I definitely like the hood and fender treatment on the 48. What is really striking to me is the white wheels on the 44 with blackwall tires.

Another view:

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Thanks for sharing that picture. I had heard of the Monte Carlo but had never seen a picture of it. The rear deck resembles a Buick Sedanette and the C pillar reminds me of the Ford Starliner's. The rear window must have seemed radical for the era. The crest on the fender looks somewhat out of place. Closer to the cowl might have looked cleaner. A great looking car.

Owen,

I have not forgotten about getting you the transmission serial number off of my car. I need to get it up on a lift and as soon as I can make that happen I will forward that number to you. I am very interested in helping fill out your spreadsheet.

Also, I make it a point to make a donation to the Proving Grounds each year when I renew my PAC membership. Like others on this forum, I have not yet been able to visit the site or attend any events but it is certainly a piece of automotive history that should be preserved.

Best Regards,
Robert.

Wish I could have been there this year. The driver's side marker light chrome strip I purchased from you last year is on my carib now and looks great.

I look forward to your future post.

Robert.

Packards1,

The article from 1987, "All the Caribbeans," is one of the most informative articles I have seen published. It sites materials provided by Roscoe Stelford and analyzed by George Hamlin prior to publishing. This article published by PAC certainly leads one to believe that there could have been more than one version.

Like Owen, mine is chrome with the cloissone center. It is fairly late in the run (240) and does not appear to have ever been restored. My Carib came with an extensive history which included about 20 years of storage and no knowledge of prior restoration.

I recommend this article to anyone interested in some of the many variations that came on these cars.

Regards,
Robert

The hood crests reportedly are not all gold according to the Autumn 1987 Cormorant, number 48.

Hood Crests:

1956 Packards built in 1955 gold on top, chrome on bottom, with a cloissone center.

Commencing January 1956, all chrome with a cloissone center.

Late 1956 were gold on top, chrome on bottom with an anodized red center.

Great pictures and a nice event. I looked up Marvin's Carib on the registry and it was certainly one of the early ones built. Nice to get it out in the daylight.

PPG is on my list of places to visit next year. It's turning into my "bucket list."

Regards,
Robert.

My father bought a new 1956 Pontiac Starchief convertible in Miami, Florida. Beautiful car with two tone paint which I believe was called camille/phaaton gray. My father drove that car for a year and the transmission was replaced twice. Because there was no lemon law back then my father simply unloaded the car in 1957 as it was not reliable. Not an indictment of GM, just an example of automatic transmissions still in their infancy.

After that it was mostly Fords in our family. A fairlane, couple of Falcons, a Galaxy and a Maverick. The last car my father owned was once again a Pontiac. A 1987 Pontiac Grand Am. He purchased the 5 speed manual as he still did not trust the Pontiac automatic. His first impression had a lasting impact for thirty years.

Personally, I wish he had kept that 56 Starchief convertible in a barn somewhere!

JW, beautiful car! I have used FedEx Transport with very favorable results as well as Exotic Car Transport based out of Florida with very good results. Everyone's experiences are always unique but both of these for me were positive.

Regards,
Robert.