Packard Caribbean
The Packard Caribbean was a passenger car manufactured by the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit from model years 1953 to 1956.
"Dreamcar" Pan American
The inspiration for the Caribbean was the Packard Pan American show car , which Henney Motor Company had built on its own responsibility last year. It was a three-seater sports convertible based on the Packard Convertible Coupé . A total of 6 copies were built, priced at $ 10,000 each. This would have resulted in a list price of an indisputable 18,000 USD. Packard boss Nance absolutely wanted such an image carrier in the program to give the brand some glamor again. Therefore, the new Packard chief designer Richard A. Teague was commissioned to design a luxury convertible with elements of the Pan American , but which could be offered at a more realistic price.
Model series
Teague also started out from the standard convertible. A three-seat design was dispensed with as a major factor in the increase in price. The result was the Caribbean, which was only manufactured as a convertible from 1953 to 1955. In the last model year 1956 a hardtop model was added.
1953
It is somewhat ironic that it was not Henney, who was the "inventor" of the concept , that received the order for series production, but rather the rival Mitchell-Bentley Corporation in Ionia (Michigan) , which simply offered the conversion at significantly lower prices. Here, too, the factory convertible was used, which Packard delivered partially assembled. By far the most complex conversion work consisted in making the body lower, analogous to the Pan American , by cutting approx. 15 cm sheet metal from the flanks. This entailed enormous adjustments all around and in the interior. The mechanical components were taken over from the convertible unchanged ; the only available engine was the eight-cylinder in - line engine with 7-bearing crankshafts , 5,358 cm³ (327 ci) displacement and 180 bhp (134 kW) which was also used in the Packard Cavalier and Mayfair . The top engine with 9-way bearing crankshaft was reserved for the (significantly cheaper) Patrician .
The Caribbean was probably the easiest Packard model to identify. Although he had the same radiator grille with a ribbed center bar as the other expensive models, the hood only had a wide but inoperative air scoop and was not intended for a hood ornament . In contrast to the other models, the rear wheel cutouts were circular and had no cladding to better accentuate the standard chrome-spoke wheels from Kelsey-Hayes . The only chrome decoration on the flank was a decorative strip running deep along the lower edge of the body over the entire length of the car and around the wheel cutouts. A spare wheel with a steel wheel cover in the middle of the rear ( Continental Kit ) was part of the basic equipment. High-quality, thickly padded leather bench seats were also standard. Most of the Caribbean were also very well equipped, the ultramatic automatic transmission and power windows were among the extras that were subject to a surcharge in the first year. The official color palette of the Caribbean was limited to the colors polaris blue, golf green metallic, maroon brown metallic and Sahara sand-colored. As always, Packard was ready to accommodate special requests; therefore some Caribbean were also painted in ivory and black.
The 1953 Caribbean is part of Packard's 26th series and, due to the circumstances, the first model that Richard Teague had designed for the company. With a list price of $ 5,210 (up from $ 3,476 for the 250 convertible), the Caribbean was by far the most expensive model on a standard Packard chassis and was on par with GM's dream car trio.
The first Caribbean is the most formally restrained and therefore particularly successful. In the first year 750 copies were made and these cars are very sought after by collectors today. Well-restored specimens now regularly cost six-figure dollars.
1954
The Caribbean received the slight facelift of the rest of the Packard series. Like the other upscale models Patrician , Cavalier , Pacific and Convertible , it also got headlight housings with "fins" to set it apart from the cheaper Clipper models. However, its appearance remained independent even if the wheel cutouts were no longer completely rounded and a new chrome strip made a fashionable two-tone paint possible. A Packard logo was placed directly behind the door. The standard equipment was more extensive than in all other models and included, among other things, power steering and brakes, the new Gear Start Ultramatic, electric adjustment for windows and front seat, two-part heating / ventilation, windshield washer, two ashtrays in front, and the well-known Continental spare wheel Casing, spoked wheels and wide whitewall tires.
In the course of the model update, all of the upscale models mentioned received a further development of the large in-line eight-cylinder engine. It had grown to a displacement of 5,834 cm³ (356 ci) and there was only the version with 9-bearing crankshafts and the output was 212 bhp (158 kW) higher than that of the Cadillac V8 in the same year; the culmination and culmination of years of experience with this engine design. The four colors Chariot Red , Polaris Blue , Gulf Green and black were available; all exclusively in combination with Arctic White for the front part of the body.
In total, only 400 Caribbean were produced this year, as few as in any other year.
1955
Like all Packard models, the Caribbean was completely redesigned for the 1955 model year. Finally there was also a coupé ( 400 ) on the long wheelbase . The standard convertible was omitted. The Caribbean now also came on the long chassis with 3,226 mm (127 in).
The Caribbean differed from the simpler models in that it had two dummy air intakes on the bonnet instead of the hood ornament. The Continental replacement wheel had disappeared, but a three-color paint scheme was standard. It consisted of a white body shell. Two parallel chrome strips ran the length of the car; the upper one rose steeply just before the rear end. The area in between limited the second shade. It was interrupted about 30 cm behind the door by a chrome element. There was a lamp in it that served as a position light when the light was switched on and shone brighter when the door was opened to illuminate the floor when getting out. The third color ran lengthways between the sill and the lower chrome strip. In addition to the four color combinations offered ex works, any other color combination was possible as long as it was approved by Teagues design department. The interior was also three-tone (leather) and matched the exterior color.
