58 Packard

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Pack...5291982?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item27c4c9ebce

 

Wow, that's a good looking car for a 58! Historically significant car being the last model year for Packard. I always heard Packards were built with the best quality everything, did that apply to this one also being a Packard/Stude? This might be the car for KK?

 

Anyone here ever drive a Packard wagon? What were they like? I did see a '58 Packard Golden Hawk (turbo charged) laying in the back yard of a garage sale in North Eastern Oregon last summer, needed a lot of work but pretty rare as well. But it wasn't a wagon..........

 

I remember using those taillights on '56 Chevys - and trying to figure out where to put the gas filler neck!!

 

We had friends in Illinois, the Wilsons, who were Packard freaks. Several times our family got to drive one of their 1934 Packard convertibles in parades. Our kids sat in the rumbleseat. Drove a few of their other Packards, newest was a 1956-58 convertable.
Every one was a dream to drive or even slobber on! I remember the older ones having air starters and those newer Packards air ride.
Always wondered what happened to them and their fleet of Packards after they moved to Michigan.
Still hard to believe some of the great old auto companies that faded away. Can we say that about today's manufacturers 100 years from now?

 

By '57, the Packard company had been reduced to almost nothing. What you see here is basically a Studebaker with bigger fins and dual headlights.

 

Which were, obviously, strapped on as after thoughts. This is NOT one of my favorite Packards for that very reason.

 

I hadn't looked at the pictures. Friends must have been a 1956. Only thing I like on that 58 are the tail lights. Looks like they forgot to put the continental tire in that space. Actually an ugly wagon afterthought. :banghead3:

 

I think I can hear in the distant past someone in the design room saying on the telephone "yes dear, I'll be home in time for my surprise birthday party, but I just need to add an extra headlight to these plans before production gets the build orders in the morning. Oh crap, right, I forgot to hide the new Plymouth wagon before the boss gets there - I'll be right home".

 

I'm surprised that we aren't seeing rivets all along that top rear fin! And around the head light pod! Or lag screws! I don't think they had super glue back then. Rubber bands under there? Magnets?

 

Wouldn't be surprised to find the fin 'extensions' are actually made of Fiberglas - probably with embedded studs for attachment.

 

Keep in mind, this was the end for Packard. Much like Cher, things were glued on to make an obsolete bodystyle last another year.

 

No the Fins and Headlight Pods are Metal. the only Fiberglass used on the 1958 sedan,wagon,& hardtop models are:
The Hood
Lower front fender extensions
Top of the core support
and the instrument panel.
See pictures below.
On the 58 Packard hawk the Fins are Fiberglass also.

 

That black Stdey is gorgeous!

 

thank you silverfox.
I've had three 58 Packard wagons over the years. But the black hardtop has been with me for the last 36 years