0 A Caribbean Ride

          The year 1953 was a big one for automobiles. The number of newly launched cars that would become classics was really quite impressive. That was the year that Cadillac unveiled the El Dorado, Buick released the Skylark, Oldsmobile first sold the Fiesta and Chevrolet rolled a little car off the assembly line called the Corvette.

          Packard also made their contribution in 1953: the Caribbean. Based on a smash hit of a 1951 show car called the Pan American which was designed by Richard Arbib, the Caribbean was longer, lower, sleeker and, many would say, better looking than the bulk of the competition. The car was built on Packard's 250 Series chassis and sported a 327 cubic inch engine.

          A year later Packard improved the Caribbean in their opinion. They dropped a larger 359 cubic inch engine into it and cosmetically offered two tone paint. But the biggest improvement may have been that the car was sold "fully optioned," meaning that every available bell and whistle was included in the nearly $6000 price.

          Another year and another set of improvement. The 1955 Caribbean (shown here) sported Packard's first ever V 8 engine, a 352 cubic inch piece of pure muscle. It also had the brand new Twin-Ultramatic transmission, a Torsion-Level suspension developed by Bill Allison, a new body design that featured cathedral tail lights and three tone paint. This car was truly something new and exciting from Packard.

          The model shown here is from the Citizen's Motor Car Company museum, has had two owners and has never been restored though it is in original showroom condition. With all of 38,000 original miles, the car is Ivory, Scottish Heather and Charcoal. This car could easily give any 1955 Impala a run for its money.