'56 Packard car couch

[RO]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...52&rd=1

There're those pricey taillights.

[WCraigH]

<img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

However, I'd hate to trip and fall against one of the ends: [color:"red"] empalement. That wouldn't be possible with one of today's "jelly bean" car bodies.

[RO]

Hemmings Motor news, latest issue: Set of NOS in the original boxes '56 taillight assemblies for $2000 PLUS shipping.

[Pontiac59]

Sooner or later at those prices someone will reproduce those lights, if just for the custom car crowd - I can't believe someone hasn't already. There already are people looking to reproduce the wings used on 57/8 Plymouth bumpers, they've been going for $2500 a set on eBay and at that price you might still have to have them rechromed. The cast part is tough, but a guy is doing late 50's Chrysler lenses for around $300 - that would be a bargain on these.

When that does happen, the price of originals will drop considerably.

[WCraigH]

Kanter has repop'd the 1956 lens ($75 each), so the customizers are in good shape. It's the assembly that nobody makes, but only a restorer would care.

[RO]

I bought some new '56 Clipper repro backup lenses and taillight lenses off ebay from (kingofdice handle) Wayne, who has a catalog of auto items reporductions and asked him to keep me posted if he reproduces the bezels. He asked me about the rubber weatherstrip/seal but I told him all those pieces for the taillight assembly were already available from Metro I think it is at a reasonable price. You might notice his back up lenses and taillight lenes are reasonbly priced.

[RO]

Maybe it was Steele I got the gaskets from. The backup lenses I got for $50 each and they look and fit perfectly. Checkout ebay as Wayne indicated he had produced a number of them. Of course bezels are a different story. I have a set I would like to get rechromed but $$$$ and 6+++++ months waiting period I have trouble dealing with....not so much the time to get it done (seems "they" all say 6 months) but the fact they bezels are out of my hands and entrusted to someone else for 6 months +. I had a Kaiser bumper rechromed awhile back and it came marked "Rolls Royce" and without the bumper guards which they had to look for an did find. Another case, a '55 Clipper bezel was "lost" by a chromer for over two weeks.

[Pontiac59]

I talked to a guy who can reproduce the bezels and back-up lenses - he already has quite a line of Chrysler lenses and does have the Packard red lenses only, will do sets for $250 which is pricey compared to the Kanter but they'll be exact copies of original.

If anyone's interested, let me know - I'll see if I can borrow a set to loan him to copy.

[Pontiac59]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd always though about making a "Caribbean" or "Executive" couch, but would never use actual parts - would rather try to lift a fiberglass mold from originals. </div></div>

I know where there are like half a dozen 55/56 Clipper 4drs I could cut the backs off of and no one would miss them, to make some couches. I think of the bunch only one is going to be solid enough to restore. Of course both 56's have no lights left -