1954 Packard Caribbean Custom news, pictures, and information

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Custom Convertible
Chassis Num: 54782393

The Packard Caribbean was the production version of the Packard Pan American dream cars and appeared in 1953. Packard contracted with the Mitchell-Bentley Company of Ionia, Michigan to convert 750 standard Packard Convertibles. The following year, the Caribbean became even more luxurious coming equipped with dual heaters and defrosters, leather interior, three-way radio with a power antenna, continental spare tire, power steering, power windows, power seats, and power brakes.

The two-tone red and white Packard Caribbean Convertible shown was offered for sale at the 2006 RM Auction in Monterey, CA. It was expected to sell for $75,000-$125,000 and offered without reserve. It is number 392 out of 400 and has recently undergone a complete restoration. It is powered by a 359 cubic-inch L-head eight-cylinder engine that produces just over 200 horsepower.

At the auction there was lots of interest in the vehicle as bidding quickly rose above the estimated value. The new owner purchased the vehicle for $165,000.

Custom Convertible

With a 359 cubic-inch engine that features a 4-barrel carburetor and aluminum HC head, this car is the last of the Packard straight eights.

Only 836 convertibles were produced in the 1954 model year, this being the last run of the famous Packard Straight 8. This car has the driver advantages of a 3-speed overdrive transmission and roll-up windows.

The 1953 and 1954 versions had a conventional spare wheel fixed atop the rear bumper pan. A hood scoop gave the vehicle a sporty persona, while wire-spoke wheels gave it a hint of European styling.

Weighing in at 4,290 lbs and with a wheelbase of 122-inches, the 1954 Packard convertible was an imposing motorcar. Evolved from the 1951 models, the 1954 cars could be distinguished from the 1953 cars by the adoption of new 'horn rimmed' headlights and re-designed tail lamps.

The factory price of this car was $3,935.

This car was restored by the current owner and an associate over a five year period.

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Custom Convertible

In 1953, Packard introduced the Caribbean, which would become their flagship car. It was designed by Dick Teague, who applied some of the ideas of the Henney Company's 1953 experimental Pan American car. The design used a conventional Packard 250 convertible with the addition of a hood scoop, continental spare tire, a custom interior and chrome wire wheels with full radiused wheel openings. The 1954 Caribbean was powered by a 359 cubic-inch V8 engine offering 212 horsepower. Rear wheel openings were lowered and chrome molding was added to the rear fenders as a two-tone paint demarcation line. With the price increased from $5,200 to $6,100 for 1954, sales fell from 750 to 400.

This 1954 Packard Caribbean Convertible was given a full restoration that was completed in February of 2009.

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.

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