1955' Packard Caribbean

1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible---NEW OFFER as of 1 NOV, I have improved the car and the price, in order to sell by Thanks giving,… please read new ad.

CAR IMPROVEMENTS, I have installed many of the parts seen in this ads’ pictures and had my mechanic and start it. This car, runs absolutely great and very smooth, just like the new rebuilt motor I was told it was. There is now a small leak from the water pump weep hole, but I have a new water for you in the extra parts, see pictures. I was also informed by my mechanic, “The rear wheels do turned forward in ”drive”, and backwards when put in “reverse,” which means the transmission works also. I previously indicated only that “I believed” the previous owner and what my eyes told me, “The drive train was completely rebuilt and virtually new through their restoring”. This car has been registered in Scottsdale Arizona since 12 AUG 1982 with 24,967 box “B” (over 100k miles). It is now marked Box “C”(unknown miles) because they had the speedometer reconditioned, and professionally set to zero during their restoration, after driving it approximately 25k miles, for a few years. Then they stripped it down in their home enclosed garage, to start their father and son complete restoration project. They sent almost everything out to be glass beaded, re-chromed, professionally polished, some of the larger electrical components refurbished and started ordering all new parts and had the drive train completely rebuilt. The son moved away about 5 years later, while dad still worked on it, keeping everything boxed up as he needed it. Many of the new parts and chrome “which seems to be everything” was wrapped in plastic and then padded with 1990 Phoenix newspaper. The son sold the car to me almost a year ago, when emptying parents’ home, from their parents passing. This convertible, was originally white, green, and light green and absolutely gorgeous, as seen in these old polaroid pictures.

The parts currently in the loose parts pictures, but now are installed to the car, are, --a silver air canister; one of the large glass jar assemblies; the battery holder; and a large black metal air tube (approximately 5 inches in diameter by 3 feet long) with the flex sleeve that runs under the battery holder. All of these are mounted in the inside of the engine compartment, on the drives inside fender area. The windshield wiper motor is now mounted to the center top of the fire wall, and the air cleaner assembly to the carburetors. The dash, with a few the not-so nice levers/switches for this ad’s esthetic value (Please note, there is an extra center- instrument-cluster-body pictured, on a table and the glove box cover door and hinges. The box behind the glove box door is not behind it and I may not have? I was very thorough when I took the pictures. I carefully cleaned, neatly wrapped and packaged each picture group, in its own box and then labeled them one at a time as I progressed through everything. Please look closely at the pictures, there is a lot of information, a lot of extra parts, most which are done and ready to go. What may appear to be missing,..maybe missing, please look. Other items installed to the car which should no longer be in the pictures of extras, are, --one of the gas filler cover and the 2 rear wheel body covers. There is an extra new/reconditioned radiator, transmission gears I believe?, a generator, starter, and a water pump which are pictured. They are extra parts you get, and where not installed. I believe the previous owner bought many new parts. I also believe he saved and reconditioned important parts from a 55 Packard Custom parts car he had laying around with a bad transmission. This is where the additional 1955 352 motor with accessories, came from, and is included with the car if you wish it. I was told it was a good engine, being the reason they saved it all these years, however I did notice, some water inside it, probably from being left outside. For both motors, I removed the spark plug and check the cylinder holes for foreign objects, then I put a table spoon or 2 of transmission fluid in each cylinder to soak for several days, then I turn the motor by hand slowly several times over several days before starting it, adding a little transmission fluid each time. This is how I try to protect the rings and cylinder walls, and how I know the piston heads appear to be brand new in the convertible only, also the points and the spark plugs appeared new. I had to replace the spark plug wires. They both turned over nicely with the plugs out and difficult to turn over with the plugs in,..which is exactly what I wish for. The extra motor, I did not start of.
I also just received the original hub caps that came with the car and have 2 spare tires & rims which are not pictured. Please notice there are a complete set of up-graded wire wheels in “excellent condition”.
I took some underneath pictures, please notice how nice all the metal edges are throughout. My mechanic was unable to let me spray off the 30 plus years of dirt, and to take better pictures of the underneath as previously thought. I lifted the rear tires a foot off of the ground for the pictures you see. In my previous ad, I disclosed that I found one very small spot of rust on the drivers inside fender (which was less than 3 square inches) where it bolted to the frame—this was repaired by grafting the same small piece off of another fender, having it properly prepared, fitted, and the “weld only” was carefully ground for the work to be unnoticeable. I put one very light coat to protect the bare metal, but that’s it. I have not covered anything up, anywhere. I found another small spot of rust infront of the passenger rear tire which should be easy for the painters which is pictured. I also cleaned, most of the inside of the front fenders so I could show off the original green paint inside them, and the pristine, crisp, metal edges are throughout them. The Brake pads, ball joints, bushings, also appear to be new, the wire harness installed was defiantly new, having most all of the little number tags by each of the newly looking ends. This is a huge time saver. The gas tank appeared professionally vatted and treated, never used until recently, when I rinsed it out with gas, then added another 4 gallons (with some additive) for the mechanic.

