Tony Stubblefield’s wife didn’t want him to keep his modified 2007 V-star, so, he found a 1956 Packard Super Clipper to trade. He brought it home with his 9 year old daughter and her friend. Read below to see what he has done to his 1956 Packard and why his daughter may be the real owner.
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What type of vehicle is this?: Car
Make, Model, Year of Project
1956 Packard – Super Clipper
What stage is this in?
Somewhere between complete and not sure if it will ever get finished
When did you purchase it and for how much?
I picked this up in September of 2018.
Traded it for a 2007 V-Star that had been modified to look like an older Indian motorcycle. (Value was only about $3k)
Why did you choose this vehicle?
The wife was wanting me to lose the bike, so I searched Craigslist for older cars that would trade. Found this and was interested.
I always grew up liking the late 50’s sedans and wanted to get one. Guy was down for the trade and made it happen.
What sort of condition was it in when you started the project, what was wrong with it, etc.
It was in it’s current condition, haven’t done much to change it yet cosmetically.
According to the data plate in the door, the original color was Jamaican yellow and black. Sometime in the 80’s/90’s someone had done a full paint job and had updated some things.
Then it seems it just sat. There are a couple of rough rust spots, but the majority is great.
Worse thing is the back seat is chewed up, and the interior door panels are damaged from weather getting into the doors.
What, specifically have you done, or had done to it?
Once I got it home, I committed the first sin and had all the fluids changed. Good thing, cause the differential looked like it was packed with mud.
Oil change had the rings sit back and it quit smoking.
New trans fluid found a bad leak.
I received a real education on how special the Packard transmissions were.
1st guy I took it to was honest and said he didn’t feel secure doing it, but he found me a great guy that was 75 years old and still working on these Packard/Studebaker transmissions.
$3000 grand later, and had my transmission back and running great.
Can you list any and all parts that you have put in?
New fuel pump up front, was leaking when I got it.
Transmission was rebuilt and had to get a new case for it from a junkyard in Minnesota.
Fixed a leaking fuel line back by the tank.
Had to bleed the brakes, but the brakes had been redone at some point before I got it.
Where have you purchased your parts?
Besides O’Reillys and a local parts shop in Mineral Wells, I ordered transmission components from Kanter and a transmission from a ’56 Clipper Coupe from French Lake Auto Parts in French Lake Minnesota.
The transmission was only $150, and they got it to me fast. They are a great place for parts.
What about you?
I’m a plumbing inspector, work for a city in Texas.
Any stories regarding this project?
Had to borrow a friends trailer to haul this home.
Had only my 9 year old girl and her friend to help me. It was crazy to have this 2 ton beast lurching around every time I hit the brakes.
My girl decided that this will be her car when she starts to drive, and I’m cool with that. She helps me when I work on it.
When we were bleeding the brakes, the fluid reservoir was in a tight spot in the engine bay. I couldn’t reach it, so she volunteered to dive in.
Had her by the ankles, dangling in the engine to open it up for me.
Now she wants to go to mechanic school.
Any garages, parts stores, fabrication shops, etc you want to call out specifically?
French Lake Auto Parts in MN and Kanter. Both professional and helpful.
Check out the pictures below, make sure to click on the picture to see the full version.
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I am a real vintage car lover and enjoy your car shares. The times that we are living in is a real bummer for lots of political reasons.😞🇱🇷