Re: Howard Hughes Caribbean

Posted by Leeedy On 2015/1/24 17:24:54

Earl Rubenstein who is curator of the museum is a personal friend since the 1970s and certainly is always a gracious host. He was once president of P.I. and has been a regent of The Packard Club for many years. Another friend is the owner of the vehicle. I knew about the car before he bought it from Hughes' people.

For a short time this Caribbean was easily seen being driven around in Beverly Hills by Jean Peter's nephew. He took it to Sunset Ecology Car Wash on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood to get it cleaned. A known place back then. It was serviced at L.A. Packard dealer Frost & French (that was STILL open for business in the 1970s).

I also still have the original poster-sized color proofs (rolled and sealed) printed up by Petersen Publishing when they did a rather bad article on the car that appeared in Motor Trend magazine. They had a 50s-look model siting in the car with the top down.

I drove this car back in the 1970s... I have photos to prove it.

No need to do guessing. The car has been very, very carefully documented. This was done about 40 years ago. Stacks and stacks of photos taken back then when it was even fresher than it is today. Hughes people were interviewed. Others were interviewed. There are still existing notes from these interviews and from an engineer in Detroit who set up the 1955 and 1956 Caribbeans. All of this was done 40 years ago and still exists. This may seem like news today in 2015, but it has already been documented, photographed and written about long ago.

There was a very complete and accurate article-with lots of detailed photos of the car in The Packard Cormorant magazine published by the Packard Club and suspect that back issue may still be available. Yes, including engine compartment and inside of trunk (with boot and boot bag) and contents. Yes, including the original factory Orlon top with colored lining. The only VISUAL item changed under the hood at the time was a Diehard battery in place of the original staggered-post Delco. The car was fitted from the factory with General Nygen tires. No need to do any guessing or wondering or conjecturing. This was all pictured and published back in the 1970s along with the whole story of the car.

However-again I probably know this car better than anyone- caution that you cannot possibly go by the paint on this car. This was not your typical 1955 Caribbean. I have very strong reason to believe it was sent out from the factory KD (meaning knocked-down as in method used for shipping some cars overseas). I also have strong reason to believe this car was painted at the dealership in Los Angeles... at least partially. Not sure who was the richest man in the world at the time of purchase (Rita Hayworth's hubby or Hughes) but either way, the factory certainly knew who and where this car was headed.

The subject of the hood support has been discussed on this site previously and that posting is still accurate.