1956 The Four Hundred 5687 Coupe

Car information

Like people, cars have stories to tell, and this Packard has a story of longing under that glowing Jamaican yellow. Sold into the glitzy world of Los Angeles for a hefty sum of $6000 through the famed Earle C Anthony Packard dealership, the left-hand drive was left for dead in a suburban garage in 1990. Who owned it no-one knows but former PACA member Noel Watson chanced upon the car and shipped it to Australia, along with a 55 400. Both were sold to Ivan Hoffmeier from Beulah (Victoria), with the 55 was eventually being purchased by PACA’s John King. Ivan’s son converted the 56 to right-hand drive before selling it to another PACA member, John Payne. I badgered John for several years to buy the car and in July 2009 I trailered home a shell and a bunch of parts. Five-and-a-half years later the car looked as good as the day it rolled into Earle C Anthony show room and there’s no chance its ever going to be abandoned again.