56 Packard Caribbean Paint Colors
Packard V-8 Trivia Catechism of the Week: 1. What was the branch appropriate account amount of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible? Was it, A. $5,932.00; B. $7,995.00; C. $9,358.00 or D. $10,512.00? 2. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42 year old atramentous woman was arrested for abnegation to accord up her bench on a accessible bus to a white person. Her act resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and this woman bound became and affecting figure in the civic civilian rights movement. What was her name? 3. Born December 30, 1928, Ellas Otha Bates became one of the best inflential bedrock ‘n’ cycle singer, songwriter and musicians of the fifties. On November 20, 1955, he fabricated his television admission on a accepted CBS array actualization during which he sang a song with the aloft name as the singer. What actualization was it and who was the singer? 4. On September 24, 1955, the admiral of the United States suffered coronary occlusion while vacationing in Denver. Name this president. 5. On September 10, 1955, this accepted western, which began on radio, fabricated its admission on the CBS television network. Tied with the Simpsons for longest-running, prime time television alternation fabricated in the United States (20 years) it additionally becoming the acumen of actuality the second-longest active prime time, fabulous alternation in U.S. television history, outpaced alone by Disney’s album television alternation and the Hallmark Hall of fame. What was the name of this accepted TV western and who played the advance role as marshall Matt Dillon? 6. On March 15, 1955, who became Elvis Presley’s manager? Was it, A. Bob Barker; B. Colonel Harlan Sanders; C. Colonel Tom Parker or D. Texas Bruce? 7. Born February 23, 1955, this columnist and articulation amateur was became agent for a civic cabin alternation who’s trademarked byword is ‘We’ll leave the ablaze on for you.’ What was the name of the articulation amateur and the name of the cabin chain? 8. A new steroid biologic was alien in 1955 for the analysis of arthritis and added conditions. What was its name?
Answers to these trivia questions (and more) may be begin at The FIN MAN’s web armpit at http://www.thefinman.com.
If you own a 1955 Packard Caribbean, like the one apparent in the photo above, you already apperceive that you are one advantageous dude (or ‘dudette’ as the case may be)... for alone 500 bodies had the advantage of purchasing one of these chic chassis’ aback in archetypal year 1955.
The Caribbean was never meant to advertise in ample numbers, as it was what manufacturers alarm a ‘halo’ car... one that is meant to attract bodies to appointment dealerships to get a attending at what a advantageous few flush buyers will eventually drive off the exhibit floor. The achievement was that while there, shoppers will attending over the aliment and adulate models and hopefully assurance an order. Glamorous to the ‘nth degree’, aura cars, are generally affection attractions at new car shows and about appear loaded bottomward with all the ‘whistles and bells’ that the architect had to offer. Assembly numbers accept generally been accustomed at by scheduling one agent per dealership.
The advantaged few, who took commitment of Packard Caribbeans, enjoyed associates in a actual absolute club and additionally begin that, wherever their journeys took them, their Caribbean angry heads, be it the bounded ‘shopping center’, a Sunday morning account or on the links at the country club, as our affection car of the anniversary is posed.
The arrant Caribbean was alien for the 1953 archetypal year as allotment of the Cavalier archetypal agenda and was produced in convertible alone anatomy actualization until 1956 aback a two aperture auto was added. 1955 saw the accession of a new V-8 agent displacing 352 cubic inches and bearing 245 horsepower. Coupled to this new eight butt V-block was the ‘Twin-Ultramatic’, the latest advance in Packard’s Ultramatic ancestors of automated transmissions. Designed by engineers Forest McFarland and John Z. DeLorean, it featured two ranges a accepted ‘Drive’ (which ill-fitted aunt Dorothy aloof fine)... and an addition ambit that started out in Low and confused into 1:1 arrangement and bound into absolute drive. The closing was accepted with drivers who accepted a added active active acquaintance and accustomed the Clipper models to attain a 0-60 time in the 11 to 12 additional bracket. Packard supplied their new V-8 and Ultramatic transmissions to American Motors Corporation for use in their eight butt Nash and Hudson automobiles.
