Vehicle Description
This 1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible is a very rare post-war
Packard with great options and fantastic curb appeal! With history
dating back to the turn of the 20th Century, the Packard Motor Car
Company established itself as a preeminent builder of some of the
finest, most luxurious automobiles produced by American automakers.
To tout the exceptional quality of its cars, Packard debuted its
famous slogan "Ask the Man Who Owns One" in the fall of 1901 and
Packard would continue to use its slogan in the years and decades
to come. Packard would go on to outlive virtually all of its
American luxury auto manufacturing competitors with the onslaught
of the Great Depression which led to the demises of companies such
as Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, Pierce-Arrow, Marmon, Peerless, and
Stutz. Likely the reason for Packard's ability to survive the
Depression was its entry into the mid-level market with its
One-Twenty which was targeted at more price conscious buyers and
competed with the likes of Oldsmobile and Buick, as opposed to
Cadillac. As the world transitioned out of World War II in the mid
to late '40s, Packard struggled to solidify its identity (whether
as a medium priced or luxury automaker) and it struggled to retool
its production lines as fast and as inexpensively as the Big Three
Detroit automakers. By the early 50s, Packard had finally begun to
catch stylistically when it completely redesigned its cars both
inside and out. In 1953, and under new head James Nance, Packard
re-entered into the luxury market. In January of 1953, Packard
debuted its semi-custom Caribbean Convertible, a car that was
intended to compete with the Cadillac Eldorado, Buick Skylark, and
the Oldsmobile Fiesta. Due to production problems however,
shipments of the Caribbean began in March 1953. The Caribbean was
based off the Henney-built Packard show car from 1952 but for the
production models, Packard sent standard Packard Convertibles to
Iona, Michigan-based Mitchell-Bentley for customization.
Specifically, Mitchell-Bentley lowered the chassises and re-worked
the bodies to turn the base model convertibles with Dick Teague's
beautiful design. Up front, the Caribbeans featured a full-length,
full-width hood scoop that gave the car a sportier look. The
Caribbean's side profile is likely its most identifiable attribute,
highlighted with enlarged front and rear flared wheel openings
accented with chrome wheel well trim moldings surrounding the
chrome wire wheels. The customized rear end treatment was comprised
of "fishtail" rear quarter panels, horizontal taillights, and
topped off with a Continental kit complete with a Packard script
emblem. The interiors were also more deluxe with gorgeous full
leather interiors. Due to the aforementioned production issues and
whopping original MSRP of over $5,000, Packard produced a mere 750
Caribbean Convertibles which makes the '53 Packard Caribbean quite
a rare piece of automotive history. This particular example comes
to us with southern history and underwent an extensive cosmetic
restoration. Under the hood on this '53 Packard Caribbean is a 327
Cubic Inch L-Head Inline 8 fed by a single 4 barrel that were said
to have produced 180 horsepower when new. The 327 Straight 8 is
backed by an Ultramatic Automatic transmission that makes this
classic Packard an easy car for just about anybody to take for a
spin around the block. Exhaust exits this Packard's Straight 8
powerplant via a single exhaust port that generates a wonderfully
throaty sound out of the rear tail pipe. This top-of-the-line
Packard Convertible comes loaded with numerous desirable options!
With power steering, maneuvering this Caribbean in and out of tight
parking spaces is almost effortless whether you're parking at the
local car show or you're grabbing a cool treat at the local ice
cream parlor. Bringing this '53 Caribbean to a complete stop is
also made easier with the addition of "Easamatic" power brakes
especially given that this Packard weighs over 4,000 pounds. The
beige vinyl top is in wonderful condition and it goes up and down
with the simple flick of a switch. Riding on a set of wide
whitewall tires mounted on chrome wire wheels and accented with
Packard hubcaps, this '53 Caribbean has a great look whether parked
or cruising down the road. Further adding to the 50s flair on this
Caribbean Convertible is a rear mounted Continental that makes an
already luxurious car look even more ritzy! The body of this 1953
Caribbean has been refinished in beautiful Packard Sahara Sand
paint that completes the exterior look of this premium Packard. The
interior of this 1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible is absolutely
gorgeous! The front and rear bench seats are upholstered in
two-tone White and Blue leather. Like the drivetrain, the interior
of this '53 Packard is also loaded with numerous options! All four
power windows go up and down with the flick of a switch. The front
seat is also power adjustable which was quite the luxury back in
1953. The upholstered two-tone door panels, dark blue carpeting,
painted dash, and steering wheel all look fantastic and appear to
remain in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster
features engine turned trim with a 110 MPH speedometer, temperature
gauge, and fuel gauge along with indicator lights for the battery
and oil pressure as well as a clock. The dash is finished off with
an push-button AM radio, climate controls, and a locking glovebox.
Whether you're buying your very first classic car or you're adding
to your existing Packard collection, this 1953 Packard Caribbean
would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*327 Cu. In. L-Head Inline 8
*Single 4 Barrel Carburetor
*Ultramatic Automatic Transmission
*Wide Whitewall Tires on Chrome Wire Wheels
*Easamatic Power Brakes
*Power Steering
*1 of 750 Caribbeans Produced
*Sahara Sand Exterior
*Blue/White Leather Bench Seat Interior
*Beige Vinyl Power Convertible Top
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 57,652 Miles
