1953 Packard Caribbean

This 1953 Packard Caribbean convertible is one of 750 examples produced for the model year and underwent a body on restoration in 2014. Finished in Matador Maroon over maroon and white leather, the car is powered by a 327ci inline-eight that breathes through a Carter four-barrel carburetor and is mated to a two-speed Ultramatic automatic transmission. Additional features include power-assisted drum brakes, power steering, a Continental-style spare tire, a hydraulically assisted white convertible top, and a push-button AM radio. This Caribbean was purchased by its current owner in 2022 and is now offered with owners manuals, invoices dating back to 2019, and a custom car cover. The Caribbean was based on the Pan-American concept car of 1952. Packard 2631 Series bodies were sent from Detroit to the Mitchell-Bentley Corporation of Ionia, Michigan, for modifications including a hood scoop, chrome beltline and rocker trim, quad horizontal taillights with fishtail rear fender treatments, a Continental-style spare wheel in a body-color cover, and enlarged wheel openings with chrome trim and 1953-model-year-only radiused rear wheel arches. This example is finished in Matador Maroon and benefitted from an award-winning restoration in 2014. Features include chrome bumpers, a fender-mounted antenna, dual side mirrors, and a white convertible top that is operated via a hydraulic pump that was replaced during a refresh performed in preparation for the sale. All the hydraulics work well except the driver-side window drops down over time. Also, the spare-wheel-carrier release button is included but not installed. The 15 chrome wire wheels wear Packard center caps and are mounted with General wide-whitewall tires, while a matching spare is mounted under a steel body-color cover at the rear of the car. Stopping is handled by power-assisted Easamatic four-wheel drum brakes that were refreshed between 2019 and 2020 with work including a rebuild of the Treadlvac unit and replacement of the rear wheel cylinders. The cabin is trimmed in Matador Maroon and White leather over front and rear bench seats with matching trim over the door panels and rear side panels. Additional features include maroon carpeting, hydraulically operated power windows, a lockable glovebox, a heater, and a push-button radio. The heater control valve was replaced in 2021. Scratches are noted in the finish near the instrument cluster. The ivory-color two-spoke steering wheel frames an engine-turned instrument panel housing a 110-mph speedometer, gauges for fuel level and coolant temperature, and a clock. The five-digit odometer shows 53k miles, approximately 50 of which were added under current ownership. The speedometer was rebuilt in 2020, at which time the clock was repaired. The 327ci Thunderbolt straight-eight features a Carter four-barrel carburetor and was factory rated at 180 horsepower. The carburetor was rebuilt during the refresh performed between 2019 and 2020, which also included the