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04/27/2009 55 Packard
1955 Packard Caribbean was 'halo' car...
If
you own a 1955 Packard Caribbean, like the one shown in the photo
above, you already know that you are one lucky dude (or ‘dudette’ as
the case may be)... for only 500 people had the privilege of purchasing
one of these classy chassis back in model year 1955.The Caribbean was never meant to sell in large numbers, as it was what manufacturers call a ‘halo’ car... one that is meant to entice people to visit dealerships to get a look at what the elite buyers will eventually drive off the showroom floor. Glamorous to the ‘nth degree’, halo cars, also feature attractions at new car shows, typically come loaded down with all the ‘whistles and bells’ that the manufacturer has to offer. Production numbers are often arrived at by targeting one vehicle for each dealership nationwide.
The fortunate few who took delivery of 1955 Packard Caribbeans enjoyed membership in a very exclusive club and also found that, wherever their journeys took them, their Caribbean turned heads, be it the local ‘shopping center’, country club or Sunday morning church.
The glitzy Caribbean was introduced for the 1953 model year as part of the Cavalier model lineup and was produced in convertible only body style until 1956 when a two door hardtop was added. 1955 saw the introduction of a new V-8 engine displacing 352 cubic inches and producing 245 horsepower. The Caribbean needed each and every one of those ponies as it weighed in at a hefty 4,755 pounds... a full 500 more than sibling coupes and sedans. The heavy weight of the Caribbean plus cushy, leather-trimmed seats and introduction of ‘Torsion Level’ suspension, resulted in a nearly unparalleled level of cruising comfort.
One automotive journalist called the 1955 Packard, “the first major restyling since 1951.” Most automotive historians, however, would question that statement... particularaly the ‘major’ reference. True... grills, side trim, etc. was all new and daringly bold compared to the sedate trim of the ‘51-’54 models, but the basic body panels remained unchanged due to budget constraints. The ‘glitz factor’ was kicked up a notch, however, with much more elaborate use of bright work from all angles, new taillights (the Caribbean and 400 hardtop having a style unique from the other models) and angled, hooded headlights with an uncanny resemblance to those Lincoln would use for their 1956 models.
The proud and once grand Packard marque was approaching retirement and 1956 would be the final year of not only the Caribbean model, but the ‘real’ Packard automobiles. Packard production ended that year at its Detroit plant and manufacturing was moved to South Bend, Indiana, home of the newly formed parent company, Studebaker-Packard. The 1957 and ‘58 Packard models were basically rebadged Studebakers.
Answers to this week’s trivia questions and more on the ‘55 Packard Caribbean, may be found at the FIN MAN’s web site at http://www.thefinman.com. You can e-mail The FIN MAN by clicking on this link: mailto://the_fin_man@msn.com.
NOTE: I would like to thank my friends at the Advance Auto Parts and Auto Zone stores in Granite City, for the products they donated to benefit Greg Chellis, April 18th at the Plantation House B&B and Party Center. Their generosity was a factor in the success of this worthy effort to help Greg who has been struggling financially due to medical disabilities. The items they donated were put into baskets for the silent auction and both resulted in spirited bidding.
‘The FIN MAN’TM is available for your group’s special occasions. In addition to his seminar schedule, he has been a guest speaker at group meetings including car clubs, engineering clubs and other professional associations. He has also acted as host or emcee at a number of special events including trivia parties, holiday parties, social and professional club events, benefits and fund raisers. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play “FINS for FUN,” the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, go to http://www.thefinman.com. We are currently accepting bookings for the remainder of calendar year 2009 and 2010.
Do you have a favorite seventies, sixties, fifties or older car... perhaps the one your grandpa drove, or the one your dad lent you to take your date to the senior prom? Tell The FIN MAN about it and he just might feature it in an upcoming story. To e-mail The FIN MANTM, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
EVENT INFO: You won’t want to miss the 5th Annual, KSHE Rock & Roll Car Show coming on Sunday, May 3rd. “No Porsches or Ferraris – just good old fashioned “American Iron” as KSHE likes to say. And, being the big, pro-American sort of guy I am, this is one of my favorite shows of the year. Registration: 7:30am till 10:30am. Judging, 11am till 3pm... show closes at 5:00pm. There is a spectator charge of $10.00 for this event, (under 16 get in free with paid adult) but it is well worth the entry fee as I found out last year when I attended for the first time. For more information, go to: www.KSHE95.com and click on the KSHE Car Show button. The event is held at GCS Ball Park; 2301 Grizzlie Bear Blvd., in Sauget, Illinois, next to Interstate 255.
