Re: How'd they do it?

Posted by Kevin On 2014/4/1 17:06:33

I've wondered about the 1955 & 1956 Caribbeans as well. The only photographic evidence we seem to have is one picture of a 1956 Caribbean hardtop receiving its fabric roof covering in an off-line operation. Whether it was at Conner or EGB is anybody's guess, but I'd still opt for Conner. No one wants to be moving bodies around any more than they have to, as it adds to the potential for damage.

My best guess is that the convertibles were framed up (sheet metal body stampings put into place inside large fixtures that held them in the proper location for welding) to create the basic shell, then were moved to an off-line location for fitting and installation of the bronze windshield frame, and then likely put back on the line to go through the paint shop.

After paint, it may have gone to another off-line location for installation of the folding top and components, but the rest of the assembly (marriage of body + chassis, installation of the front sheet metal clip, then final assembly where the interior & exterior trim is finished) could all take place on the common line with the other Packards and Clippers.

If assembly of the 1955 Caribbean started in April, that would give them roughly 60 production days to complete all 500 cars (assuming they wrapped the 1955 production at the end of June; I think it may have been a month or two later than that). Under these assumptions, that would average about 8 cars a day under straight time, and one shift per day. One car per hour at both the off-line operations for the windshield frame and the folding top would have been eminently doable.