1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible Concours Restoration

************************NO RESERVE $65,000.00 Own's it***************************
Hello Everyone,
It's with deep regret I have decided to sell(health) my beautifully restored 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible 1 of 500 made and Car#105 with 49K 1 previous owner original mile's. The Motor, Trans and Rear are all original and number's matching. This Caribbean was bought in 2013 from the elderly Daughter of the original Owner who passed away in 1971 and had not been out of the garage since then. Although the Packard was 100% complete and ran, it needed, deserved and received a proper frame off restoration which I started immediately. I spent year's prior to and since collecting/purchasing as many NOS Packard part's as possible which was beyond challenging and expensive. Since the age of 12, I always wanted a 55 Caribbean and restored to as perfect as possible however Life sometime's can get in the way. Ive been around Packard's most of my Life and seen most... this is the 55 Caribbean to have!
This Packard Caribbean has been professionally and properly restored to Concours Quality with over 1,300 hour's of a nut and bolt high end restoration. The vehicle was completely photographed(2,000 pics) to ensure it was restored exactly how it was built from the factory. This is and will be one of the nicest and most correct 1955 Packard Caribbean's on the Planet after the restoration is completed.
The restoration started using 2 Rotisserie's(1 for Body-1 for Chassis) and the following......
Body: completely dismantled, bagged and all sent to Media Blasting followed by Epoxy Priming and body work started. PPG Deltron Base/Clear, Camera used to get exact code's of all 3 color's. Body and Frame was $32K alone!!!! Straight as a Pin!!! Yes, I would have preferred to use Nitrocellulose Lacquer however it is outlawed and not available.
Frame: Completely dismantled, bagged and all sent to Media Blasting followed by Epoxy Priming. Every nut and bolt including ALL Torsion Suspension was completely dismantled and replaced with all NOS Packard Part's including Torsion Motor. The Frame, on the Rotisserie, was completely painted in the Spray Booth and Baked using a single stage frame Gloss Black. Yes, this Caribbean had Gloss Black with Paint Marking's still visible and rust free.
Suspension: All Suspension Part's were completely dismantled, blasted, and painted in the Spray Booth with the Frame using the same PPG Paint. The front suspension was completely rebuilt with all NOS Packard Part's except Rubber Part's which were supplied by Steele-Rubber Parts Inc and or RARE Part's Inc(USA Made). The Torsion Suspension was re-loaded professionally.
Rear: The stock Rear End was completely dismantled, blasted, washed, Painted in the Booth along with Frame and Susp. The Rear was completely rebuilt professionally with all NOS part's including the Center Section... Yes, The Gear's/Pinion, Limited Slip, Bearing's etc are ALL NOS.. not rebuilt used.
Motor: The RUNNING number's matching original 352 was completely dismantled and completely rebuilt using ALL NOS Packard Part's except Block, Heads, Crank, Intake and of course All Gasket's. The Motor was Professionally rebuilt and placed on a Dyno to properly break-in the Engine and for Tuning purpose's only. The Motor run's incredible! There is over $10K alone with NOS Part's and Rebuilding of the Engine invested!!!!
Transmission: The original Ultra Matic was completely dismantled and rebuilt using all NOS Part's by Packard Guru Ross Miller along with the Converter. Ross also rebuilt the Steering Box, PS Pump, PS Pwr Assist Cylinder, and several other part's. The Tranny alone was over $3,300 with the NOS Parts and Labor.
Glass: The Glass has all been replaced with brand new original style Laminate with correct Marking's and Tint. The front windshield was custom made the same as the side Glass using my original as a template. Over $1,500 in glass alone.
Chrome: 98% of all the Chrome is NOS... I did not want pitted junk re-chromed... even the Grill is NOS! The Triple Nichol Plated Chrome cost $24K and is lifetime Warranted!!!! All of the Chrome is done and ready to install!!! All Tail&Signal Light w/Housing's, HL Bezel's, Reynolds Wrap, are NOS!!! Not re-chromed! Even the Windshield Header Panel was removed and Chromed.. re-installed and Leaded!!!!
Stainless Steel: Almost all of the SS like the Chrome is NOS... again.. I did not want dinged, dented and or bent SS repaired... I had it all re-polished... $4,200
Wheels&Tire's: All 5 original "Motor Wheel" Wire Wheel's have been completely restored by Dayton Wire Wheel and brand new Bias Ply Tire's mounted and balanced. $6K
Electronics's/Wiring: All Wiring Harnesses were sent out and professionally and correctly duplicated exactly as original by YNZ Wiring in California($3K). All of the electrical part's have been rebuilt like the Power Antenna's, original Radio has been been converted to a AM/FM Stereo and all chrome done(prof done no visible modification's). All of the Dash SS&Chrome is also done, etc. The Starter, Torsion Motor and Generator are NOS...not rebuilt.
Brakes: All Drum's, Lining's, Hardware etc is NOS. The Master Cylinder is beautifully rebuilt by Ed Strain, OEM Brake and Fuel Line's, etc. All done and ready!!!
Exhaust: All custom made off my original in SS. Ready to install. The Exhaust should be OEM Steel not SS however I ordered it incorrectly. This was $1,340.00.
Hardware: Most of the original Hardware has been Cadmium Plated silver or Gold depending on what the book advised me. there is SS Hardware that was made exactly as the original. Lot's of phone call's(Thank you Brian) and money spent.
The List goes on and on.....
Ok, the Caribbean need's the following to complete.......
General assemble of Chrome, Light's, SS Trim, etc
Interior... I have the supplier for correct Leather and Color. The Seat Frame's are all blasted and painted.
Dash(painted already) reassembled and installed along with Column. Steering Wheel restored
Brake's installed as well as the Master Cylinder. All Brake Line's are installed and ready.
Convertible Top installed. The Frame need's to be painted first.
All Glass installed with Motor's.
Carb's, Linkage, Fan, Oil Canister, Genny, Wiper Motor(NOS), etc on Motor&F.Wall installed
Wiring Harness Installed.
Bumper's installed
Sway Bar's installed
Radiator

