After Packard’s 1954 merger with Studebaker, the financial ramifications of this fusion began trickling into Dick Teague’s styling department: as the combined company continued to lose ground in the market, Teague was pressed to come up with something out of nearly nothing. He revised the entire 1955 Packard line on a shoestring budget, giving every model hooded headlamps, cathedral-arch tail lights, and new trim. Here on eBay is a 1955 Patrician, the company’s last “senior model,” described as a survivor. The asking price is $20,000 or best offer, and the car is located in Lakeland Highlands, Florida. Hey Curvette, as always – genius tip!
We’re looking at Packard’s first V8. That’s right, the company didn’t graduate from the straight-eight configuration until 1955 – and at that, it took eight years to develop this motor. Overbuilt with 5″ bore centers, a beefy crankshaft, and internal ribbing for strength, the engine offers potential for serious performance. The Patrician received the 352 cu. in. version, with a four-barrel Rochester and a compression ratio of 8.5:1 – good for 260 hp and 355 ft-lbs of torque at 2400 rpm. The standard transmission was the Twin Ultramatic, but the car’s main claim to fame was its Torsion-Level ride, which achieved a floating, level ride using torsion bars and an electric motor to eliminate pitch and control roll. This car’s odometer reads just 87k miles.
The Patrician offered a full slate of modern features for the day – power-assisted steering, brakes, seats, and windows, as well as a “signal-seeking radio”. Air conditioning was an option, along with a vanity mirror and wire wheel covers. The instrument panel showcases a centrally-located glove box, a clock, and snazzy brightwork; unfortunately, a couple of cracks mar the finish. The upholstery is decent, though also not perfect, with Packard’s trademark metallic thread jacquard inserts surrounded by “doeskin” vinyl.
The Patrician was designed with a dual exhaust exiting from the rear bumper corners; this through-bumper arrangement was seen on other makes during the mid-50s, including Ford’s Thunderbird. Modest “Dagmars” up front also kept the Packard in the swim with the rest of the competition. That loooong trunk held plenty of luggage, sports equipment, or groceries. The Patrician undersold expectations, with only 9127 copies finding new owners; the following year was a disaster, as sales notched just 3375 units. Today, those slender production figures make this model somewhat rare, but as we know, rarity doesn’t always mean valuable. This very nice example boasting a single-family ownership history sold for just $12k six months ago. What do you think it will take to move this ’55 along to a new garage?
Some time ago walking around at a car and bike show in Minden (NV) we came across a couple guys standing in front of one of these, displayed next to a Hudson Hornet. The two of them were having an in depth discussion of the attributes and drawbacks of each, both having a great deal of experience with the cars.
I recognized the Hudson fan almost immediately as he was a Genoa (NV) resident who attended all events like these in the area though I’d first met him at the European Bike Show in San Jose a decade early and had gotten his autograph there.
Dick Mann obviously knew a great deal about the subject car and looked like he was having a good time so we kept walking slowly by as we took in every word..a class act.
Thank you, Michelle for prompting a great recollection.
I’m confused – was Dick Mann the guy that you got
the autograph from?
Yessir.
And as I wrote the above in a hurry the classy guy comment was about him. Good people, very down to earth, easy to talk with and more importantly listen to.
Dick Mann knew a lot about a lot, especially anything with tires and carburetors.
I to am confused.
Is this Dick Mann the motorcycle racer?
Every time I see a ’55 Packard. I just don’t understand why it didn’t give Cadillac and Lincoln more of a run for their money. Just looking at the styling, its on par with a Cadillac 4 door from the same time period. Maybe its just me. Michelle, thank you for highlighting that Packard 352 V8. I had no idea it took 8 years for them to develop. But, in true Packard fashion, was built to a high quality standard. I am always learning something new from your write ups and research. Curvette, this is a beautiful find and a beautiful Packard, once again you picked a winner.
People had the whole postwar period to get used to Packard falling behind Cadillac, especially, in style and innovation. The ’55s were a leap forward for them, but there were a few stumbles in that leap leading to a lot of warranty claims and a major knock on their reputation, when that was almost all they had left. 1955 was an okay sales year for Packard, but the problems with the ’55s led to a huge fall-off in ’56, even though the problems from the previous year were mostly fixed. And by then Studebaker and Curtiss-Wright had siphoned off any money they could have used for a comeback in ’57. I think the prices that ’55-56 Caribbeans get show that they’re appreciated more now than they were then, but hey, a ’56 Cadillac is a really nice car, too.