Stored for 30 years or more, someone clearly had the vision and experience to know that this is one special Packard worth saving. Speculated to have made only 400 Packard Caribbeans in 1954, it is thought that the ’54 models are the scarcest of the 4 year production run of the Caribbean. With Caribbean specific styling cues and a great looking convertible overall, these classy Packards are a rare sight to see. Very promising and complete, this stately convertible is a mere $6,000! Take a look at it here on craigslist out of Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Thanks to reader Fred H. for this wonderful low production find!
Packing Packard’s largest straight 8, this 359 cubic inch engine appears complete but its condition is unknown. The head and manifolds wear obvious surface rust, but the engine compartment appears quite rust free.
The lovely cream over red interior has aged surprisingly well despite the missing convertible top. The dash and interior components are dusty and dirty but I imagine it would clean up rather well. I do not see carpeting, and I am a bit curious about the floors. I do not believe that the car was exposed to any sort of moisture during storage other than humidity. Otherwise the interior would not have aged as well as it has.
Amazingly the exterior has aged gracefully as well, and there are only minor concerns visible. Overall the body appears very straight, and all of the Caribbean specific trim appears to be in place. The chrome has light surface rust but it is more than manageable. There is some rust to be found in the rockers, as well as some other minor surface rust on various parts of the exterior. Although no restoration is an easy task, I dare to say that this Caribbean would be an easier restoration especially considering its rare and specific parts. While this car could certainly be cleaned up and revived, I think this rare old gal needs a full on restoration to be able to fully embrace its elegance and style. Is it just me, or does this Caribbean seem to be a very fair priced low production classic?
I’m really not all that familiar with Packards, so I’m curious. How can you tell that it’s a Caribbean?
I hate to keep beating this bush, but this is a series-54 convertible coupe, right? Not a Caribbean? Still would be one of only 863 built, and an absolutely beautiful car! I wish I had the balls (and the money 💰) to buy and fully restore this baby!
Not sure of internal model numbers Packard used, but this cvt. is from the Patrician series. Not a Caribbean.
I am a. concours judge and have seen and evaluated many Packard Caribbeans. This is NOT a Caribbean.
Looks like it was stored “OUT OF DOORS”……..
This car is destined for high dollar value to the right buyer. It will cost a small fortune to get it to that status, but the end result should be a car valued in the high six figures. If only I were destined to be the owner I could leave this world knowing had been a part of something great.
High six figure if restored? I think not although you might end up paying that for the restoration.
Except possibly a one-off show car like the Predictor, no postwar Packard will be worth high six figures until inflation gets it there, probably in more than 50 years. Also, even if this were a Caribbean, I’d wager the ’54s are the least valuable: the ’53s were the first, and better looking with the full rear wheel openings, the ’55s were a huge update with the V8 and torsion-level suspension, and the ’56s had everything the ’55s had, only improved, and were much rarer. The ’54 was practically a pimped out Mayfair by comparison. Meanwhile, a really nice ’54 Mayfair convertible is probably still worth $30k or so, but it would take a lot more than that to make this car really nice.
Unfortunately this car is not a Caribbean.
Drive it the way it is, Dan Kanter has one like this and he drives it everywhere with the top down and a big smile on his face!
This one appears to be in better shape than the one that graced your site last year. At the time I commented that my dad hated all cars, but we came across a ’54 Caribbean at a car show once, and my dad commented that his uncle used to have one, and he told me on the spot, “I’d really like to own this car”.
A powerful statement for my dad to make. Love to own this one!!
Fantastic color combination and a Great find!! Please some Packard-o-file rescue and return her to her former glory.
Given its rarity and current condition, I would do a ‘preservation’ restoration. There are enough over restored cars out there as it is.
I’m with you on this one! Give it a very thorough cleaning, do what’s necessary to get it running right (all systems working), some carpet and a top, and drive and enjoy 😉
NOTE: This Packard isn’t a “Caribbean”. It’s a “Patrician” The `54Caribbean had heavy chrome rockers that followed the wheel openings in the back, and no hash marks on the quarter panels.
Darn good eye you got there!
Will Fox,
The Patrician was the top of the line 4 door sedan. This is the Packard Convertible, not a Caribbean. For 1954, the Caribbean was changed from the 4 open wheel areas, to just the 2 front “full radius” wheel openings, the back openings were now “flattened” but still have the wide chrome trim. Plus, the 54 Caribbean was now a 2-tone body color. See the attached photo.
It’s still a very desirable car, I had a black one about 30 years ago. Prices for the Caribbean are about twice what the Convertible will bring.
It’s not a Patrician either. It’s a 1954 Packard Convertible. That’s what Packard called it. Just Convertible.
Last year for the flathead straight 8.
Absolutely worth restoration.
Wish I could.
Wow. One of the most elegant cars I have seen from the early 50’s for sure. Somebody please restore this old gurl
It was stored in a medal barn with a concrete floor…They never tried to turn engine. These were answers to an E-Mail .