The upholstery appears to be all there, but needs to be redone, to include the card board backing on the door panels. There appears to be extra brand new metal for the interior door panel bottoms and the current ones are still in very nice condition, please see pictures. There is also an extra rear seat pictured, I saved from the 55 Custom Clipper parts car, because it had an arm rest in the middle, and curious if maybe a possible upgrade for this one?
There appears to be one complete set of all brand new, freshly plated, and or polished exterior trim pieces. The gold and chrome emblems, dash metal trim pieces, bumpers, knobs, look extremely brand new they are gorgeous. The other extra set is in very good shape, re-cleaned and re-wrapped for safe transport and storage. Please notice, I first took 1 picture of all the metal trim work, interior and exterior, to show I have almost 2 sets. 1 set appears to be brand new or professionally polished items, and the other set only cleaned very nicely. I wanted you to know there where 2 sets and “not” before and after pictures. I then took smaller batches of pictures to show detail and how they were packaged for easier location. There are pictures with a lot of new polished and new chrome trim on 3 large tables covered with rosin-paper to the left; they appear to be all brand new, or freshly re-chromed. There are a couple minor imperfections on 2 pieces on the table with “all new chrome “,…I now wish i made signs for the tables, but you can tell if you look close. The very large burgundy table are very good used trim pieces, which appear only to be cleaned and shined. Both front grills have not been reconditioned. One grill has a small dent, and the other extra grill has a small crack. I took up-close pictures, which makes them appear much worse, than they are in person. The pictured bumpers, -- The ones on top are brand new/re-chromed, complete, and absolutely gorgeous. The bumpers on the floor are just cleaned and in good shape, except the skinny lower front bumper which is junk. There are also many sorted out bags, of new or freshly glass beaded, nuts, bolts, clips with some brand new large rubber seals. Also found, a $400 receipt (pictured) dated July 1990, with a cute hand-typed instruction paper (with white
out ) for the reconditioned radio, and maybe the vacuum-tube speaker as it also appears reconditioned? Please look carefully at all the pictures, they seem small compared to how much is there, most are done and ready to go.

Some of the clear plastic lenses should be replaced and I would probably redo one of the replated rear tail light chrome cover marked “light bubbles”, the other tail light cover is great, the extra 2 tail light covers needs work. One of the door glass has chipping on one side and the 11”x5.5” small wing windows has many separation bubbles at outer edges in the laminate. However, it comes with a “brand-new and tinted” windshield, as shown.

This car, very straight and solid. All the doors, hood and trunk open and close excellently. Almost Everything is Brand New, cleaned, organized and just about ready for the painters’ who I would have put all the exterior metal trim work on for me, after wetsanding/buffing and upholsterers can do the inside and top. I believe this car perfect for a highly detailed someone wanting a truly very rare, show quality convertible, they can drive and show off; without having to strip a good one down, starting over from scratch, sending everything out to be redone, and then dealing with a lot of surprises. Or maybe you just want to own it and stored away, for another day? The amount of new chrome and gold plating is amazing; it comes with many extra parts which appear to be extremely valuable. Most everything is already clean and packaged nicely for transport and storage. I was very excited to do it at first, because I have never done a Packard, and this one being one of the most desirable and beautiful of them all. The
factory dual carburetors are also very cool. I was very excited, but somethings recently changed for me and I just don’t have the time, or the heart anymore. I am downsizing and have other wishes now. Yes,.. there is still a lot of work to be done, but I also believe the investment will be very, very worth it. Both in money invested, and the pride of ownership on something so very rare and nice,…if finished correctly. I do feel very good about everything, and what I was told, is true. The attention to detail for so many small different aspects is very good, and it does appear the previous owners were in love and were trying to make it brand new again. Please see http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Events/Event/Details/1955-PACKARD-CARIBBEAN-CONVERTIBLE-189381. I saw this beautiful car last year at “Barrett Jackson 2016” of this featured car which “appears” to have the exact options as mine with the wire-spoke rims I have pictured with the parts. I believe it sold for $132K, plus 10% buyers fee, and maybe a couple other associated costs? I also heard from 2 different friends that another 55 Packard Convertible also sold recently, for more than $200K, but I have not looked for it yet.

I am reducing the price $17,500, to a new price of $67,500, and I will also accept best offer requests and probably accept the highest offer received by Thanks Giving, 24 Nov 16, if original asking price is not obtained. Please let me know if you are interested, and what you think. Maybe this can be your very special Holiday present? Thank you for your interest, and please call if I can help further? 6