The ample Caribbean, apparent above, bare anniversary and every one of the aloft 245 ponies, actuality as how this acreage yacht advised in at a beefcake 4,755 pounds... a abounding 500 added than affinity coupes and sedans in the bottom series. The abundant weight of the Caribbean additional cushy, leather-trimmed seats and accession of the awful acclaimed ‘Torsion Level’ suspension, resulted in a about unparalleled akin of canoeing comfort. Automobile editors beyond the lath accepted Packard’s ride. Motor Trend’s Pete Molson said, “What a absurd ride. Everything abroad dims by comparison.” Renowned automotive administrator Floyd Clymer commented, “You can drive into a bend at aerial acceleration with this car and the anatomy charcoal about level.” Unlike Chrysler’s ‘torsion bar suspension’ which absorptive the advanced auto only, Packard’s Torsion-Level abeyance affiliated all four corners and active a complicated electrical arrangement which adapted for amount and weight. Chrysler planned to acquaint their new bewilderment bar abeyance on their 1956 models but captivated it aback a year for abhorrence that Packard would avowal that their arrangement was alert as acceptable as the Chrysler setup.
Popular Packard options for 1955 were ability council ($115.00); ability brakes ($40.00); ability windows ($108.00); ability bench ($70.00); boiler ($80.00) and AM radio ($102.00). Added accessibility and actualization options included a signal-seeking ‘Wonderbar’ radio; rear window defogger; roll-up block light; bolt on wire caster covers; alien additional annoy filler; locking gas cap aperture (after all, gas was active about twenty-five cents per gallon aback then!); cartage ablaze viewfinder; afire vanity mirror; aperture bend guards; alcohol holder; abridged pouch; snap-in carpet-mats; chrome rocker arm covers; fog lights; and chrome authorization bowl frames. Best of the aloft mentioned items, save a few of the dress up accessories, were accepted book on Caribbean convertibles. The alone cogent advantage was air conditioning, priced at a aerial $647.00. That equates to a whopping $5,116.09 in ‘09 dollars! Bottom line– in today’s tokens, a Caribbean with air would run you aloof over $55,000.00. That’s 55,000,000 artificial mils (the blooming ones) (or bisected a billion red ones) and at that amount it qualifies for affluence car rank. (Right now all the generation-Xers are activity “Huh?!?!?”.) But don’t apprehend to run out and aces one up for 55 g’s today. IF you can put your easily on one of the 500 aboriginal ‘55 Caribbeans that were produced, the buyer would acceptable be allurement about in the adjacency of $125,000.00 for a cardinal one example... at atomic by the Old Cars Amount Guide’s estimate.
Two-tone blush combinations, like the one apparent above, were actual accepted aback in ‘the day’ but Packard designers took the fad a footfall further, designing the ancillary trim to board ‘tri-tone’ or amateur blush schemes. A palette of 18 colors was offered for the 1955 models, including a acceptable alms of pastels, so accepted during the mid fifties. The business gurus dreamed up names that were as ablaze as the acrylic chips they represented... like Tourmaline; Rose Quartz; Emerald Metallic; Sardonyx; Agate; White Jade; Topaz Metallic; Gray Pearl ‘Metalli-Chrome’; Sapphire Metallic; Zircon; Jade; Fire Opal; Citrine; Gray Pearl Metallic; Ultramarine Metallic; Moonstone; Onyx (black) and Turquoise. (Okay, that aftermost one wasn’t actual creative.) The Caribbean illustrated above, is accomplished in Onyx and Ultramarine.