The FIN MANTM is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians and the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America. At one time or another, he has held membership in the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, the DeSoto Club, the Imperial Owners Club and the Edsel Club of America. He welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions regarding the column or old cars in general. We’ll see you at the next Chuck-A-Burger cruise at the original location in St. John or the new Chuck-A-Burger in St. Charles.
The fortunate few who took delivery of 1955 Packard Caribbeans enjoyed membership in a very exclusive club and also found that, wherever their journeys took them, their Caribbean turned heads, be it the local ‘shopping center’, country club or Sunday morning church.
The glitzy Caribbean was introduced for the 1953 model year as part of the Cavalier model lineup and was produced in convertible only body style until 1956 when a two door hardtop was added. 1955 saw the introduction of a new V-8 engine displacing 352 cubic inches and producing 245 horsepower. The Caribbean needed each and every one of those ponies as it weighed in at a hefty 4,755 pounds... a full 500 more than sibling coupes and sedans. The heavy weight of the Caribbean plus cushy, leather-trimmed seats and introduction of ‘Torsion Level’ suspension, resulted in a nearly unparalleled level of cruising comfort.
One automotive journalist called the 1955 Packard, “the first major restyling since 1951.” Most automotive historians, however, would question that statement... particularaly the ‘major’ reference. True... grills, side trim, etc. was all new and daringly bold compared to the sedate trim of the ‘51-’54 models, but the basic body panels remained unchanged due to budget constraints. The ‘glitz factor’ was kicked up a notch, however, with much more elaborate use of bright work from all angles, new taillights (the Caribbean and 400 hardtop having a style unique from the other models) and angled, hooded headlights with an uncanny resemblance to those Lincoln would use for their 1956 models.
The proud and once grand Packard marque was approaching retirement and 1956 would be the final year of not only the Caribbean model, but the ‘real’ Packard automobiles. Packard production ended that year at its Detroit plant and manufacturing was moved to South Bend, Indiana, home of the newly formed parent company, Studebaker-Packard. The 1957 and ‘58 Packard models were basically rebadged Studebakers.
Answers to this week’s trivia questions and more on the ‘55 Packard Caribbean, may be found at the FIN MAN’s web site at http://www.thefinman.com. You can e-mail The FIN MAN by clicking on this link: mailto://the_fin_man@msn.com.
NOTE: I would like to thank my friends at the Advance Auto Parts and Auto Zone stores in Granite City, for the products they donated to benefit Greg Chellis, April 18th at the Plantation House B&B and Party Center. Their generosity was a factor in the success of this worthy effort to help Greg who has been struggling financially due to medical disabilities. The items they donated were put into baskets for the silent auction and both resulted in spirited bidding.
‘The FIN MAN’TM is available for your group’s special occasions. In addition to his seminar schedule, he has been a guest speaker at group meetings including car clubs, engineering clubs and other professional associations. He has also acted as host or emcee at a number of special events including trivia parties, holiday parties, social and professional club events, benefits and fund raisers. During his appearances, he presents an overview of the collector car hobby plus a detailed look at American cars from the fifties and sixties. His program includes a fascinating Power Point presentation with images of collectible automobiles and various associated nostalgia and Americana. Guests also have the opportunity to play “FINS for FUN,” the video game he produced in 1987 which inspired his nickname, in which players compete to identify the year, make and model of cars from tightly cropped photos of fins and taillights. Those who score the highest win auto-related prizes donated by supporting Fin Man sponsors. For more information, go to http://www.thefinman.com. We are currently accepting bookings for the remainder of calendar year 2009 and 2010.
Do you have a favorite seventies, sixties, fifties or older car... perhaps the one your grandpa drove, or the one your dad lent you to take your date to the senior prom? Tell The FIN MAN about it and he just might feature it in an upcoming story. To e-mail The FIN MANTM, click here > mailto:the_fin_man@msn.com.
