Packard Caribbean, 1956 Caribbean | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Pricing, Information, Wallpaper, History

More Photographs Interior Photos

This 1956 Packard Caribbean Convertible is one of only 276 built by Packard Motor Car Company in 1956 and this particular example is one of only 10 equipped with air conditioning from the factory. This is the only car known that was produced with reversible seat cushions. The cloth side was for winter and the leather side for summer.

The Caribbean was fitted with Packard's most powerful engine; a 310 horsepower, 374 cubic inch, V-8 engine. The car rests on a 127-inch wheelbase and weighs 4,960 pounds. The $5,995 price tag made this model the most expensive model Packard produced in 1956.

Restoration was completed in December 2004 and this is the first time it has been shown. (2005 Amelia Concours).

View more photos

The 1956 Caribbean Convertible was the last full size Packard produced. This car sold new for $5,995.00. The 374 cubic-inch V-8 engine had 310 horsepower which was the highest in the industry. This engine featured two - 4 barrel carburetors with 10:1 compression ratio and a push button automatic transmission. The original colors were: Dover White, Scottish Heather and Maltese Gray.

The interior featured reversible seat cushions with leather on one side and boucle cloth on the other.

New for 1956 was the twin traction differential with limited slip 'designed for the fellow who must drive in all kinds of weather.'

Packard also featured other safety itesm for 1956 such as:
- Side marker lights
- Wrap around parking and tailights
- Automatic torsion leveling system for optimum nighttime visability

Source - National Packard Museum

View more photos

This is 1 of 276 Packard Caribbean Convertibles produced by Packard in 1956. It has a 374 cubic-inch V-8 engine with 310 horsepower and uses 2 Rochester Type 4 GC carburetors.

This car has many unique features:
- Fully reversible seat cushions, cloth on one side for winter and leather on the other side for summer
- Ultra-Matic push button automatic transmission.
- Very rare factory air conditioning
- Unique torsion ride suspension which adjusts the cars ride height via an electric motor.
- First year electric door locks.

View more photos

Caribbean has caused double takes when they first appeared in 1956, and they continue to amaze today. One of only 276 built, this car has won Best of Class at Meadowbrook and was a Car Collector Magazine feature car.

The triple-tone colors that were 'stock' did nothing to enhance the car's aesthetic beauty. In its current color of Maroon with the stock gold-colored accents and striking top and interior colors, this is truly a striking example of the marque.

View more photos
Convertible

By 1958, Packard was in trouble. Big trouble. Sales were way down and the two-year-old merger with Studebaker was drowning both companies in red ink. As a result, at the end of the 1956 model year, Packard's Detroit assembly and engineering operations were shuttered. The proud American luxury brand was effective finished, although lightly disguised Studebakers built in South Bend, Indiana would masquerade as Packard's for two more years.

For all the troubles of 1956, the fabulous Caribbean Convertible remained the untarnished queen of the line one last time. Styling changes from 1955 were minimal, but new tri-tone exterior color combos set the 1956 apart. The Caribbean was powered by a massive 374-cubic-inch V8 with an impressive 310 horsepower rating. Standard luxury equipment included Ultramatic automatic transmission with push-button controls, gold-tone 'Caribbean' scripts, power windows and a Wonderbar radio. Novel reversible seat cushions (brocade on one side and leather on the other) were also featured.

A total of 276 Caribbean Convertibles were built in 1956; the car displayed here is the 115th off the line. Cost new was $6,000.

The Packard Caribbean was a limited-production automobile produced from 1953 through 1956. It was inspired by the Pan American concept car that Packard had displayed at the 1952 New York Auto Show. It was available in convertible and hardtop form. Originally, only the convertible was offered but in 1956 the hardtop was introduced. The vehicle was outfitted with as many amenities available at the time and overseen by Packards stylist, Dick Teague. The interior was adorned in leather trim and was equipped with dual heaters and defrosters, three-way radio with electric antenna, power brakes, windows and seats. Even power-assisted steering was standard, a rarity at the time.

Under the hood lurked an outdated Packard 327 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder side-valve engine capable of producing 180 horsepower. In 1954, the horsepower rating was increased to 212. A new V8 engine was introduced in 1955 and the horsepower rating skyrocketed to over 300. The 'Twin-Ultramatic' transmission was controlled through push-buttons in the middle of the dash and the Suspension was torsion bars inter-connected from the front to the rear.

The 1953 and 1954 version had a continental spare wheel fixed atop the rear bumper pan. A hood scoop gave the vehicle a sporty persona while the wire-spoke wheels gave it a hint of European styling. Two-tone paint schemes and chrome accent strips gave the vehicle a distinct appearance.

In 1954 Packard merged with Studebaker to try to compete, (stay in business), against the large mass-production automobile giants. By 1956, their body supplier, Brigg, sold out to the Chrysler Corporation. Packard moved the body manufacturing to a Detroit factory where it struggled with supply and quality issues. Chrysler had their C-300 and Cadillac their Eldorado, both were moving in on Packard's territory.

The Caribbean exclusivity was guaranteed by their steep sticker prices. 400 examples were sold in 1954, and between 1955 through 1956, 500 examples were sold. This exquisite vehicle made it into production just before the Packard name became part of the past.

Photos grouped by event
Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance	2006 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance	2006 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance	2006 Palm Beach International Concours d'Elegance
2005 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance	2005 Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance	National Packard Museum	2005 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance

1956 Packard Caribbean
Year	1956
Make	Packard
Model	Caribbean
Body Style	Convertible
Engine Location	Front
Drive Type	Rear Wheel
Production Years for Series	1953 - 1956
Price	$5,995.00
Weight	4960 lbs \| 2249.9 kg

Engine
Engine Configuration	V
Cylinders	8
Aspiration/Induction	Normal
Displacement	374.00 CU IN. \| 6129.9 cc. \| 6.1 L.
Horsepower	310.00 HP (228.2 KW)
HP to Weight Ratio	16.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio)
HP / Liter	50.8 BHP / Liter
Fuel Type	Gasoline - Petrol
	Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight

Standard Transmission
Transmission	Automatic

Recent Vehicle News