One automotive announcer alleged the 1955 Packard, “the aboriginal above afterlight back 1951.” Best automotive historians, however, would catechism that statement... decidedly the ‘major’ reference. True... grills, ancillary trim, etc. was all new and alarmingly adventurous compared to the sedate trim of the ‘51-’54 models, but the basal anatomy panels remained banausic due to account constraints. The ‘glitz factor’ was kicked up a notch, however, with abundant added busy use of ablaze assignment from all angles and new taillights for all models with a unique, ‘cathedral’ actualization absolute to the 400 alternation hardtops and Caribbeans. Hooded headlights with a apparent ‘rake’, bore an astonishing affinity to those Lincoln would use for their 1956 models... and the advanced bonanza included huge (I’d say about 44 DD) chrome bullets, generally refered to as ‘dagmars’.
The appreciative and already admirable Packard marque was abutting retirement and 1956 would be the final year of not alone the Caribbean model, but the ‘real’ Packard automobiles. Packard assembly concluded that year at its Detroit bulb and accomplishment was confused to South Bend, Indiana, home of the anew formed ancestor company, Studebaker-Packard. The 1957 and ‘58 Packard models were basically re-badged Studebakers.
Mid America Packards and The Packard Club allure you to appear the 44th Civic Meet, June 21-27, 2009 in Branson, Missouri. This would be a abundant befalling to adore all that Branson has to action while, at the aloft time, seeing added Packards in one abode than you’re acceptable to see in a lifetime of multi-make car shows. For added advice on the event, go to: www.packardclub.org.
Answers to this week’s trivia questions and added on the ‘55 Packard Caribbean, may be begin at the FIN MAN’s web armpit at http://www.thefinman.com. You can e-mail The FIN MAN by beat on this link: mailto://the_fin_man@msn.com.
NOTE: I would like to acknowledge my accompany at the Advance Auto Parts and Auto Zone food in Granite City, for the articles they donated to account Greg Chellis, April 18th at the Plantation House B&B and Party Center. Their generosity was a agency in the success of this aces accomplishment to advice Greg who has been disturbing financially due to medical disabilities. The items they donated were put into baskets for the bashful bargain and both resulted in active bidding.
‘The FIN MAN’TM is accessible for your group’s appropriate occasions. In accession to his academy schedule, he has been a bedfellow apostle at accumulation affairs including car clubs, engineering clubs and added able associations. He has additionally acted as host or emcee at a cardinal of appropriate contest including trivia parties, anniversary parties, amusing and able club events, allowances and armamentarium raisers. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the beneficiary car amusement additional a abundant attending at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His affairs includes a alluring Ability Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and assorted associated homesickness and Americana. Guests additionally accept the befalling to comedy “FINS for FUN,” the video bold he produced in 1987 which aggressive his nickname, in which players attempt to analyze the year, accomplish and archetypal of cars from deeply circumscribed photos of fins and taillights. Those who account the accomplished win auto-related prizes donated by acknowledging Fin Man sponsors. For added information, go to http://www.thefinman.com. We are currently accepting bookings for the butt of agenda year 2009 and 2010.
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EVENT INFO: You won’t appetite to absence the 5th Annual, KSHE Bedrock & Cycle Car Actualization advancing on Sunday, May 3rd. “No Porsches or Ferraris – aloof acceptable old ancient “American Iron” as KSHE brand to say. And, actuality the big, pro-American array of guy I am, this is one of my admired shows of the year. Registration: 7:30am till 10:30am. Judging, 11am till 3pm... actualization closes at 5:00pm. There is a beholder allegation of $10.00 for this event, (under 16 get in chargeless with paid adult) but it is able-bodied account the access fee as I begin out aftermost year aback I abounding for the aboriginal time. For added information, go to: www.KSHE95.com and bang on the KSHE Car Actualization button. The accident is captivated at GCS Ball Park; 2301 Grizzlie Bear Blvd., in Sauget, Illinois, abutting to Interstate 255.
The FIN MAN is a affiliate of the Society of Automotive Historians and the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America. At one time or another, he has captivated associates in the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, the DeSoto Club, the Imperial Owners Club and the Edsel Club of America. He welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions apropos the cavalcade or old cars in general. We’ll see you at the abutting Chuck-A-Burger cruise at the aboriginal area in St. John or the new Chuck-A-Burger in St. Charles.
