Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

How about using the Continental and Chrysler trunk styling on a Packard? This would give the continental impression without adding any length.

(o{}o)

Hi

The reason continental kits don't aesthetically work on the '55-'56 models is the tailight-bumper ends are an integrated design, much like the'56 Lincoln is. Separating the elements destroys the visual unity.

Steve

This is 'Murica, if someone wants to do it they will.

Had been envisioning a dream '56, monocolored with 5 inches added to front axle/hood, rear overhang and hardtop coupe's roof, all married to Patrician doors. Thanks to AL's thought-provoking discussion am including a rear mount. But as Steve says, this is not a match made in heaven. Careful melding would be needed to match the spare's cradle to the bumper, which itself would need a middle section cut out. Whether/how to work in a Teague classic grill, that's the next step.

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Those aftermarket kits don't look good on any car.

The idea of a four door Caribbean isn't completely new, as the Esquire shows. I understand that they were a dealer installation (without factory support, I guess). There were 2- and 4-doors.

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For those not aware, the Esquire was a project of a dealer, DuBois Motors down in MD. There are some posts on here with a bit of history and some photos which you can find by searching. An interview with Mr. DuBois in his later years appeared in an old issue of The Packard Cormorant. The once pictured below doesn't use a Caribbean hood though many did. IIRC there were about 25 of them made.

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That image shows the somewhat tucked-in decklid relative to rear fenders, not nearly as much as the '40 Continental but enough to justify exploration of a tightly packaged rear mount that doesn't pull the bumper out. Circle/vee would look good on the spare's metal cover.