Packard custom & mild custom

John D’Agostino’s Heavily Customized 1956 Packard “The Caribbean”

1956 Packard Custom Roadster

This wonderful car was built by Gene Meeks in 1954 . Featured in March 1955 Motor Trend Magazine.

It was stored away for the past 40+ years and it is now running & driving again with it's healthy OLDS ROCKET ENGINE, research shows that the Rocket engine was the hot rodders choice of engines back in 1954 and all through the mid-fifties! google: Olds Rocket engine history.

It is based on a Top-of-the-Line car, the Packard Patrician- thus it is still solid as a rock 60 years later! Doors open and close like new.
Only 67,490 miles.

The grill surround originates from 1954 Nash Ambassador; 1951 Ford fog lights; front bumper 1952 Chrysler ; front fender tips are 1951 Studebaker Commander ; part of hood from 1939 Ford trunk lid; 1954 Oldsmobile Rocket Engine (most popular hot rodders engine in the mid '50's), frenched trunk with no handles (hidden trunk release under the rear step plates next to the Continental kit; we suspect 1954 Pontiac fins?;the other hidden/opening rumble seat "step plate" opens to reveal the hidden gas filler!) Original 50's spinner hubcaps & fender skirts! The interior is completely original custom and very well made & stitched, VERY futuristic for its day! They must have thought that it was like something from Buck Rogers back in 1955!

This is a real 1950's custom rod done during the period, that is special! The word "Vintage" is correctly used in this case while most others custom cars are modern copies of these pioneer hot rodders & custom car builders. I also see the term "Old School" often used, this one really is from the old school of lead work builders. There is no bondo, everything was painstakenly done with lead work back in those days...true "lead sleds". Gene Meeks built it, Then it was used by a University professor until the mid-60's (yearly WIU university window stickers are stick on from early-mid-60's) Also a sticker from "Cal's Cars". The car spent all of its years in central Illinois.

http://public.fotki.com/Rikster/11_car_photos/customcars_i_like/packard-custom-cars/gene-meeks-1952-packard/#media

two tone, low mi, Auto, PB, PS, PW, P Seat, 8 Cyl, This car is loaded
with almost all the options that were available except A/C, It has p/s,
p/brakes, Power windows, power front seat, power antenna, wonderbar radio
with aux rear speaker and rear volume control. It has an aux heater core
for rear floor heat and front driver controlled ventilation and heat, It
also has automatic rear leveling suspension via mechanical torsion bars
from the factory. It has a 2 speed automatic transmission with a hydraulic

lock up torque converter, tinted windows and

electric clock. It has a cool custom paint job that is not factory correct
but the car can be put back to original spec by painting the roof and dark
green the original pastel green, All the hard work is done, body straight. This car is a
great cruiser and a cool custom see pix, The car is upgraded to pertronics
ignition and modern carb for drivability

Jim “Bones” Noteboom has been building hot rods since the age of 15. His work was on the cover of car mags since he was 19. You don’t get on the cover of Car Craft or Rod and Custom without doing outstanding work. With that brief introduction you need to brace yourself for what follows.

We all assume that when we put our prized vehicle in an enclosed trailer and hit the road it is safe. Our Trailer Queen is valuable and must be protected, right? Maybe we just want to keep the miles off the car and towing helps do that. You have it spotless top and bottom and want to keep it that way. Well, think twice. A trailer is not always the safest place. I was once told by an insurance agent that more collector cars are damaged on trailers than on the street; hard to believe but understandable.

Bones and his wife were on their way to the Sacramento Autorama. When they neared Stockton on the Interstate they became aware that their trailer was on fire. Not only the trailer but also the Zoot Zooter 1937 Packard hot rod! Bones, his wife and the tow truck escaped but the Packard did not.

Completed in 2004, the "Gable" 1941 Packard One Twenty custom is the work of California customizer John D'Agostino with collaboration from Oz Kustoms.



A student of the pioneer customizers — George and Sam Barris, Joe Bailon and Gene Winfield — D'Agostino has displayed his many custom creations at more than 750 shows all over the world and has been inducted into the Academy Awards of Automobile Excellence and Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame.



The Gable fittingly pays tribute to Hollywood film icon Clark Gable, who owned a '41 Packard One Twenty with custom touches applied by Howard "Dutch" Darrin. With or without its white Carson top in place, the subtle shape-shifting performed on the body needs several viewings to be fully absorbed.



The deep Kandy Red paint plays against the stock Packard chrome, Caribbean wire wheels and Swedish leather interior surfaces, with the iconic Packard cormorant leading the way. Fully street capable, the Gable won two first-place class trophies at the 2004 Grand National Roadster Show and Sacramento Autorama. Comes with extensive photographic construction records and numerous car show items.

1956 Packard Clipper Custom trimline
Super Rare Car - it's not every day that you see one of these cruisin' around
this 2-door has the very coveted no-post feature


car has been garaged all throughout my ownership
fast & loud original V8 352 y-block engine
rap exhaust in L-drive
'75 Camaro rearend

Bagged suspension (not C-notched/Lowered it has Air Bag Suspension and stock Torsion Bar Suspension has been disabled) Air Bag Suspension means driver can control the height of the vehicle with knob near steering wheel)
All original emblems and hood ornament in box if you want to re-install them (they were taken off for a smooth, flush look)
Push button ignition
Auto transmission

rebuilt radiator
new safe pressure-release radiator valve
new fuel lines & pump
New Radial white wall tires
rebuilt drum brakes all around
rebuilt gas tank
temp gauge installed
working gas gauge

working headlight/tailight/brake lights/high beam
new Alpine radio/CD player, Alpine stereo speakers in Front & Back and kick plate
new Optima battery
clean title
holographic metal flake top and sides