Let me say this about that...

First of all, those are very astute observations! The best we can probably do is make educated conjecture, but when it's 57 years after the fact and most of the people who were present at the creation are now dead, well, you just do the best you can.

Anyway, it's indeed very possible and highly probable that what we're looking at is a styling fiberglass model of the 1955 Caribbean, as we know from the Kimes Automobile Quarterly book that the Caribbean was the latest of the late 1955 Packards. Production of the 1955's began about three or four months later than usual model years. and the first production Caribbean was not ready until April 1955.

HOWEVER... These promotional photographs for the entire 1955 Packard and Clipper line-up were all taken at the same time, as we can tell from other photographs in this series at the National Automotive History Collection at the Detroit Public Library. Those pictures showed the photogrpahers setting up their ladders and lighting, etc., and you could see all the cars gathered together in the background. It seems from the coats being worn that this was likely done in the fall before the snows, just as perhaps the first early-build prototypes were becomng available. In the case of the Caribbean, though, it makes perfect sense that could have been just a styling model.

We'll have to look at the other angles of the Caribbean photos that were taken that day to see if there are any signs of a powertrain in the vehicle, and of course we'll continue our investigation of the location to see if we can determine where the pictures were taken.

Usually what happens -- and I believe this was the case with Utica -- is that if a buyer cannot be found for the product (someone who would take all the tooling and machinery), then a surplus auction is held and the machinery is dispersed. Anything left over gets sold for scrap value.

After Packard exited the property, Utica Bend group of Curtis Wright took over and there were some jet engines built there. Test cells for the jets were added to the plant. But C-W didn't stay long, as the PPG and the plant were for sale by 1962, which is when I believe Ford took it over. They used it to make various interior trims like door panels and instrument panel pads. At some point, Ford even used the PPG Lodge and Repair buildings to make and store older parts for service, but I think they were no longer actively using those by the 1980's.

The linked article gives you an idea of how Ford's business at the site ebbed and flowed in recent years.

Are those a pair of rear antennas too? That was one magnificent beast when it was new -- sorry it's come to this sad fate.

I won't believe it until I see it, but the wrecking ball is supposedly coming to East Grand Boulevard. The site for this article contains links to other articles about the plant, as well as a couple of slideshows:

http://www.freep.com/article/20120301/NEWS01/120301073

Packard Motor ruins to be demolished
11:35 PM, March 1, 2012

By Bill Laitner
Detroit Free Press Staff Writer

The man who Detroit officials say is responsible for the aging Packard Motor Car plant - which has become a worldwide symbol of the city's decay - is on the verge of demolishing it.

Dominic Cristini, who has claimed ownership of the disputed property on the city's east side, has had contractors surveying the industrial ruins for four months and is merely awaiting demolition permits, said Mike Carlomusto, owner of AVC Services in Harrison Township.

"We've got big lights going up next week (and) we're going to put fencing all around it" to keep scavengers out after razing of the historic Albert Kahn complex begins, Carlomusto said Thursday.

"It's 3.3 million square feet. That's a lot to take down," he said, although Cristini expects that the value of recovered scrap metal will cover the millions of dollars for the demolition tab.

I'm one of the volunteers! I almost never miss a PPG Open House!

I'm no expert on the '56's, but that sure doesn't look like an priginal back seat to me, and the quarter trim panels don't even look like they're from any Packard. The bottom cushion on the front seat looks funky too -- looks like a solid cushion, doesn't appear to be any individual driver and passenger cushions. And the front seat frame appears to be plated with bright chrome. Run, don't walk, away from this one as fast as you can...

Hi, Let The Ride Decide, unfortunately my car was a Michigan car all its life. The first two owners treated it as a daily driver, and exposed it to our winters and our copious amounts of road salt. The underside surfaces of both fenders in the wheelhouse areas were nothing but broad surface rust, some moderate rust, and a few areas of perforation. There really was nothing left that would have given us any indication of an original finish.

Thanks for the info, 55clipper! I love the MAC color combination! I'll have to check your profile and see if you have pictures posted of your car!

And thank you, Owen_Dyneto, for all your research on the topic! I really appreciate your efforts!

OK, so since my car is White Jade-Jade-Emerald, the part of the fenders visible in the engine compartment should be the White Jade, and on the exterior, the wheelhouse should be Emerald?

Hey guys, I have shocking news -- there's been movement on my 1955 Caribbean for the first time in several years! The guy who is doing some of the "heavy lifting" for me came up with a few questions so far, so I'd like to put these out there and see if I could glean from your collected wisdom!

1. Front Fenders - The inners, as visible in the engine compartment, would be the same color as the upper body, right? Every "white-accent-lower" painted Caribbean that I have seen has carried over the white to the inner fenders. But what about the underside? Did Packard leave them unpainted and in primer, or did they also paint them the color of the upper body, or were they chassis black? I've seen Caribbeans with white painted inners and with black inners, so I'm not sure which way we should go to be faithful to factory intent.

2. Ignition Coil - Can't find where we put the one that was on the car. Do you guys have a favorite brand that you would recommend as a replacement?

3. Heat Riser Valve - To my knowledge, and based on the service manual, it was located on the left/driver's side of the car. Can't find that part in the barn either. Any favorite vendors that have decent prices on such things?

Thanks for your feedback! I'm expecting a big mess when it comes time to play with the brakes, so I may be spending a lot of time in the BTV threads soon!

On one of the very first times I drove my 1955 Caribbean after getting it in August 1973, someone in my small northeastern Michigan hometown called out to me, "Nice Studebaker!"