Packard Predictor

The Packard Pedictor was a show car built to tour automotive shows in 1956 and display possible future Packard styling. It was built on a stretched 122-ich Clipper chasis and was powered by a 352-cid V-8. the idea was thought up by William Schmidt approved by Packard president James Nance and designed by Richard Teague. Th orginal name for the concept was the Packard Projector. The vehicle had a very long, low and wide body and was noted for its minimal use of chrome and push-button controls.

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Packard Predictor

See Wikicars' comprehensive Packard_Predictor Review.

Engine

Type: OHV V-8, cast iron block and cylinder heads

Displacement: 352 cubic inches

Bore x stroke: 4.0 x 3.5 inches

Compression ratio: 9.5:1

Horsepower @ rpm: 260 @ 4,600

Torque @ rpm: 380-lbs.ft. @ 2,800

Valvetrain: Hydraulic lifters

Main bearings: Five

Fuel system: Single Rochester Type 4GC four-barrel carburetor

Lubrication system: Full pressure

Electrical system: 12-volt, Auto-Lite generator

Exhaust system: Dual exhausts exiting through the rear bumper

Transmission

Type: Pushbutton-controlled Twin-Ultramatic 2-speed planetary automatic with torque converter and direct-drive lockup

Ratios

1st: 1.82:1

2nd: 1.00:1

Reverse: 1.63:1

Differential

Type: Hypoid gears

Ratio: 3.54:1

Drive-axels: Semi-floating

Steering

Type: Worm and roller

Ratio: 22.5:1

Turns, lock-to-lock: 3.9

Brakes

Type: 4-wheel hydraulic, Bendix power assist

Front/Rear: 12-inch drums

Chasis and Body

Construction: All-steel body on channel-section frame with central X-member

Body style: Two-door, four-passenger hardtop

Layot: front engine, rear-wheel drive

Suspension

Front: Unequal A-arms, anti-roll bar, full-length torsion bars with automatic load level, tubular shocks

Rear: Solid axle, full-lengthe torsion bars with automatic load level, tubular shocks

Wheels and Tires

Wheels: Pressed Steel

Front/Rear: 7.60 x 15 inches

Tires, Front/Rear: 7.60 x 15 whitewalls

Weights and Measures

Wheelbase: 122 inches

Overall length: 222 inches

Overall width: 85 inches

Overall height 54.125 inches

Front track: 59.7 inches

Rear track: 60 iches

Curb weight: 6,000 pounds (estimate)

Capacities

Crankcase: 5 quarts

Cooling system: 6.75 gallons

Fuel tank: 20 gallons

Automatic trans.: 11 quarts

Rear axle: 3.5 pints

Calculated Data

Horsepower per c.i.d.: 0.74

Weight per horsepower: 23.08 pounds

Weight per c.i.d.: 17.05 pounds

Pricing

Packard spent $70,000 dollars on the Predictor in 1956.

Photos

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  3/4 Rear and Left Side

• 

  3/4 Front and Right Side

Unique Attributes

• Roof doors operated by push buttons that eased ingress and egress
• Retractable vertical rear window
• Unique "canopy" C-pillar
• Bucket seats front and rear with full-lenght console
• Rotating headlamps
• Windshield that wraps onto the roof