The seller has three antique cars for sale that seem to have nothing in common besides they’re occupying space. Two are projects, while the third is said to be a nice driver. Your choices range from a rare 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible to a 1956 Plymouth “Gold” Fury and finally a 1960 Buick LeSabre ambulance conversion. They can be found in at least two locations in California and Oregon and are available here on craigslist from $14,000 to $35,000 depending on which one you want. Hats off to T.J. for this trio of ancient iron.
1955 Packard Caribbean
The Caribbean was a high-end Packard that was introduced the year before Packard merged with Studebaker. They were only offered as hardtops and convertibles and only 500 were produced in 1955 alone. We’re told this drop-top spent much of its life in Southern California and is rust-free. The seller says it runs well and the body and paint are good. The interior is where work will be needed and seats from both 1955 and 1956 are included to help with the project. The convertible top hardware is in place while the new top is still in the box. The asking price is $35,000.
1956 Plymouth Fury
The Fury was added to the Plymouth lineup in 1956 and was only available as a 2-door hardtop at first. Only 4,445 copies were built in its first outing before it expanded within the Mopar lineup as the decade wore on. The Fury was distinguished by a gold anodized spear on both sides. The seller provides the least info on this car and only one photo. The interior is new (no photo) and we’re told the work cost $4,000. The asking price is $14,000 (which the seller says is a bargain).
1960 Buick LeSabre
Also from long-term storage is this Buick LeSabre wagon that was built as an ambulance by a company called Flxible. It was pressed into service by a Spokane, Washington Civil Defense unit. The 401 cubic inch V8 has only seen a few miles since being rebuilt. The interior needs attention as does the transmission. If you took this one home, what would you do with it? An asking price of $14,000 gets you the chance.
I don’t understand why these sellers don’t bother with the necessary pics. Do they really think people are just gonna blow that kind of money without more info and photos?? One pic of the Fury for 14k?? Come on…!
Perhaps I can field this one, Jake. Many times, these “collections” are being presented by someone who got them to settle an estate, has little or no interest, and providing photos is the least of their concerns. CL is also a pretty shabby way of selling something, as opposed to selling them here( did I get a point for that, staff?) I think if interested, contacting them could provide more photos.
A request for more photos would probably be honored, unless this is one of those “Honey, I tried to sell the cars” situations. Seller could use a lesson on taking photos, though, it’s not rocket science, buddy!
Wow,
Packard coulda been my Dad’s. Same exact colors! Hauled the Homecoming Queen in Christmas parade, Opelika, Alabama 1956! I was 10. Was first car we ever went over 120 in! (2×4 barrels!) Literally traded it for a small house in 1958, Jacksonville, FL just to get rid of it. Have several die cast models, NOT for sale. Was huge luxurious! Especially for Opelika Alabama . (Dad also had first ever Sports car there, 1952 MG TD)
Too bad that you lost the Caribbean. Parents had a 55 DeSoto which they eventually traded for a 62 Plymouth Belvedere! 🤮.Your family got a much better deal.
Accchhh, this bums me out,,,again, someones cherished collection being dissolved. Naturally, the Packard needs no more accolades, I feel the best car from 1955, period. The ambulance/hearse, limited appeal, but the Fury, now THAT was a car worth saving/having. Again, I’d expect no less from California, but I read, the ’55/’56 Gold Fury was Plymouths introduction to the muscle car field. This car had the 303ci poly motor, the hemi was deemed too big, and this was just under the NASCAR limit. It had a heavy duty 3 speed and clutch, or 2 speed automatic, heavy duty suspension, a factory tach, police brakes,and did 124 mph on Daytona sand beach. With some performance mods, gave the others plenty to worry about. They weren’t cheap, as a Gold Fury went for around $2900 bucks, almost a grand more than a stock Belvedere, but look what you got. Proof positive, with only 4500 sold, people obviously didn’t take Plymouth seriously. I hope someone, clearly not the seller, knows what they are getting.
Check out 56 DeSoto ADVENTURER!
With a 401 V8 and four portholes on the front fender, that 1960 Buick is not a LeSabre.
My guess is the Invicta.
This Caribbean is the GRAND finale for traditional Packard luxury and elegance.🏆. Unfortunately this era lost Nash, Hudson, DeSoto and the Ill fated EDSEL. Wonder if proposed merger of Nash, Hudson. Studebaker and Packard had been successful, would that corp. would be following others building glorified trucks and calling them Luxury vehicles?
Rick W,
One of the biggest and longest lasting automotive myths is the planned merger of Studebaker-Packard and Nash-Hudson to form a new company to go after the big 3 automakers.
It was never going to happen, as a merger was never even considered by the top people of S-P and N-H. The only thing that comes close was a 1950 memo from Nash’s President George Mason to the Packard corporate board, of the possibility of the 2 companies joining forces. The Packard board, running a very profitable [at the time] company, didn’t even consider the letter seriously.
The 2 companies did arrange to manufacture and provide parts for their various cars, including the Packard 320 V8 that was used in the 1955 Nash Ambassador. However because Nash priced making Packard trim and sheet metal parts too high [more than they cost Packard to manufacture], that was the end of the deal.
Pete,
While the 1960 Invicta and LeSabre both had 3 portholes per front fender, Every 1960 Flxible Buick I’ve seen [with the LeSabre interior and dashboard], had 4 portholes. I suspect Flxible added the 4th porthole trim to the cars they made, giving the cars a bit more of an upscale look!
Thanks for the info. I knew Mason was looking to join up. Didn’t know Packard wasn’t interested. Too bad, would have been great to see what would have happened. Also heard there was some consideration of the pecking order! Packard at the top, but where the others would fall.
