1958 Packard Series 58L Hardtop Coupe

In the mid-1950s, the long-established brands were fighting a losing battle to survive a price war between the Big Three. In an effort to stay relevant and survive the tidal wave, a healthy financial company named Packard merged with the large and diverse offerings of Studebaker, becoming the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. The Packard-badged version of the Hawk was revised for 1958 with Dick Teague-designed bodywork and powered by a potent McCulloch-supercharged 289 CID V8. With 275 available horsepower, it had a top speed of 125 MPH. This was the fastest car ever to be given the Packard nameplate, and it was also the last. Just 558 examples were built for Packard's demise.

This particular example was given a professional restoration that was completed in February 2015. It is finished in Black with a factory-correct Tan leather bucket-seat interior and engine-turned dash trim. The dual-exhaust 289 CID engine is backed by a Borg Warner 'Flightomatic' automatic transmission and Packard-sourced' Twin-Traction' limited-slip differential. It has optional power steering and brakes, power windows and driver's seat and deluxe radio with twin antennas. It has twin side mirrors, new chromed wire wheels, and wide Whitewall tires. The odometer shows just 25,163 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2016