Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Was wondering the correct way for the straps to be installed on the top and the boot brace I assume strap goes on the bottom part rather than hanging from the top. Only picture I can find shows the bracket only on the lower mechanism cover

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Check out the factory photo of a 1955 Caribbean rear compartment here, maybe it will help shed some light:
packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=2762

Also here are some photos of a well-worn but all-original 1955 Caribbean, showing the chrome footman loop strap retainers on both the inside and the outside of the quarter trim panel. I think the leather footman loops with buckles were mounted on the inside chrome retainer, and then once the straps were wrapped around the lowered top side rails, the end of the strap would be slipped into the chrome retainer on the outside of the quarter panel trim. There were also retainers on the top side rails themselves to pass the leather straps through for tightening the stack down.

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At least for 1956 the loop for the fixed Coachman's Strap belongs on the INSIDE, otherwise it would interfere with the mounting of the boot.

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That is what I was thinking as when top was up if it was on outer side strap would be hanging near rear seat passenger. The picture I posted was supposedly from Pebble Beach Caribbean . Now its clear need to find leather belt to have new belts made for the rechromed hardware Randy had. Shoemaker can sew strap have old ones for pattern . They are like rocks . Thanks for help

The loop with the fixed end of the leather strap fastens to the top bow, you only thread it thru the other loop when you're securing the top in the down position at which time it's all concealed by the boot.

I'm still not sure what to think. What the PackardInfo community has posted here makes perfect sense, but it bugs me that the photo of the 1955 Caribbean above is an unmolested car. The original owner drove it hard like a daily driver (which it was) until it was sold in 1979, at which point it went right into storage. The second owner never disturbed the car, and I didn't own it long enough to tear into it at all, not even to clean it. Maybe the folks on the line didn't build enough convertibles to remember exactly what the placement was supposed to be?

I was out at the Packard Proving Grounds tonight and they had Russ Murphy's former 1954 Caribbean on display. I went over to take a look at it, and then I noticed that this car also had the bracket on the outside of the side trim panel.

My current 1955 Caribbean has been reupholstered and the brackets are missing. I think when I go to replace them, I'll mount them so they are on the back of the trim panel, but it's just weird that there are original cars and carefully restored cars with the brackets on the exposed face of the side trim panels.

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Here are two picures of my 53 Caribbean. Brackets on both sides, but the strap is mounted on the mechanism side, and would loop into the interior side.

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Anyone want to take a shot and enlarging and sharpening this "of the era" photo to see what it may show with regard to the coachman's loop?

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Looks to me like there are two screw heads -- probably in finish washers -- on the inside of the car. The single object centered under the screws might be part of a snap used with the boot.

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Here's another factory photo I ran across the other day that has the loop on the passenger-facing surface of the quarter panel trim..

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  1955 Caribbean Rear Seat.jpg (250.13 KB)