Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I read that 53 Caribbean was cavalier class and in 54 was elevated to senior.

please clarify

wondering

Ken

Yes, in 1953 the Caribbean was on the "250" convertible chassis. 327, 5 main bearing engine. 122 inch wheelbase.

In 1954 it rode on the same 122" wheelbase but received the 359 cubic inch 9 main bearing engine from the senior line.

Yes indeed! And when I bought my 53 Caribbean in 1957,at the bright young age of 21, the salesman told me it had the Patrician engine with the nine main bearings. I believed that all the time I owned the car. But it wouldn't have made any difference, I would have bought it anyway.

I believe that most of us consider the '53 Caribbeans as senior cars even though they were based on the 250. The standard '53 convertibles and hardtops are another question.

(o{}o)

wanted to change rubber gaskets on tail lights was told by seller he only had junior and mine was a senior. any direction on new rubber for tail lights?

In the Catalog of American Cars (I think), in 1953 Packard listed the 200 line as Clippers (junior), the 300 (senior)was renamed Cavalier, and the former 250 line became a "sporty subset" of the Cavalier. Strange since they kept the oval glass tailights of the junior line. Also in the subset was the Carribean. It obviously had the senior double tailights, tailfins etc. but was still based on the regular convertable which was a retrimmed old 250 (122") wheelbase junior.

Yes, the '53 Caribbeans were fitted with the senior (Cavalier and Patrician) rear quarters. The '54s were fitted with the junior (Clipper) rear quarters. Then a special tail light was fitted as an add-on that resembled the senior lights. There are a lot of detail difference between the two years. For instance, the filler panel between the body and rear bumper is a straight metal piece on the '53s and a more attractive contoured fiber glass panel on the '54s. I prefer the look of the '53s because of their full rear wheel openings.

(o{}o)