374 cu. in. overhead valve V-8 with twin four-barrel carburetors, Ultramatic push-button automatic transmission, front and rear torsion bar self-leveling suspension and power assisted four-wheel drum brakes. Wheelbase: 127"

- One of only 16 air-conditioned examples built

- AACA First Junior award recipient

- Class winner at Greenwich, Radnor Hunt and Meadow Brook Concours

The Packard Caribbean was the halo vehicle for the marque and certainly its swan song. A year after Chrysler introduced the 300 horsepower C-300, Packard upped the horsepower on its flagship from 275 to 310. In its last year of production there were 276 Caribbean convertibles built, but only 16 were equipped with air conditioning like the example offered here.

Early on in his decade-long ownership, the current owner began a comprehensive ground-up restoration that was completed in the mid-2000s. The mechanical and electrical systems were overhauled, including an engine rebuild. The sheet metal was found to be extremely solid, and no patching was required. At a cost of $25,000, every piece of trim was chromed and gold emblems and badges were anodized. The underside, wheel wells and engine bay were correctly painted and detailed to factory standards and display just as nicely as the exterior. The trunk contains a full matching wire spare and correct materials. Aside from the rare factory air conditioning, options include radio, heater, padded dash, dual power antennas, fender skirts, Ultramatic push-button automatic transmission and wire wheels with whitewall tires.

The finish is a beautiful triple Black in the spirit of the one example that was liveried this way from the factory. The Black top is made from the correct Haartz cloth and the Black leather interior is set off by Pumpkin accents and Gold Metallic dash finish. The inside of the reversible seat covers is Black with brocade side trim. Since completion of the three-year restoration, this 1956 Packard Caribbean convertible has been displayed at Hershey where it was awarded a First Junior badge and has taken home class wins from the Greenwich, Meadow Brook and Radnor Hunt Concours. Vetted and honored, it is ready to be coveted by its next discerning owner.