Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Great looking Pacific! I wish that my '54 Convertible was as nice as yours. I have the same continental kit, which my Packard mechanic confirms as Huddleston-Whitbone. Leave it on....it looks spectacular!

Les

I'm not a huge fan of continental kits chiefly because of the extra shaking they set up in the car on rough roads and they will increase the rate at which your door gaps will open up at the top.

That said, as a real live Packard Club judge, if the unit is neatly installed no one is going to call you down on it as it is a period accessory. But really why on earth are you remotely concerned ? Unless you take best of show our opinion of your car will not alter its resale more than five or six dollars. The purpose of Packard Club judging is chiefly to help those who wish to improve their cars by finding oversights.

Continental kits are like mayonnaise, some like it, some don't. Whether or not someone else likes mayonnaise should have no influence on whether or not you put it on your sandwich

Always preferred the faux continental kits that fit over the trunk lid and gave the appearance of a spare tire. No added length, just a little added weight, and the look is there. Notice Ross is doing something similar to his After 8.

Think this is what Packard was trying to do with the 1953-54 Caribbeans; shorten the trunk so the continental kit would not protrude too much in back of the car. Keep the overall length from growing too much.

(o[]o)

The short trunk was a design feature on all 51-56 convertibles including Caribbeans due to the need for a top well, the overall length of the convertibles (except 53-54) Caribs was the same as the 2 door non-convertibles.

Then 53-54 Caribs may seem that the continental spare area is shortened but what was done to give it the "built-in" look was to extend the quarter panels about 10". Thus the 53-54 Caribs were about 10" longer than the corresponding 2 door models

Hi Fred

How much were the '51-'56 deck lids reduced in length to accommodate the convertible top well?

You just verified my suspicion that the visual coving of the Caribbean continental kits was by Senior-style fender extensions to accommodate Senior series taillights.

Steve

Steve, a couple of photos that you may appreciate; these have been posted here before but perhaps you missed them. First clearly shows the rear fender graft on a 53 Caribbean; light gray area is lead. Second shows the handwork in shortening the trunk lid framework. I find the latter kind of interesting and whenever I see a 55/56 Caribbean with the trunk open I look at the workmanship; it varies from nice and tidy to looking like a high school auto shop student did it on his first day.

I don't recall the origin of the 1st photo but I believe it's from one of the regulars here. Second is mine.

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While my rough car is just now beginning restoration for the first time since the late 1980's, it is currently a rough condition 4 in the identical colors as his car-except that the continental kit has a Packard hubcap in the center and a simulated, abbreviated white side wall surrounding the hubcap. The outer rim of the cont. kit is chromed with a little pitting, but very little; it is Not pot metal. I will take a picture of it as is so someone can possibly tell me whether it might be a Packard option, or just an older after-market add-on.