Re: 1954 Caribbean questions

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/5/29 16:12:36

5478 identifies it as a 1954 Caribbean. 2085 indicates that it's the 85th (of 400) built.

The C68678 is an additional identifying number often called a thief-proof number. You'll find more on this topic of you search the forums.

The number and letters on the head are casting numbers and identifications.

You should check the engine# as the 54 series Packards had a unique one-year engine. You'll find the proper prefix letter and number series in the engine# info on this site. Number should be on driver side, towards the rear, on a raised boss just below the cylinder head.

Interior colors were all two-tone, antique white leather with a choice of red, blue, black or green leather.

What kind of condition is it in? Caribbeans of all years are quite desireable!

PS - saw the pictures; the paint is probably incorrect, two-tone paint was standard and I don't think there were any special orders, though it's possible. The VN plate on the driver's forward door jam should show the paint scheme and interior scheme which can be decoded by referencing the 54 parts manual which I believe is also archived on this site.

P-PS - I assume you're new to Caribbeans, perhaps to Packards. The 53-54 Caribbeans were actually based on standard factory convertible (VN beginning with 5479) shipped in prime and untrimmed to Iona Div of Mitchell-Bentley who completed the manufacture. An EXTREMELY ROUGH range of values could be from a low of about $15,000 for a car in very poor condition to a high of perhaps $140,000 for a nearly perfect and fully authentic restoration.