Classic/Antique Car Repair: 55 Packard cliper custom?, hemmings motor news, competent mechanic

Question
Where can i find the history for my 55. The vin is 5562-7370. Paint MR trim 40. Just got it started and rolling. I was waiting to drive it befor I purchased it. Trying to find out if its all factory or not.

Answer
Hi, Jerry;

You found the right guy, 55 Packards are my specialty.

Your car is a Clipper Custom 4 door sedan, with grey cloth and white imitation leather upholstery.  The paint should be "white jade" over "sardonix".  The top color is almost white, the bottom is a pinkish brown.  That is all I can tell from the VIN.  The engine number should match the VIN.

The engine is a 352 Cu In, 245 HP engine, with a 4 bbl carburetor. These cars came standard with the automatic levelling system and 99.9% of them had automatic transmission, power brakes and power steering.  Very few had power windows and seat, but a few did.  

The Clipper Custom is the top of the line for Clipper.  Clippers are the lower cost version of the Packard line, with a shorter wheelbase and a lower power engine, but otherwise, they are pretty similar to Packards, although the trim and interiors are completely different.

As for the history of the car, no one can tell you that except the previous owners, or, depending on your state's rules, perhaps the DMV.  Where I live, the records are not available to the general public.

Even though these cars are rare, there are quite a few folks who deal in parts for them.  

Finding a competent mechanic to work on the engine or transmission is a nightmare, because most shops are not qualified to work on them - they either won't touch them, or they mess them up horribly if they try.  

I hope you are mechanically able to work on your own car.  If you are, you can maintain it yourself - but you need the shop manual and parts book for it.  These run on eBay frequently, or you can get them from an automotive literature dealer.  I use Ed Faxon of www.faxonautolit.com, but there are many others - look in Hemmings Motor News for more options.

Good luck with your car. You will be amazed at the ride and the handling, as compared to other cars of that era - the Packard line was famous for both.

Dick