Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

The seller added more pictures, and reserve price

The clutch pedal is interesting one. I would like to see underneath pictures of how this was done.

Looks like a lot of rust.

Can't make out the firewall number

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Thanks for the extra pictures. Obviously the clutch was a later addition as the factory pedal would not have been a pendulum-swung arrangement but direct thru the toe board. You'd have to be a supreme glutton for punishment to take this one, and have pockets down to your ankles!

The only part of this car that I find interesting is the convertible top mechanism. And that would be if the "seller" gave it to me. Then I MIGHT use the top mechanism on some other 55-56 Packard that I wanted to convert to a convert. Otherwise, it needs to go to the scrapper. Sometimes they are just too far gone.

Craig

There is a man in Indiana who has brought back a quite a few of these Caribbeans in this shape.

He brings the restored cars to the PAC meets as well as Texas Packard meets.

I suppose if one has the time, resources, and (above all) tons of money, it is possible to restore just about anything, Packard Caribbeans included. With the exception of possibly the top mechanism, it does not appear that there are a lot of salvageable parts on this car. Just having it towed more than 200 miles would cost more than this car is worth in this shape.

It is sort of like lifting a rock in the center of Death Valley and discovering a dusty bottle of 1929 Pettrus wine. Yes, the wine could be worth a fortune under the right circumstances; but burried in the California desert for years is not anyone's idea of optimal storage conditions! Just like this bottle of wine, this sorry old Caribbean is simply an object whose value is pretty much shot.

I must say that I agree with the majority opinion. That said
if there is someone there or if I were 30 years younger, I would tackle it. Yes I am crazy but if it were not for us crazy folks, who would you sane people have to talk about.

In terms of making a faux 55/56 Caribbean from a hardtop the top mechanism isn't unique, it's essentially the same as the 51-54 convertibles. But the front windshield frame assembly is unique to the 55/56 convertibles and would be nearly essential if you wanted to create a "new" V8 Caribbean.

So I offer this one for the windshield frame. Just joking, I think this photo came to me from either Mike Dulinski or Joel Ray. I wonder what ever happened to it, I titled the photo "before", still waiting for the "after".

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OD,
I actually asked Mike D about the blue and white car. It was parted out.

I tend to agree with Al on this don't we all see a silk purse sometimes that others see as sows ears?

Big Kev did a car that many would not do, but it's done, and looks great.

Ross has fun with cars too that others would not touch.

There were only so many Caribbean's made, but plenty of 400's to bring them back.

I guess I have seen the books that the Indiana man shows of the cars he's done.

Hope springs eternal!

If you look at my Patrician on the FOR SALE forum, This car was completely panned by Mike D. He really took my wife and I to task for even considering doing this car. I will say it was no where near as distressed as the blue and white Carrib
that M.D. owned but it was close. And I think from the pictures I presented, it turned out well.

i believe with manual brakes,the pedal is thru the floor,but with power brakes,can do it ,and if u notice that cars trim code is blank,,car must of been a special order for someone ,and does anyone know what the mumbers on the firewall stand for??? hope someone out there knows ,let me know ,,thanks