In the early decades of the automobile the name Packard enjoyed a prestigious place among American manufacturers. Known for their luxurious appointments and technical innovations, Packard models provided a motoring experience that rivaled anything from any of Detroit’s premium marques. When World War II broke out, Packard, like its competitors, shifted its production capacity to support the war effort, building Merlin and Liberty V-12 engines by the tens of thousands. Following the war Packard, like the rest of Detroit, sought to capitalize on the booming car market driven by returning G.I.s, but its model lineup lacked the modern flair of its principal rivals Cadillac and Lincoln. To remedy that Packard directed engineers to develop Packard’s own in-house fully automatic transmission—the Ultramatic—to compete with Cadillac’s Hydramatic, while designers were tasked with updating Packard’s line. Packard’s new young president James Nance developed a new halo model, a limited edition convertible, was introduced in 1953 with bespoke styling and powered by Packard’s most powerful Straight Eight engine backed by the Ultramatic. Christened the Caribbean it was an instant success.
For 1954 the Caribbean returned with even more power, squeezing 212hp from its 359 cubic inch engine in what would be the final year for the classic Straight Eight engine. Revised rear quarters now featured semi-enclosed wheel arches, and two-tone paint was now available. Inside a host of luxury features were offered, including power steering, power brakes, power windows, and leather-upholstered power-adjustable seats. 1954 would also be the rarest of the Caribbean’s four-year run—with just 400 examples of the limited edition, making it among the most sought after by collectors.
Staying true to the stylish sophistication of Packard’s flagship, Classic One Forty Three presents our lovely 1954 Packard Caribbean in Red with Sahara Sand (White) and a white soft top as our first club's release. This precision 1:43 scale replica will be limited to 150 pieces to assure lasting collector value even as it commemorates one of Packard’s most exciting and memorable models.