Re: Gorgeous, 3 Owner, 1953 Caribbean Convertible
Posted by Leeedy On 2017/10/16 15:22:12
While the Mitchell-Bentley 1953-54 Caribbean conversions were indeed done at Ionia, Michigan, the Mitchell Museum was not in Ionia. It was located at Owosso, Michigan where the descendent Mitchell Corporation was headquartered.
Oh... and as a point of interest for real car nuts, special 1967-68 Shelby-Mustangs were assembled on the very same assembly line as the 1953-54 Packard Caribbeans at Ionia. The facility was being operated by famous A.O. Smith Company at this time.
Don Mitchell was the actual owner of Mitchell-Bentley. William "Bill" Mitchell was his son who ascended to running things when Don passed.
As for the car, I've seen this Caribbean numerous times up close. The black canvas top with red piping is pure custom. They just weren't done this way by the factory. Original top bows on all of these cars were white and they didn't use canvas, they used Orlon.
Yes, the engine color is wrong as are other underhood details, but not surprising since such things are usually morphed today when people don't know any better.
As for the colors, the body is orange, not red. Either way, not an original standard factory color. And yes, I have photos I took years ago of the door jamb tag.
However... the question mark here is that the Mitchell Museum claimed this car was ordered new by famous singer, Perry Como. So. Were all these colors/features custom-ordered when new? And is there a provenance that Perry Como indeed ordered and purchased this Caribbean?? This is the big question here.
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