Years 1955 and 1956 saw the last true Packard automobiles made out of Detroit. Being a constant competitor of the American luxury brands, the Packard Patrician easily assured that the company came to an end on a high note. The Patrician was the last Senior Packard available and in 1955 only 9,127 were produced all exclusively 4 door sedans. Elegant yet simple the newest Patricians displayed modern styling designs with hooded headlamps and wrap around windshields and parking lamps. A sleek fender line ran from front to rear meeting the cathedral style taillights. Side panels adorned with bright trim and chromed ribbed molding that extended and rose gently away from the body achieved a tailfin design very pleasing to the eye. A streamlined split-finned hood ornament was added, and hardtops were painted differently to compliment and harmonize with the exterior paint selection.

This series 55 model 5580 Packard was number 6,632 of the 9,127 made. Making this 1955 Patrician even more memorable, Packard showcased its great strides in engineering technology displaying their newly designed Overhead Valve V8 engine. The 352 V8 with a Rochester 4-barrel carburetor had industry leading power with 260 HP and 355 ft lbs torque. Paired with Packard's own gearbox creation the Twin-Ultramatic Drive automatic transmission and Torsion Level Suspension that were standard on its top models like the Patrician. This suspension was quite unlike any other system that came before or since. A revolutionary design that used two main torsion bars that ran on each side of the frame connecting the front wheels to the rears in a way to allow the suspension to pivot and transmit friction smoothly from axel to axel. A supplemental leveling system included in this design used a sensor to level the cars posture but not the overall ride height for maximum comfort while driving over potholes and railroad tracks and providing better handling compared to other cars of its day. Packard was so proud of its engineering prowess that several fully assembled chassis without bodies were manufactured to display on dealership showroom floors. Taking inspiration from natural jewel tones this Patrician wears its beautiful original paint code D- Zircon Blue with interior trim code 60 identifies a tasteful, factory combination of Blue genuine leather and matching Blue patterned cloth seating surfaces. The vinyl headliner and flashy bronze-like dashboard surface and gauges combined for a distinctive look of luxury!

This Patrician was delivered new in Pennsylvania and instead of hitting the showroom floor was kept by a Packard dealer named Albert “Cuffy” Demotte. With the intention of never selling this exceptional model, Albert kept the factory protective paper on the sun visors and the jack and tools were still in the original box located in the trunk. Having only enjoyed 3,795 miles, and his health declining, the Demotte family auctioned off his dealership and his prized Packard. A fellow Pennsylvanian who owned a vintage car dealership, and that always had his eye on Albert's Patrician, finally got the chance and purchased the vehicle at the auction. Keeping it all the way until 2002, he eventually parted ways and sold it a dealer in Michigan who cared for it a few more years, and in 2005 sent it to the annual Labor Day Kruse Collector Car Auction in Auburn, Indiana. At the time of the auction, it had only 3,895 miles. Winning the auction was a St. Louis car collector who was the next to have the pleasure of ownership and bringing the odometer to just under 6,000 miles until 2016. It has traded hands privately only of couple of times while in St. Louis, and this wonderfully original Packard still retains the protective paper on the visors and jack equipment sitting in the same box inside the meticulous trunk compartment! With 6,979 actual miles on the odometer today, it represents a truly rare opportunity to own such an original Packard in great condition!

We invite you to be a part of this cars history and turn the page on a new chapter of its well-kept story and continue to care for the legacy of this Packard. Thank you and please call with any questions or to schedule a visit to see for yourself why this vehicle has been so treasured!