Nowhere in the add does it state that this is a Caribbean.The owner know’s what he has. The author of this article is the one that screwed it up!!
No, it is absolutely NOT a Caribbean, it is “just” a ’54 Packard convertible – still a very nice car but unfortunately, not as advertised. A true Caribbean would have had a continental kit, radius-ed rear wheel arches, a hood scoop, different chrome, and probably two-tone as well as some other differences. Had this actually been a Caribbean, it would likely be long ago sold.
Dirk-Read the add again, seller does not say this is a Caribbean. If you want to complain, get onto whomever wrote this article!!!! (1954 did not have radiused rear fender’s ,53’s did)
Yes, I fully realize that but it’s still being falsely advertised on BF as something it is not. Yeah, you’re right about the ’53/’54 rear wheel opening, my bad. I’ve owned several post-war Packards but I’m no Packard expert.
Whoa there Kimosabee (Dirk)…..where does it say this is an advertisement? Fair to call it mis-identified, sure, but “falsely advertised” it is not. Not everything on BF is an add…..
Agreed Yankee TR5 ! And I fully appreciate Brian and the rest of the crew for writing these articles.
Of course it’s an ad. All but a very small handful of the cars we see advertised here on BF are for sale and the descriptions are undeniably focused on attracting interest and directing interested parties to the seller. That’s called advertising.
The writers do a wonderful job and I never considered the posts ads. To me, they are simply commentary by individuals who appreciate the thousands of hidden gems still out there.
I’d preserve this on and drive it, it’s beautiful as is in my opinion. My first car was a 55 Patrician 4dr, talk about a tank! But more like a rolling palace of luxury scattered with chrome switches and knobs. And this was in 1985, so you can imagine the crap I took from the other guys in high school when I came rolling up in that car.
Terry W,
I drove Packards in High School [class of 1970], and yep, the other gear head guys didn’t think much of my 1937 Packard Eight Deluxe sedan, but the girls loved it! And believe it or not, I still have the car!
Just to the right of the silencer attached to the air cleaner is something that looks like an upright starter motor. Is it a chassis power grease lubrication device or is it a vacuum pump for power hood & windows. If not, does anyone know what it is?
Peter: This car has 2 hydraulic cylinders to power the convertible top, and 4 hydraulic cylinders for the side windows. They use DOT3 brake fluid. What you see is the electric motor with the pump below it, to power the hydraulics.
Bill. Thank you for explaining it. Peter
It’s a Patrician I’m sure, body design not a Caribbean, but I don’t remember any Patrician convertibles. Somebody buy this, make it back to the royalty it deserves and drive it.
Whatever it is I hope it gets a good home!
Good luck to the new owner!!
Brian should have been talking to Jamie! Jamie wrote this article for BF April 2017. This is a Caribbean.
https://barnfinds.com/one-400-1954-packard-caribbean/
Love that Mark III Continental in the last photo!
You mentioned not seeing carpet and questioning the condition of the floors. As an FYI/experiment, we had a wrecked Spitfire out back that was parked about 30 years ago…with the top removed. On one side the carpet/pad etc was removed and left just the exposed floor. On the other, everything was left. About 2 weeks ago we finally scrapped it. To end our test, the bare side when wiped down still looked nice and clean. Almost as nice as the day it was wrecked (obvious paint fade/oxidation etc). On the carpet side, there were now holes in the floor from trapped moisture eating away at the metal.
Pull the carpet, save a lot of work…
The starter motor you see runs the hydraulic pump for the window’s and top. ( usually filled with brake or transmission fluid)
These hydraulic pumps that are based on a starter motor housing, ONLY use DOT3 brake fluid. Putting ATF or hydraulic fluid in the unit will ruin EVERYTHING in the system, including all the cylinder seals and flexible lines at the door hinges, and of course the pump.
If I remember correctly, starting in 1957 all the US automobile manufacturers switched to the smaller horizontal pumps located in the trunk [for the convertible top], and about 1955 switched to electric motors for power windows & seats.
I’m with the guys who say get running and drive it like you see it, when your in the high cotton you can spend the 50K to restore it
make a restorod….Powerstroke 6.7 twin turbo with a bullydog controller & twin 8″ stacks visqueen and ducttape the top put 24s” with spinners and Airbags with a surge tank and compressor in the trunk, paint red and white stripes with a 4″ brush and semi-gloss latex housepaint and spray paint the visqueen top Blue with Rustoleum. put a 3000 watt sound system with thumpers and a take the back seat out for a cooler big enough to hold about six cases of beer and a pair of fuzzy dice and handcuffs hangin from the rear view mirror it needs a couple of Spotlight mirrors added as well then go cruising !!!
Be different
BF is on a roll today, calling a ’56 Continental a Lincoln, and calling this a Caribbean. Oh well, we’re all human.
close to home and tempting! Whats with the 4 door convertable :Lincoln town car to the right of it? very interesting!!
I’d just like to see what it would like after a good cleaning and a top replacement
Im waiting for a comment on the 4 door Town Car convertible, wonder who made them and would like to see a good shot of one!