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Hello everyone. I'm new to being a Packard owner, and have been lurking on the site over the past few years.

The short story of me becoming the owner of this old girl, is that I inherited her from the first owner, my great uncle, indirectly. He was the last to use it as a daily driver. He parked it in his garage in 1961 eight years before his death in 1969. It later passed to my Mother after his wife passed, and then to my Father, and now to me.

This car was purchased in Louisville Kentucky by my great uncle. The 1955 Caribbean was a rather special car in its time. This one was actually part of the first Pegasus Day Parade in 1956 preceding Derby Day held at Churchill Downs race track in Louisville.

My Great uncle owned several brick yards in the Louisville area, and this Caribbean became a brick salesman's car. The trunk still has sample bricks and some business correspondence in it.

This last October, I moved the Caribbean from Louisville to Jacksonville Florida with the intent to restore her to her former glory and participate in a parade again. I have my eyes set on something like the Veteran's day parade with beauty queens sitting atop the back seat waving to the crowds.

The car is 99.7% complete. She is missing the ignition switch and lock, the glovebox lock, and the rear fender skirts. (does that sound like 0.3%?) She needs lots of care an cleaning. She will need to be woken up slowly and carefully. All of her systems will need to be gone through completely.

In the time I have been following the site, I have seen an abundant of knowledge and advice on Packard's and how to keep them on the road. I will try to absorb as much of this as possible before asking for advice myself. This site/community is a real asset that I will rely on.

The attached picture of my Great Uncle Larry and his car as it is now after the trip to Florida.

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Here she is in the garage where she sat since ~1984.

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On the trailer for the trip south.

The tubeless tires actually have tubes in them and hold air. Uncle Larry did not trust the new tubeless tires of the time and had tubes installed.

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Odometer and last service sticker...

33,506 miles and last serviced 11-27-61 at 33,337 miles.

Its not due for an oil change yet?!? just kidding!

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That is just stunning. Would love to see some more pictures including the interior. Congratulations.

I will put in my plea early: do not restore it. Ever so carefully clean and polish it and do whatever is necessary to preserve it. Thoroughly go through every mechanical system so it is reliable to drive. It will be ever so much more valuable long term not to mention interesting if you can keep it largely as the factory built it. If you restore it, the car will be just another one on the show field and will be picked to bits instead of studied and enjoyed.

Only original once can be restored many times. Looks like good one to preserve rather than restore. Also will save lots of money and have more direct connection with its and your past with your uncle. Think of it as your uncle putting it away one night and you opening the garage up many years later and continuing the Packards life with new family member at the wheel. More pics please

Congratulations on the being the caretaker of this car, and sharing it and the stories with it.
I look forward to more pictures and stories as you bring it back.

If your glovebox is still intact in the dash, be careful with it. There usually is a piece of paper taped on top that has the codes to the car.

This says it has a video to the 1956 parade, but my IPad can't seem to open it.
discover.kdf.org/pegasusparade

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Wow, it doesn't look like it would take much to clean up the exterior and make it shine, The paint and chrome look to be in really nice condition. How's the interior? I agree with Ross....this car would be beautiful unrestored. Love the color combo!

-Kevin

Good Morning...I always wonder when cars are parked when still in the prime of their lives...what the problem was...perhaps it was the ignition switch...or the key was lost. Have you been able to join a local Packard Club to give you advice regarding folks to help awaken your special Packard? Clubs provide friendship, advice, recommendatons of folks to help with many of the tasks ahead of you...all of us are willing to lend a hand...How neat to have a family time capsule...Ernie in Arizona

Ross,
"Original and correct" is my main goal, but I want to be able to drive it in a parade without the need for a tow half way. If I said 'restore' it is just my ignorance of the proper terms. I do want to 'preserve' as much as possible. I also am now aware of the term 'survivor classic car.' There will be a number of people that will have the opinion that I will devalue the car by cleaning the patina (dirt) off. Well the spider webs had to go, and the mildew surely added little value.

I am under full understanding that I am now the current caretaker of this historical beauty. She is not going to get a face lift, but I will apply a lot of a beauty cream and a touch Botox to get her presentable.