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