1956 Packard Caribbean
The '56 Caribbean was the most potent, most advanced convertible in Packard history. Sadly, it was also the last.
The 1956 Packard Caribbean was the last "real" packard.
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The 1956 Packard Caribbeans evolved from the nearly all-new '55s that were created with scarce funds in a crisis atmosphere. But an amazingly adept restyle successfully modernized vintage-'51 bodies, and Packard introduced its first V-8, an improved Ultramatic transmission, and a new "Torsion Level" suspension providing truly extraordinary ride and handling. Trouble was, new partner Studebaker was fast dragging Packard toward oblivion, so 1956 would be the finale for "real" Packards.
The 1956 Packard Caribbean's 374 cubic-inch V-8 engine
delivered 310 horsepower.
Among them was the last edition of the top-line Caribbean convertible, priced at $5995 and newly partnered by a $5495 hardtop coupe. Both carried a V-8 enlarged to 374 cubic inches and 310 thumping horsepower, plus most every known luxury-class amenity, including new front seat covers that reversed from cloth to leather. But Packard was looking terminal, and no '56 sold well. The ragtop Caribbean managed just 276 copies before a two-year run of halfhearted "Packardbakers" ended the life of a once-great make.
The 1956 Packard Caribbean's seat covers were reversible, from cloth to leather.
For more classic convertibles of the 1950s, see:
1950 Oldsmobile 88
1955 Cadillac Series 62
1957 Lincoln Premiere
1951 Chrysler New Yorker
1955 Chevrolet Bel Air
1957 Oldsmobile Super 88
1951 Lincoln Cosmopolitan
1955 Mercury Montclair
1958 Continental Mark III
1951 Rambler Custom Landau
1956 Ford Thunderbird
1958 Edsel Citation
1953 Oldsmobile Fiesta
1956 Lincoln Premiere
1959 Cadillac Series 62
1954 Hudson Hornet Brougham
1957 Chevrolet Bel Air
1959 Dodge Custom Royal
1954 Packard Caribbean
1957 Chrysler New Yorker
1959 Ford Thunderbird
1955 Buick Century
1957 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner
1959 Pontiac Bonneville
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