EVENT INFO: You won’t want to miss the 5th Annual, KSHE Rock & Roll Car Show coming on Sunday, May 3rd. “No Porsches or Ferraris – just good old fashioned “American Iron” as KSHE likes to say. And, being the big, pro-American sort of guy I am, this is one of my favorite shows of the year. Registration: 7:30am till 10:30am. Judging, 11am till 3pm... show closes at 5:00pm. There is a spectator charge of $10.00 for this event, (under 16 get in free with paid adult) but it is well worth the entry fee as I found out last year when I attended for the first time. For more information, go to: www.KSHE95.com and click on the KSHE Car Show button. The event is held at GCS Ball Park; 2301 Grizzlie Bear Blvd., in Sauget, Illinois, next to Interstate 255.
The FIN MANTM is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians and the St. Louis Chapter of the Buick Club of America. At one time or another, he has held membership in the Cadillac-LaSalle Club, the DeSoto Club, the Imperial Owners Club and the Edsel Club of America. He welcomes your questions, comments and suggestions regarding the column or old cars in general. We’ll see you at the next Chuck-A-Burger cruise at the original location in St. John or the new Chuck-A-Burger in St. Charles.
Trivia Questions (answers below)
Packard V-8 Trivia Questions of the Week:
1. What was the factory suggested list price of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible?
A. $5,932.00
B. $7,995.00
C. $9,358.00
D. $10,512.00
2. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42 year old black woman was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person. Her act resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and this woman quickly became and influential icon in the national civil rights movement. What was her name?
3. Born December 30, 1928, Ellas Otha Bates became one of the most inflential rock ‘n’ roll singer, songwriter and musicians of the fifties. On November 20, 1955, he made his television debut on a popular CBS variety show during which he sang a song with the same name as the singer. What show was it and who was the singer?
4. On Spetember 24, 1955, the president of the United States suffered coronary thrombosis while vacationing in Denver. Name this president.
5. On September 10, 1955, this popular western, which began on radio, made its debut on the CBS television network. Tied with the Simpsons for longest-running, prime time televisin series made in the United States (20 years) it also earned the distinction of being the second-longest running prime time, fictional series in U.S. television history, outpaced only by Disney’s anthology television series and the Hallmark Hall of fame. What was the name of this popular TV western and who played the lead role as marshall Matt Dillon?
6. On March 15, 1955, who became Elvis Presley’s manager? Was it, A. Bob Barker; B. Colonel Harlan Sanders; C. Colonel Tom Parker or D. Texas Bruce?
7. Born February 23, 1955, this author and voice actor was became spokesman for a nationwide motel chain who’s trademarked slogan is ‘We’ll leave the light on for you.’ What was the name of the voice actor and the name of the motel chain?
8. A new steroid drug was introduced in 1955 for the treatment of arthritis and other conditions. What was its name?
1. What was the factory suggested list price of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible?
A. $5,932.00
B. $7,995.00
C. $9,358.00
D. $10,512.00
2. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42 year old black woman was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person. Her act resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and this woman quickly became and influential icon in the national civil rights movement. What was her name?
3. Born December 30, 1928, Ellas Otha Bates became one of the most inflential rock ‘n’ roll singer, songwriter and musicians of the fifties. On November 20, 1955, he made his television debut on a popular CBS variety show during which he sang a song with the same name as the singer. What show was it and who was the singer?
4. On Spetember 24, 1955, the president of the United States suffered coronary thrombosis while vacationing in Denver. Name this president.
5. On September 10, 1955, this popular western, which began on radio, made its debut on the CBS television network. Tied with the Simpsons for longest-running, prime time televisin series made in the United States (20 years) it also earned the distinction of being the second-longest running prime time, fictional series in U.S. television history, outpaced only by Disney’s anthology television series and the Hallmark Hall of fame. What was the name of this popular TV western and who played the lead role as marshall Matt Dillon?
6. On March 15, 1955, who became Elvis Presley’s manager? Was it, A. Bob Barker; B. Colonel Harlan Sanders; C. Colonel Tom Parker or D. Texas Bruce?
7. Born February 23, 1955, this author and voice actor was became spokesman for a nationwide motel chain who’s trademarked slogan is ‘We’ll leave the light on for you.’ What was the name of the voice actor and the name of the motel chain?
