Packard Caribbean (1954)

Packard were long considered a fairly conservative car manufacturer, but they wanted to change their image in the early 1950s so debuted a show car from the Henney Body Company. The following year it appeared again in show form as the Pan American, and reaction was so strong that Packard decided to go into production with a luxury convertible version, the range-topping Caribbean. The car used a fairly conventional chassis, with twin C-section rails supporting a double wishbone independent front arrangement and a leaf sprung rear axle. Even so, the 1954 had improved power from the Flathead straight-eight engine, plus body touches such as two-tone paint, partially enclosed rear wheels and new tail lights. Inside it featured a color-coded interior and such luxuries as power steering and a power top which took just 30 seconds to lower.

Packard Caribbean (1954) Specifications