Although minor, there will be more odd's and end's I'm sure. 90% of the expensive hard work has been done and although the car need's that last push, it is close.
Please know that besides the heartbreaking fact of selling this beautiful car, I have well over $118K invested and 8 year's getting it to this point. I am offering someone a huge financial break and the chance to avoid the Restoration nightmare's of waiting year's and relying on ANYONE to for-fill a dream of owning this rare and absolutely award winning 55 Packard Caribbean. I have walk around vid's(unable to upload), over 1,800 pic's of the resto and can take any pic or vid you would like. I also will include original NJ Registration's from 1956-60, 65-69 from original Owner. If you have any question's about the Caribbean please feel free to message me.
Forgive me however this need's to be mentioned.......Please have all Spouse permission's, Loan's approved, your Car sold and Cash in Hand prior to contacting me to avoid wasting each other's time. No, not interested in Trade's, donating to Museum's or payment plan's. The VIN on this Ad is purposely incorrect to avoid the Listing Scam's that go on. Yes, this is Caribbean#105! Shipping is the responsibility of the Buyer however I will assist in arrangement's as well as packing all part's safely for transport. If you would like to come see the car, I encourage it, prior to the auction please contact me no worries. You can not duplicate this type of show quality work for the posted price as it would double plus the year's it would take to complete!!!!! My loss is your gain!!
Thank you for taking time to read my ad and good luck on bidding!!
Also Included with Sale:


The Original Service and Part's Manual's will be INCLUDED in the sale.

I have researched and found the correct Distributor for the Leather Seat and Vinyl for Door Panel material's which will be given to the Buyer.

98% of Part's not seen mounted to the Exterior/Motor/Dash/Underside of the Caribbean are in Boxes NOS and or original restored and ready to bolt on.
Again, any question's please feel free to contact me.. Thank you All!