Cuban Packard Distributor and '55 & '56 Packard Caribbeans in Cuba?

Posted by Mart-Emmenes On 2015/9/9 18:55:08

Hi, all. This my first post here. Being Canadian and living in Canada, over the years I've been able to make numerous trips to Cuba. As most people know, Cuba still has thousands of 1940's right up to 1959 model-year American cars still on the road and in daily use, with the conditions of them ranging from a very few, nicely restored and/or well maintained ones to completely decrepit, butchered and cobbled up barely running monstrosities. When I'm there I'm always on the lookout for Packards. While Packards are not one of the more common makes of American cars still in daily use there , I have seen several, mostly late '40's to early 50's Clippers and Patricians and one very rough but still fairly original 1954 Caribbean convertible. I'm wondering, does anybody know the name of the Cuban Packard importer and distributor during that era? Since most 'pre-1959 revolution' buildings in Cuba are still in use and mostly unchanged and still in their original form,with their original facades and cast or carved signage still intact, with a company name to go by and start my search for an address with, I could probably track down and photograph the original office and showroom. Also, does anyone know of any 1955 or '56 Packard Caribbeans being shipped new to Cuba and if so so, how many?? If there were some '55 and '56 model Caribbeans sold new there and if any have survived, finding and photographing one and talking to the owner and possibly even getting a ride in it(!) would be a truly amazing treat.