1956 PACKARD CLIPPER DELUXE RARE BORG-WARNER R-11 OVERDRIVE -CALIFORNIA SURVIVOR

1956 Packard Description

Like stepping back in time, this car has been garaged in Northern California continuously since 1956.It was sold in downtown San Francisco by the Packard dealer, Earle C Anthony brand new in '56 and she still wears her original dealer frame.Sometime in the early 2000s it was mechanically restored by Packard Automotive Classics of Oakland California which included a full top to bottom engine rebuild and new shocks and tires.Then the car was placed into storage for ten years in an indoor storage unit. The owner passed away and the car was bought at the storage unit auction by a collector who I purchased the car from last year. I drove it home 400 miles and the car performed flawlessly and powerfully, and the big V-8 went up steep hills in third like they were nothing! However, both the gas gauge and temperature gauge give random readings all over the place all the time, which made for one nervous trip home. But the motor was not showing signs of overheating and ran smooth. Not sure what kind of mileage I got!Today, I drive it around once a week and it starts instantly with no need to pump the pedal.I surmise that the new rebuilt engine was still in break in period on my drive home.No smoking, no burning oil, very smooth running, new wires and dizzy..This car is completely original and unrestored except for the full drivetrain restoration that makes it driveable anywhere. Good tires good brakes, it all works. Windshield wipers need to be reconnected, however. Speedometer also not working. Other than the messy oil bath air cleaner replaced with a paper filter, its all mechanically original.
This car is completely as original as they get the original carpets are perfect, the seats are original but quite aged and need redoing the headliner is torn in several places, and all the weatherstripping is rotten from age and needs replacing. These rare NOS parts are included
Original 1956 Stainless Auto Ventshades for four windows - very hard to find, not installed In the pictures I have them pushed into place so you can see what they look like on the car.Rare NOS brand new Clipper Ship's Wheel horn button - cost me 80 bucks!NOS Temperature gauge assembl, not installedNew replacement Cathedral tail light lens OEM not repro
Heres the kicker, other than the fact that its a rust-free California survivor
THIS CAR IS NON TORSION RIDE - NON AUTOMATIC !
Thats right, Conventional Suspension and Conventional Transmission, no Problematic Automaticand no nightmare torsion ride, just the coveted and highly prized three speed manual overdrive, leaf springs and new Monroe shocks.It propels the car forward from a standing stop quite nicely! Shes no drag racer, but..this car can and will exceed 100 mph from a standing stop in under 30 seconds. It could be raced at Bonneville, but it would be wrong to expose it to salt, the underside is corrosion free.
Early in 1956, all Packards had Torsion Suspension and Automatic as standard equipment, so this is one rare bird indeed !
R11 Overdrive - You can see the Kickdown Switch in the photo (behind the drivers side valve cover) and the Overdrive Relay on the firewall. There is also an electrical toggle switch under the dash .
Paint has patina, original color was Turquoise !! See photos you can see the original paint on the firewall which is actually Holland Blue.
One final thing, the original AM radio works great, picks up distant stations and is loud and clear, once the tubes warm up!!
What the experts are saying about this car :
"this has to be the rarest 56 Packard of them all."
Questions?Call Scott Church 707 413 3103