180 hp, 327 cu. in. L-head inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed column-shift transmission, independent front suspension with coil springs, semi-elliptic rear springs with live axle rear suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 122 in.

• Two owners from new with only 44,000 miles

• One of only 750 Caribbean convertibles built in 1953

Packard tooled up for a $15 million redesign in 1948, and the result was the 22nd and 23rd Series. Unkindly called the “inverted bathtub”, this shape lingered until 1951, when it was replaced by the much more conventional 24th Series, with a “three box” full-width design, such as GM had introduced in 1949. Sales rebounded to 100,000 in the first year, and the new car was seen to represent the old company’s virtues of conservative quality and durability.

The 1953 Packard Caribbean was based on Packard’s 1952 show car, the Pan American convertible. A Cavalier body was modified by the Mitchell-Bentley Corporation of Ionia, Michigan, which removed all the side trim and added heavy chrome wheel surround moldings.

The hood received a full-width scoop, the taillights were horizontal in “fishtail” rear fenders, and the cars were fitted with chrome wire wheels, including a continental spare tire. The Caribbean was available in four colors: Polaris Blue, Gulf Green metallic, Matador Red metallic and Sahara Sand. It had a full leather interior and was powered by the 180 horsepower, 327 cubic inch straight-eight. At $5,210, only 750 were built.

This Packard is a beautiful car having spent most of its life with the wife of the Packard dealer in Knoxville, Tennessee. It has only 44,000 original miles on the speedometer, as it spent the last 40 years covered in the basement of the dealer’s family home. Purchased seven years ago by its second owner, Harold Coker, he carefully restored the car including a new top and paint. Mechanically sorted, the Caribbean starts easily and rides wonderfully as it glides down the road with new wide whitewall tires.