Packard Forum Index » Studebaker Built Packards (1957 - 58)

What a shame,

Has anyone ever seen this P.H.? Saw the photo on a rat rod forum.

jburtphotos.com/images/ggkc107.jpg

Mike O'Handley
Kenmore, Washington
hausdok@msn.com

Mike, a lemon squeezer would be a suitable radiator mascot.

I know this going to sound like treason, but except for the Packard lettering and of course the garish color, I kind of like it. It comes close to the statemnt I have always adhered to, that if Studebaker had made a convertible out of the Loewey designs we might still be buying them. They were some of the best looking cars on the road.

ALK

Doesn't really look like anything fatally irreversible with some dedicated craftsmanship. I wonder if the roof was shot and they just decided to go ahead and cut it out. Couldn't be good for the integrity of the body and chassis unless they did other major mods.

AL, I think that's why the convertibles never surfaced... how much reinforcement would've been necessary, and how heavy would the result have been?

....I think that's why the convertibles never surfaced... how much reinforcement would've been necessary, and how heavy would the result have been?


Something I never understood either. Good styling but then they coupled the coupes with a fairly weak and flexing frame. I had read Loewy group et al was all about keeping it light and low but maybe they went too far. Much as I like the 62-4 Gran Turismo Hawks, they still had the reputation of cracks. The sedan frames were comparatively robust. Believe the sedan frame was the basic starting point and just minor mods for the Larks and Avanti & used till the end.

The link below points to an article about a '53 convertible built by a (former) Studebaker employee - with proper reinforcement.....

hemmings.com/hcc/stories/2006/08/01/hmn_feature8.html

Given the example of that '53, is anyone working on a '58 Caribbean?

Why would anyone do that to a Studebaker?

There is a Packard Hawk convertible in the Packard Museum in Dayton, Ohio. Supposedly some sort of factory experiment (not sure about the documentation). As you can imagine, the car's design is meant to be a coupe. Turning it into a convertible makes it looks like the dog's lunch during a bout with stomach indigestion.

Yes... someone is working on a 58 Caribbean--at least in their twisted mind! Please see link below. I apologize for the colors which somehow got way off after I scanned this relic. But most of you Packard boys have Dover White/Roman Copper/Danube blue memorized. Actually, in the more accurate parlance of SP's paint colors in 1958, the scheme would be:

"Parchment White"
"Waterfall Blue"
"Canyon Copper Poly"

This would be a very easy transformation (it already has a "hood scoop" on the hood!),and the standard fabric of the hardtop was quite similar to the woven upholstery on the 56 Caribbean. With some changes in the leather bolsters in a combination of coordinated blues and off-whites, the interior could be stunning and a suitable continuation of the Caribbean design intent.

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