Packard Caribbean
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The Packard Caribbean was a halo vehicle produced by the Packard Motors Corporation of Detroit, Michigan during model years 1953 through 1956. Some of the Caribbean's styling was derived from the Pan American Packard show car of the previous year. Produced only as a convertible from 1953 to 1955, the Caribbean added a hardtop model in its final year of 1956.
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[edit] 1953
Introduced as part of the Packard Cavalier model range, the 1953 Caribbean was perhaps Packard’s most easily identified car because of its full cutout rear wheel housing and side trim, limited to a chrome band outline that stretched the entire length of the car. The band also helped to further delineate the car's wheel openings. A steel continental spare tire was also standard. The hood featured a broad, low hood scoop. Bodies for the Caribbean were modified by Mitchell-Bentley of Iona, Michigan. Available colors for the car were limited to Polaris Blue, Gulf Green Metallic, Maroon Metallic or Sahara Sand.
Interiors of the Caribbean were richly upholstered in leather. Caribbeans were also generously optioned.
At total of 750 Caribbeans were built for the model year, and these cars are highly sought after as collectible cars in the current collectible automobile market.
[edit] 1954-1955
Beginning in 1954 the Caribbean was elevated to senior Packard status. The Caribbean continued to have its own unique styling features, however the full rear-wheel cut was eliminated and the use of chrome trim became more liberal, and allowed for two-tone paint combinations. Like the Patrician, the Caribbean also gained heavier headlight housings, one of the visual cues applied to help differentiate the senior Packard’s from their lower priced brethren. A total of 400 Caribbeans were produced for the model year.
Model year 1955 saw the Caribbean line fully adopt the Senior Packard line styling; the car was also available in two or three-tone paint patterns. The single hood scoop was split into two units. The car also received Packard's torsion level suspension. Production for 1955 stood at 500 units.
[edit] 1956
For 1956, the Caribbean was broken out into its own luxury series, and gained a hardtop model. Trim differences between the 1955 and 1956 cars were slight. Grille textures changed, and matched the ones used on concurrent Patricians, and the rear treatment, featuring Packard's cathedral style taillights also continued. The headlights also received slightly more exaggerated hoods. Total model year production equaled 263 hardtops and 276 convertibles. The model was discontinued when Packard production ended in Detroit.
[edit] Sources
- Gunnell, John, Editor (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.
 1899-1958 Category (edit) |
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| Cars: | Packard 200 | Packard 300 | Packard Caribbean | Packard Cavalier | Packard Clipper | Packard Clipper Constellation | Packard Eight | Packard Light Eight | Packard Super Eight | Packard Executive | Packard Four Hundred | Packard Hawk | Packard One-Eighty | Packard One-Ten | Packard One-Twenty | Packard Patrician | Packard Six | Packard Twin Six/Twelve | Packard Station Sedan | Studebaker based Packards |
| Corporate: | Clipper | Packard | Studebaker-Packard Corporation| Ultramatic | Packard Panther | Packard Request |
| People: | Howard Darrin | James J. Nance | James Ward Packard | William Dowd Packard. |
