1956 Packard Patrician

Packard introduced the Patrician name in 1951, and like the Romans had done to denote the upper ruling class, it was applied to the upper-level model. The name was used until the end of Packard production, with 1955 ushering in an entirely restyled family of Packards.

The Packard Patrician was built in the company's Detroit factories on East Grand Boulevard and was the final 'senior level' Packard until production ceased in 1958.

Designer Dick Teague penned all-new styling for the 1955 Packards, with 'Cathedral'-styled rear tail lights, a wraparound windscreen, large bumpers with bullet-shaped guards, smooth bodylines, full-width grilles, and hooded headlight housings. Two- and three-tone paint color schemes were available. The interior gained a new dashboard layout and refreshed upholstery and brightwork. The only available body style on the Patrician was a four-door sedan, and 9,127 examples were produced in 1955.

Along with all-new styling, Packard introduced a new V8 engine, replacing the previous straight-eight power. It had overhead valves, a cast iron block, five main bearings, and hydraulic valve lifters. The unit powering the Clipper Deluxe and Super displaced 320 cubic inches and developed 225 horsepower with 8.5:1 compression and a Carter four-barrel carburetor. The Clipper Custom used a 352 cubic-inch unit that offered 245 horsepower with 8.5:1 compression and a Carter four-barrel carburetor. The Four-Hundred and Patrician used the same displacement size but had a Rochester four-barrel carburetor and was rated at 260 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. The engine in the Caribbean (also 352 CID) had a pair of Rochester four-barrel carburetors and produced 275 hp at 4,800 RPM.

1956 Packard Patrician
The 1956 Packard Patrician four-door sedan was priced at $4,160, and 3,775 examples were built. The last Packard automobile to roll off the company's assembly line on June 25, 1956, was a black Patrician sedan, the final Packard automobile built that was not a badge-engineered Studebaker President.

With all-new styling being bestowed upon the 1955 Packard automobiles, the 1956 models received only minor updates. The Patrician and Four-Hundred (a hardtop coupe) were given an updated grille with a new mesh pattern insert placed behind vertical and horizontal chrome bars. The bullet-shaped bumper guards were now located under the headlights, the wraparound parking lamps were given rounded rear edges, the front fenders were extended slightly, the headlamp hoods were lowered by an inch, and a crest replaced the previous Packard letters on the hood.

Vertical vents were located on the rear fenders and a ribbed chrome band traversed the entire length of the bodyside. Above and below the band was a rub rail that began at the front edge of the upper grille bar and traveled rearwards to the edge of the back fender. The model's identification script was located behind the front wheelhousing.

The 374 cubic-inch V8 engine had overhead valves, hydraulic valve lifters, 10.0:1 compression, five main bearings, and developed 290 horsepower at 4,600 RPM. It was matted to an Ultramatic transmission with an electronic push-button selector located on the steering column.

The only Packard model offered for 1957 was a badge-engineered Studebaker President designated the Packard Clipper. The final Packard was built in 1958, and the 'Packard' name was removed for the Studebaker-Packard Corporation in 1962.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024