Rick,
Years ago I heard from a noted Packard historian that one of the worries about the Packard-Nash combo was who would end up ruling things: Christopher at PMCC, or Mason at N-K. The concern was that Christopher would be retiring soon, leading to Mason taking the lead. Nance was still a couple of years in the future.
And let’s face it, in 1950 Packard had cash reserves [if I remember right] of over $6 million, and the company was very profitable, not just the automobile portion, but their defense contracts as well, with another war just starting again.
My own personal take on the board’s dismissal of the offer was due to the board thinking they didn’t financially need Nash as a partner, plus N-K was half-way across the country, making unit-body cars in Wisconsin. The Packard board was made up of very conservative [engineering & style-wise] old men who may have considered Nash a poor match.
Thanks again. First family car I remember was a 1950 Nash AMBASSADOR, often referred to as Upside down bath tub 🛁. If my memory is correct the 1950 Packard was often called The Pregnant Elephant! The AMBASSADOR with seven main bearing six cylinder motor was a great car. Family kept it until 59 when Mom developed arthritis and had trouble parking without power steering. Traded for a 55 DeSoto, another great Marque now gone!
Jake: I think it’ a “once over” just to showcase’n catch attention – to get further inquiry from interested folk. I too, as U possibly do, wish full pic (doz+ from under, under hood, etc) extensive verbal descriptions.
I’m for da Buick as to waggy, bulge-m0bile back roof’n that great crease down the side (“rocket car” may B?)
I checked my American Funeral Cars & Ambulances book by Thomas McPherson and I’ll quote him on the Buick: “The Flxette short wheelbase funeral car line was built on the wheelbase of the Buick Electra passenger car and was priced significantly lower than the full-sized Premier models”. A hearse, limousine and combination was available, plus a service car version. The Premier cars had a longer wheelbase but still based on an Electra. If I had space…. 14k seems a bit high to me but where will you find another one?
I absolutely loved the 1955 Packard — though a convertible would not be my choice. This was a spectacular face-lift of the 1951 body which had gone largely unchanged through 1954, except for trim. The 1955 Packard out-classed the Cadillac by miles in pure elegance. But it was far more than that!. It introduced torsion bar suspension, among other things. So innovative, mechanically, was this car, that even Tootsietoy sold detailed little child’s copies of it, showing its underside — something they hadn’t done before and did not do since (to my knowledge). The ’55 Packard also was a dream to drive — much smoother than the ’51 we had. It held one serious drawback, which was sad. Briggs Coachworks, builder of Packard bodies, was purchased in 1954 by Chrysler, leaving Packard to scramble to set up a bodyworks at the South Bend Studebaker plant. This delayed the 1955 Packard, and caused about six months in quality-control issues with those bodies — unheard-of for Packard. By the time they get that all straightened out, it was too late, and their reputation — the one thing which had kept Packard going with those who demanded the very best — was permanently tarnished. Then that 1956 minor face-lift, to include the “fad” cues of that time, such as hooded headlights, also changed other trim details just enough to strip away much of the timeless elegance which the 1955 enjoyed: when something is nearly perfect, DON’T TOUCH IT! I always wanted a ’55 Packard. Not into “muscle”/ performance cars, so the Fury doesn’t mean much it me. As for how many Cruiseline Ventiports are on the Buick, and which series it therefore is, I lost track on that when they changed to Invicta, LaSabre, etc., I fear. For me, it’s always been Roadmaster, Century, Super, and Special (have I left anyone out there?). THAT order, I understood!
As I understand it, Studebaker assembly lines would not accommodate the larger size of traditional Packard bodies. Have seen possible 57 full size Packard proposals based on Packard Predicter as well as one based on reworking 56 Lincoln. Collectible Automobiles featured a one off Packard REQUEST in an early issue.
I would LOVE to see the creators of the 1933-’34 Packard Victoria replica, also do the 1955 Packard top models just exactly as they were then! — the same famed Packard motor, only this time with electronic ignition and fuel injection, having hardened valve seat for unleaded gasoline. I would LOVE also to see an analogue-tuned radio made especially for longest-possible distant reception, highest selectivity, and full-range high fidelity stereo (not exaggerated sound, as so many are!), and a fine electrically-wound mechanical clock with jewelled-lever movement, Iike a fine watch.
Have you seen the Packard REQUEST? I believe it was a one off using 55 or 56 Packard with old school Packard center grille. Was featured in early issue of COLLECTIBLE AUTOMOBILE.
Rick W,
As I understand it, the Request is currently in the Ralph Marano Packard concept car collection in New Jersey, the collection is not open to the public, but he does sometimes open it up to guests.
The collection includes the 1948 Packard Vignale, the 1952 Macauley Coupe, a 1952 Pan American, the 1953 Packard Balboa, a 1954 Packard Panther, as well as the 1955 Packard Request.
Russ,
“The seller has three antique cars for sale that seem to have nothing in common besides they’re occupying space.”
They also share another aspect of our hobby: All 3 were fairly rare cars when new, and are still rare today.
The owner should consider selling the 1956 Packard Caribbean seat assemblies separate. Then lower the cost of the car to cover the high cost of the leather upholstery work it needs.
These seats don’t fit the ’55, and are the wrong color scheme. They fit ONLY the 1956 Caribbean convertible [276 made], because the hardtop rear seat is wider. The last time I heard of a nice, complete, set of 1956 Caribbean convertible seats for sale was about 25 years ago, and back then they sold for over $8,000.
Easy choice for me, the Plymouth. The Packard is nice, but I’m not much into convertibles. A 60 Buick is almost as ugly as a 59, and being converted to an ambulance didn’t improve the looks any