The Packard Caribbean is a full-sized luxury car that was made by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, during model years 1953 through 1956. Some of the Caribbean's styling was derived from the Pan American Packard show car of the previous year. Available only as a convertible from 1953 until 1955 with a hardtop model added in its final year of 1956.
Development
The domestic "Big Three" automakers were developing "quasi-custom" models.[4] Marketers at the time described them as a "sports car, which usually meant anything with a convertible top, lots of performance, a few unique styling touches, and top-of-the-line price tag.[5]
The image of Packard automobiles during the early 1950s was "perceived as stodgy and old-fashioned."[4] Packard needed a "halo car to cast a modern glow on the marque."[5]