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1953 Packard Caribbean

Packard's demise in the mid-1950s was not due to the product but rather a series of mismanagement issues, the most glaring was the ill-fated acquisition of Studebaker. Packard's new management headed by former Hotpoint appliance executive James Nance had dual goals of cost reduction and reasserting Packard as a luxury car leader. They attempted to build four-door sedans in large numbers for less money while romancing clients at the other end of the spectrum who were seeking the highest performance and comfort the market could offer. It turned out to be a crucial oversight and one of several missteps that ultimately led to Packard's demise.

1953 Packard Caribbean photo
Custom Convertible by Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 26782406
View info and history
Auction entries : 1
The Caribbean joined the Packard lineup in 1953 using styling cues from the 1952 Pan American show car designed under Dick Teague's guidance by Richard Arbib, the Caribbean was primarily Teague's work. Its design was tasteful, clean, sharp, and elegantly configurated, with full rear wheel well cutout, low air scoop at the front of the hood, 'fishtail' rear fender termination, exclusive wheel arch and rocker panel chrome moldings, chrome Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels, a rear-mounted enclosed spare wheel and tire, and special window sill chrome trim that dipped down to highlight the curve of the fenders.

The straight eight-cylinder engine displaced 327 cubic inches, had a four-barrel carburetor, high compression cylinder head, and developed 180 horsepower. The transmission was Packard's Ultramatic.

Production began in March of 1953 and despite its late introduction and shipping delays, a total of 750 examples had been built by the end of 1953. The Packard convertibles were shipped to the Mitchell-Bentley Corporation in Iona, Michigan where the standard convertibles were modified with their Caribbean elements. They received a full leather interior and paint in one of four colors that included Packard's Polaris Blue, Gulf Green, Matador Maroon, or Sahara Sand. The hand-assembled Packard Caribbean convertibles had a list price in 1953 of $5,210 and were the company's top-of-the-line model, exceeded only by the semi-custom Patrician corporate/executive series sedans and limousines.

1953 Packard Caribbean photo
Custom Convertible by Mitchell-Bentley
View info and history
Up to 1954, Packard used a reliable but outdated inline, eight-cylinder engine based on a 1929 design, while the rest of U.S. automakers were using V-8 engines. Packard's first modern overhead-valve V-8, introduced for the 1955 model year, was conventional and large, reflecting many of the first-generation Oldsmobile, Cadillac, and Studebaker Charles Kettering design features. Displacement sizes included 320- and 352 cubic inches and the Caribbean version used two four-barrel carburetors developing 275 horsepower.

When Chrysler announced its 300 horsepower engine for 1956, Packard responded with its 374 cubic-inch version used for its senior cars. The unit installed in the Caribbean used a two, four-barrel carburetor arrangement which developed 310 horsepower making it the most powerful engine available in an American production car that year.

Packard's 'UltraMatic' automatic transmission was designed and built in-house and featured a lockup torque converter with two speeds. The early versions of the Ultramatic normally operated only in 'high' with 'low' having to be selected manually. This changed in 1954 when the transmission could be set to operate only in 'high' or to start in 'low' and automatically shift into 'high.'

1953 Packard Caribbean photo
Custom Convertible by Mitchell-Bentley
View info and history
William Allison created one of the last major developments for Packard prior to its end of production. He created the 'Torsion-Level' suspension which many contemporary American competitors unsuccessfully attempted to imitate with airbag springs. Allison's design used an electronically controlled four-wheel torsion bar setup that balanced the car's height side-to-side and front-to-rear. It used electric motors to compensate each torsion bar independently and react to various road-going conditions.

Packard introduced all-new styling for 1955 that was both alluring and modern. The Caribbean remained the top-of-the-line model with three-tone paint schemes, an ornate dashboard, and two-tone leather interiors.

A hardtop coupe was added to the lineup for the first time in 1956, although few other changes were made to the Caribbean. Another highlight was the reversible seat cushions which had two-one leather on one side, and cloth and leather on the other. Priced at nearly $6,000, they were higher than any other American car apart from the new Lincoln Continental Mark II. Despite having one of the most innovative and best-designed product lines in its history, Packard ended production on June 25th of 1956. Caribbean production for 1956 totaled 276 convertibles and 263 hardtop coupes.


by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020

Related Reading : Packard Caribbean History

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....
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Related Reading : Packard Caribbean History

One of the signature cars of the 1950s, the Caribbean was built on the Packard 400 chassis. It featured Packards own overhead valve V8 engine with a displacement of 375 cubic inches producing 310 horsepower. An exclusive limited-production automobile, the regal Packard Caribbean was manufactured from 1953 until 1956. Offered in either convertible or hardtop form, the sleek Caribbean came with many....
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1953 Packard Caribbean Vehicle Profiles

1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 2678-2562
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: L411551
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: L415743
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 2678-2061
Engine #: L405945
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 26782494
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 26782406
1953 Packard Caribbean vehicle information
Custom Convertible

Coachwork: Mitchell-Bentley
Chassis #: 2678

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

$1,260-$5,215
1953 Caribbean
$5,215-$12,680
1953 Packard Caribbean Base Price : $5,215

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1953 Packard Models
$3,735 - $7,100

Caribbean

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
750
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 327.09 CID., 180.00hp
$5,215 - $5,215
122.00 in.
8 cyl., 359.00 CID., 212.00hp
$6,105 - $6,105
500
127.00 in.
8 cyl., 352.00 CID., 275.00hp
$5,930 - $5,930
539
127.00 in.
8 cyl., 374.00 CID., 310.00hp
$5,500 - $6,000

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