone had already modified something to fit, but I can assure you, none of the Packard & Cadillac bumper bullets are compatible.
The interchange book you refer to is the “Hollander’s Interchange”, and I just checked my books [1928 to 1969], there isn’t an interchange between Packard & Cadillac bumper parts.
I kind of wished the V8 Packard bullets would interchange with the ’55 Cadillac bullets because when I restored my 1955 Fleetwood 60s, I had a right front bumper assembly that was badly damaged, and as a Packard parts supplier I could have used a NOS one out of my inventory!
I also remember how desirable these tail lights were. They were grafted on everything from lead-sleds to tri5 Chevys. Bet they were the most popular ever offered. Nice to see then in their natural habitat.
all i know as that was 45 years ago is i got the bullet off a none packard car and they worked without doing anything. if i recall right they were not in the same spot on bumper more outside or more in middle and they fit right in place on my Ex packard. when i got the Ex one bullet was rusted out and other was like new still. being in Minnesota French lake had 1000s of 1950s cars in the 70s. every packard in the state by 1975, all packards was taken by the packard club and there were no cars worth taking parts off of. even today. MLPS/st. paul packard club buys every car that comes up in any junk yard. just for this i never became part of them.
Yea, I know the guy who was buying up almost any V8 Packard in and around the upper midwest. Last I heard he had hundreds of them, and was selling used ’55 & ’56 parts.
These really were one of the best looking cars of the 50s, they really should have sold a lot more, but I’ve read the push button transmissions were problematic which hurt sales . Reading posts here about long waits to get your ordered car delivered must have been another big reason
One of the things I like about this site is the knowledge gleaned from discussions of vehicles listed. Until today. Do the bullets interchange between Cadillac and Packard, or do they not? One expert says they do, the other says they don’t. I don’t have the time or knowledge of where and how to look to get a straight, accurate answer. Don’t really need one, actually. Just would like to know.
Kenn,
If I was 20 years younger and still had my shop, I would jump at the opportunity to determine just how well a V8 Packard front bumper bullet might fit on a 1950s Cadillac front bumper. Sadly, I’m too damn old and sick to attempt it, so I would challenge someone else to try.
If it can be done while looking like a decent replacement and not a horrid hack job, I’ll be the first to admit I was incorrect, but for now I’ll stand by my claim it won’t work.
Who wants to tackle this challenge? As I’m a member and can post photos, I’ll host photos of the results, giving credit to who ever can do it!