The new brand logo ("V" over a circle) was used for the first time; the traditional coat of arms can still be found in the center. The trunk lid was carried over from the previous year's model and also had its chrome element with the conventional coat of arms. The triangular tail lights also received the new logo.
Technically, the Caribbean was again closely related to the other large Packard models. Like this one, it received the larger of two new V8 engines with 5801 cm³ (352 ci), but also a Rochester carburetor system with two quadruple carburetors and a special mixture system. In addition, the engine was slightly more compressed. All of this brought the power to 290 SAE hp at 4800 rpm. This gave Packard the reputation of being the manufacturer of the most powerful production car in the world - if one generously ignored the limited-edition Chrysler C-300 .
Of course, the new automatic transmission "Twin Ultramatic", "EasAmatic" servo brakes, a Gemmer power steering and "Torsion Level Ride", the innovative torsion bar suspension with electromotive level control, as well as the electrohydraulically operated convertible top, Kelsey-Hayes spoked wheels, " Wonderbar "radio with automatic station search, electrically operated window lifters and seat adjustment, tinted windows, etc. The short list of accessories only included the air conditioning.
As a result of the move to a new body shop shortened model year (January 17 to November 2, 1955), 500 Caribbean were built at a unit price of USD 5,932.
The French actor Yves Montand was a prominent owner of a 55 Packard Caribbean .
1956
In 1956 the Caribbean became its own luxury model range and a hardtop model was added. At first glance, the differences in the exterior equipment compared to the previous year's model were not great. Similar to the other Packard models, the barges above the headlights became larger, the front bumper horns moved further apart and the pattern of the radiator grille changed. The backed grille made of anodized aluminum was now also given for the ventilation slots under the bumper. Soon after the introduction of the 56 Packard series, this grille was changed from colorless ("aluminum-colored") to gold anodized. The new brand logo (a "V" over a circle), which was introduced for the first time last year, was emphasized more strongly. The flanks remained unchanged. There was a new, more bulbous trunk lid for all models, which was also adorned with the new logo. Integrated into the golden circle was the traditional coat of arms, which served both for unlocking and as a keyhole cover. The cathedral-like taillights lost the incorporated logo. The front parking lights and indicators as well as the side position lights were now matt instead of clear. Inside, the Caribbean received new seats with removable seat and back cushions. These cushions were covered with leather on one side and bouclé fabric on the other.
To distinguish it from the other Packard models, the bonnet with two air inlet dummies instead of a hood ornament, the stripes drawn over the entire length of the vehicle and steeply rising at the rear, triple paint (others were possible on request) and Kelsey-Hayes spoked wheels served again.
A two-door Caribbean hardtop coupé was available for the first time for the 1956 model year . It received all the special features of the convertible. The roof was covered with white Hypalon , a forerunner of the vinyl roof .
A version of the V8 engine from the previous year, enlarged to 6,132 cm³ (374 ci), served as the drive for all Packard. Only in the Caribbean was there a mixture preparation with two quadruple carburetors. This increased the output from 290 to 310 SAE PS at 4600 rpm. The in-house automatic transmission "Twin Ultramatic" and the torsion bar suspension "Torsion Level Ride" have been slightly revised. Packard was the first manufacturer ever to introduce a rear axle with differential lock, called "Twin Traction". "Touch Button", the new push-button control for the automatic transmission, available as an option for all Packard and Clipper, was part of the standard equipment of the Caribbean.
This year, Packard was the provider of the most technically sophisticated and innovative US vehicles and the Caribbean was their crowning achievement.
In the entire model year (November 3, 1955 to September 25, 1956), 263 hardtop models and 276 convertibles were produced. List price was $ 5,495 for the hardtop and $ 5,995 for the convertible.
In June 1956, the Curtiss-Wright armaments company took over the Studebaker-Packard Corporation . The production facilities in Detroit were then given up, which meant the end for Packard automobiles in the traditional sense and thus also for the Caribbean.
Prominent owners of a Packard Caribbean Convertible were actress Jean Peters and singer Edith Piaf .
swell
- Gunnell, John (editor): The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , Krause Publications (1987), ISBN 0-87341-096-3
- Packard, A History of the Motor Car and the Company - General edition - Beverly Rae Kimes, Editor - 1978 Automobile Quarterly, " ISBN 0-915038-11-0
- "The Packard Identification Guide Volume One," Dr. Robert B. Marvin; 2t. Edition; R-Mac Publications (1990)
- "Packard Motor Cars 1946-1958 Photo Archive," Mark A. Patrick (Editor); Iconographix Osceola WI (1996), ISBN 1-882256-45-X
- "The Packard: 1942-1962", Nathaniel D. Dawes; AS Barnes & Co. Inc., Cranbury NJ (1975), ISBN 0-498-01353-7
- "Packard Gold Portfolio 1946-1958", RM Clarke; Motorbooks International, ISBN 1-870642-19-8
- "Triumph and Tragedy: The Last Real Packards" by Richard M. Langworth, in Collectible Automobile , September 1984 Issue, pages 6-25; ISSN 0742-812X
- George, Vance-The Packard Club 53-54 Caribbean Roster Keeper
Web links
- The Packard Club (open "Encyclopedia" and enter the year)
- 1954 Packard Sales Fact Book (PDF, English; 28.6 MB)
- Hypalon at HP from DuPont Elastomers (accessed July 18, 2012)