Vehicle Description
Big, handsome Packard sedan great for touring. Attractive period
colors, lots of options, drives very well. Period aftermarket A/C,
power windows, working self-leveling suspension. New WWW radials. A
lot of Packard luxury for not a lot of cash!By the time this 1955
Packard Patrician was built, the writing was on the wall for one of
America's most famous automakers. But the guys building the cars
didn't seem to notice, because there's a tangible feel of quality
in this big sedan that you wouldn't expect from a company on the
brink of going out of business. The engineers and assembly line
workers ignored the signs and instead built one heck of a car that
feels substantial and looks impressive from any angle. The colors
are called Agate and Topaz Metallic, and the combination works
rather well on the long, sleek Patrician. There's still a hint of
the original Packard grille up front and it proudly wears both
'Packard' and 'The Patrician' emblems just in case you didn't
recognize the shape. This car has never been fully disassembled for
a restoration and the body has never been off the frame, bit we
believe it was repainted perhaps 30 years ago and still looks quite
good. The quality of Packard's construction shows in good panel
gaps and doors that close like the proverbial bank vault. THUNK.
And as a high-end luxury car, there's plenty of chrome and other
brightwork, all of which is in remarkably good shape. Even those
fluted castings that form the side panels between the two colors
are in great shape, and they're notorious for pitting. Beautiful
gothic-looking taillights make the rear end as distinctive as any
of the period, and those unobtainium taillight lenses are in
excellent condition. It isn't a perfect car, but the basics are
quite good.The interior was redone at some point, probably when it
was repainted, and while it doesn't replicate the original funky
brocade fabrics, it remains a comfortable place to spend some time.
Open the door and cool splash lights built into the exterior trim
light up the entry and the wide bench seat is comfortable enough
for all-day touring. The two tone steering wheel with horn ring
looks and feels great and the big Packard is shockingly easy for
anyone to drive thanks to the automatic transmission and power
steering. The power seat adjusts properly in all four directions,
the power windows zip up and down (the right rear binds slightly
but is operational) and all the gauges work like they should. The
radio powers up and the power antenna works properly, but the clock
is sadly offline. Heck, even both heater fans and the vintage 1950s
FrigiKing A/C unit are operational. Nice! The gauges all work
properly and have a lovely golden glow with the instrument lights
on at night. The back seat is cavernous and features a footrest and
robe rail?a callback to Packards of yore. That's probably the
original headliner overhead and it's in great condition with no
sagging or tears. And the massive trunk is nicely finished with
gray carpets and carries a matching full-sized spare that's never
been used. Packard's 352 cubic inch V8 was a muscular brute, easily
able to cope with the Patrician's considerable curb weight. A
thoroughly modern overhead valve short-stroke V8, it starts easily
and idles nicely with good oil pressure and no signs of overheating
issues. There's a lot of recent work, including a full tune-up with
cap, rotor, points, plugs and wires, new belts and hoses, and a
freshly rebuilt generator. The A/C has been converted to R134a
refrigerant so it'll be easy to maintain in the future, but other
than the bright green battery, the engine bay is quite original.
Packard's 2-speed 'Twin Ultramatic' transmission shifts crisply and
without any drama, and with 3.54 gears out back, it's a great
highway cruiser. Of note, the automatic leveling torsion bar
suspension is fully operational, keeping the Patrician on an even
keel no matter the load. Recent work includes fresh brake hoses,
new tie rods, and a rebuilt power steering valve that makes this
big Packard just effortless to drive. The dual exhaust system
features new mufflers, so it has an appropriately hushed tone with
just a hint of muscle behind it. The floors are quite solid with no
rot or structural issues and it rides like a luxury car should. And
since this is a car made for touring, it's outfitted with fresh
235/75/15 Diamondback wide whitewall radials that look exactly
right.Documentation includes the original owner's manual.This is
one of those old cars that pleasantly surprised us with its
quality. This was a very expensive car when it was new, but today
it is eminently affordable while still delivering the true Packard
experience. Add in the long list of comfort and convenience
features and it becomes a no-compromises hobby car that can be
enjoyed right away. It isn't designed to win trophies, but it will
most certainly put a smile on your face as you aim that famous
Packard grille down the highway. Call today!Harwood Motors always
recommends and welcomes personal or professional inspections of any
vehicle in our inventory prior to purchase.
