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

Hello,

New to the Forum.

I have been offered a 1954 Caribbean that has been non running for 15 years.
Solid body but in a paint combo I cannot find in the literature. U = a light brown or a mocha color L = Ivory ??
Extra motor comes with the car as I am told original thru a rod.
Paint (assuming Lacquer) is checked and in many places flaking off.
Interior in remarkable condition considering the storage time. (in a heated building)

Questions.

1. How can I find engine codes to determine if spare is compatible? Number on spare is A(?)46881 3 and x 111853 (Casting Number?) I can share a photo.
2. I have yet to see any photo in all Caribbean ads of this color combo. It does not appear to have been repainted. Convert top is light brown. How do I determine if this if factory?
3. The grill is broken. Bumber is fine. Is the grill common to other Caribbean models of adjacent years?
4. How do I determine a value knowing a lot of cosmetics are required. (little or no rust)?

Any input will bwe appreciated.

Atltee

Check the motor number stamped on a smoothed pad above the starter motor. The 54 Caribbean would have the one year only 359 engine with the aluminum head which starts with the letter M. The second digit would be a 6 for the 359.. Any other year engine starts with a different letter and while the other engines would bolt in and be perfectly serviceable, in 54 nothing but the 359 would be correct in that car.




On the paint colors, is that U and L an actual code or just stand for upper and lower? As I recall, in 54 models unless it has been damaged or fallen off the paint and trim codes are found written or printed on a paper label on one side of the glove drawer or sometimes in the back. Packard would often do special colors and combos if a customer wanted to pay for it and styling approved but usually there was a special code designation or even nothing written in the paint code location. Any chance the light brown or mocha color is actually a very dirty and possibly oxidized Matador Maroon? Here is a list of the standard 54 colors and codes. A couple of more colors and combinations were added around midway in production.

Would ballpark 15-20k value for nice interior, non running but turns over, needs exterior work, negligible rust.

Quote:

These Caribbeans were not really fully built by or at Packard. They were done by Mitchell-Bentley Corp. FOR Packard. M-B had certain limitations and practices. So.

In order to keep guessing to a minimum, the absolute best thing to do is to take and post photos. The more, the better. Be sure to take pics of the serial plate in the driver's door jamb.

Brown is certainly not a color for the original top fabric.

Again, let's see photos. And take clear photos of any labels on the right-hand side of the pull-out glove box drawer.

G'day Atltee,
to PackardInfo.

If you purchase this '54 Caribbean I invite you to include it in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

I say buy it, spend ridiculous amounts of time, money, and energy on it, and have an amazing car! One day I hope a 53 Caribbean will come my way!

All,

Thanks for the information. Very helpful.
I will gather some photos I have taken.

Atltee.

Atltee

In response to a couple of your original questions.

Packard used many parts on all models, and while I didn't check, I don't think you'll have an issue finding a grill. You can use the "Factory Parts List" on the left, or the Parts Book in the "Literature Archive" also on the left, to find the part number of your grill, or nearly any part, and see what other cars it was used on.

Value is always hard. I have a '53 Cavalier, and even though I do virtually all the work to it myself, I would have a hard time getting the money I've invested into it for parts and materials back out again. Especially in Canada where the Packard Brand is not as well known and revered as it is in the USA.

The Hagerty valuation tool currently lists the following for a 54 Caribbean.
$29,400 Fair Condition
$61,400 Good Condition
$87,400 Excellent Condition
$95,400 Concours Condition

Probably your original investment is less of a financial concern than what you plan to do with the car, but of course the better the deal the more resources you have for restoration work.

Post some pictures when you get a chance!

I love the 53 and 54 Caribbeans, they are gorgeous cars! I'm a little partial to the 53, primarily because of the fully cut-out rear wheel housing, and I prefer the single colour paint of the 53.

If I had the space, the time and the money, this is a car I would have a great time doing a frame-off restoration.

If you do decide to buy and restore this 54 Caribbean, I would suggest keeping it as original as possible. I think, for the most part, Packard enthusiasts appreciate a car that doesn't have modifications................they don't make the car "better." I must admit I've become a bit of a factory original freak with my Cavalier, which is just a driver, not a show car. Little by little I change screws, hose clamps and nearly whatever I can see that isn't factory correct.

Yes there are very few non-factory modifications that won't hurt value. Not that everything has to be concours quality but it should be repaired in a comparable way to when it was new ish.

Main counterexample I can think of is the Olds oil pump + Tbird fuel pump on the V8 cars.

Two that don't change value too much are a non numbers matching but correct drivetrain and an alternator charging system. That's about it.

The 54 Caribbean grille is the same as any senior Packard for 1953 and 1954. The Clipper Grilles are the same also except without the two trim pieces ("teeth") on the center bar which can easily be added. So any good grille you find from any model 53 or 54 would work.