1956 Packard Patrician Sedan

The 1956 Packard Patrician, Model 5662, had a base price from the factory of $4,190. This is a four-door sedan version with an overhead-valve V8 engine that displaces 374 cubic inches. It has dual exhaust, an Ultramatic transmission with converter lock-up clutch, Torsion level suspension on all four corners, power steering and brakes, and twin traction rear axle (Positraction). There are power windows, seats, and door locks, a signal-seeking AM radio with two power antennas, twin heaters (cowl and under seat), tinted glass, and WSW tires. There is an aftermarket Evaporative air conditioning system and a twenty-gallon fuel tank.

This car still wears its original colors of Mohave Sand and Dove White. This model is considered to be a 'Milestone Car' in automotive evolution.

This is the last year that a True Packard was built. (57 & 58 were relabeled Studebakers and built in South Bend). Only 18,632 examples of the 1956 Packard were built with 3,775 being the Patrician four-door sedan. The Packard Club's registrar estimates that only 114 are still on the road.

This car was delivered new in Fort Wayne, IN. It had been in storage in Arizona for years when its current owners found it and bought it from the estate of the second owner. He had re-done the interior years prior to his death. It had 1977 Arizona plates on it.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2008