8. A new steroid drug was introduced in 1955 for the treatment of arthritis and other conditions. What was its name?
Trivia Answers
Packard V-8 Trivia Questions of the Week:
1. What was the factory suggested list price of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible?
Rosa Parks, who becamean internationally recognized symbol of resistance to racial segregation. (the bus driver was James Blake)
3. Born December 30, 1928, Ellas Otha Bates became one of the most inflential rock ‘n’ roll singer, songwriter and musicians of the fifties. On November 20, 1955, he made his television debut on a popular CBS variety show during which he sang a song with the same name as the singer. What show was it and who was the singer?
Unbeknownst to host Ed Sullivan, Ellas Otha Bates, a.k.a. ‘Bo Diddley,’ changed his song choice from the Tennessee Ernie Ford hit Sixteen Tons, which he was supposed to perform, to his own song, ‘Bo Diddley.' This infuriated Sullivan who, according to Bo Diddley, once claimed that he “was one of the first colored boys to ever double cross me.”
4. On Spetember 24, 1955, the president of the United States suffered coronary thrombosis while vacationing in Denver. Name this president.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
5. On September 10, 1955, this popular western, which began on radio, made its debut on the CBS television network. Tied with the Simpsons for longest-running, prime time televisin series made in the United States (20 years) it also earned the distinction of being the second-longest running prime time, fictional series in U.S. television history, outpaced only by Disney’s anthology television series and the Hallmark Hall of fame. What was the name of this popular TV western and who played the lead role as marshall Matt Dillon?
Perhaps the most popular television western of all time, running from September 10, 1955 to March 31, 1975, Gunsmoke starred James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon.
6. On March 15, 1955, who became Elvis Presley’s manager?
The hotel chain was Motel 6 and the voice was that of writer/actor Tom Bodett
8. A new steroid drug was introduced in 1955 for the treatment of arthritis and other conditions. What was its name?
The drug was Prednisone, and was touted as having fewer side effects than Cortisone.
1. What was the factory suggested list price of a 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible?
A. $5,932.002. On December 1, 1955, in Montgomery, Alabama, a 42 year old black woman was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person. Her act resulted in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and this woman quickly became and influential icon in the national civil rights movement. What was her name?
B. $7,995.00
C. $9,358.00
D. $10,512.00
Rosa Parks, who becamean internationally recognized symbol of resistance to racial segregation. (the bus driver was James Blake)
3. Born December 30, 1928, Ellas Otha Bates became one of the most inflential rock ‘n’ roll singer, songwriter and musicians of the fifties. On November 20, 1955, he made his television debut on a popular CBS variety show during which he sang a song with the same name as the singer. What show was it and who was the singer?
Unbeknownst to host Ed Sullivan, Ellas Otha Bates, a.k.a. ‘Bo Diddley,’ changed his song choice from the Tennessee Ernie Ford hit Sixteen Tons, which he was supposed to perform, to his own song, ‘Bo Diddley.' This infuriated Sullivan who, according to Bo Diddley, once claimed that he “was one of the first colored boys to ever double cross me.”
4. On Spetember 24, 1955, the president of the United States suffered coronary thrombosis while vacationing in Denver. Name this president.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
5. On September 10, 1955, this popular western, which began on radio, made its debut on the CBS television network. Tied with the Simpsons for longest-running, prime time televisin series made in the United States (20 years) it also earned the distinction of being the second-longest running prime time, fictional series in U.S. television history, outpaced only by Disney’s anthology television series and the Hallmark Hall of fame. What was the name of this popular TV western and who played the lead role as marshall Matt Dillon?
Perhaps the most popular television western of all time, running from September 10, 1955 to March 31, 1975, Gunsmoke starred James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon.
6. On March 15, 1955, who became Elvis Presley’s manager?
A. Bob Barker7. Born February 23, 1955, this author and voice actor was became spokesman for a nationwide motel chain who’s trademarked slogan is ‘We’ll leave the light on for you.’ What was the name of the voice actor and the name of the motel chain?
B. Colonel Harlan Sanders
C. Colonel Tom Parker
D. Texas Bruce
The hotel chain was Motel 6 and the voice was that of writer/actor Tom Bodett
8. A new steroid drug was introduced in 1955 for the treatment of arthritis and other conditions. What was its name?
The drug was Prednisone, and was touted as having fewer side effects than Cortisone.
Content copyright . Bruce Kunz. All rights reserved.
