Being offered by Parker’s Packards

Coachwork by Mitchell-Bentley / Ionia Manufacturing

• VIN No.: 5478 2152
• Car No.:  2152 (Car #152 of 400 Produced)
• Engine No.: M601320
• Body Style: Convertible
• Production: One of 400 built for 1954 (Car #152)
• Offered at: Available Upon Request

HIGHLIGHTS

• Rare Coachbuilt Motoring: Number 152 of a mere 400 Caribbean Convertibles built for the final year of outsourced Mitchell-Bentley production.
• Masterwork Restoration: The culmination of an exhaustive, 21-year authentic restoration completed in 2023 by premier marque specialist Parker Roaf of Parker’s Packards.
• Concours Pedigree:
  • 2026 Packard National Meet — Best in Class & Best in Show
  • 2025 Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance— Eisenhower Award
  • 2025 Hilton Head Concours d’Elegance — 1st in Class
  • 2024 Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) — Junior & Senior National Award Winner
  • 2024 Moda Miami Concours — 2nd in Class
  • 2023 Audrain Concours d’Elegance — 1st in Class
• Stunning Period Colorway: Presented in its factory-correct, two-tone livery of Sahara Sand and Gulf Green Metallic over a hand-tailored leather interior.
• Fully Optioned & Sorted: Equipped with Packard’s top-tier 359 cu. in. straight-eight engine, Ultramatic transmission, power options throughout, and signature Continental kit.

THE PACKARD CARIBBEAN: AN AMERICAN ICON

By the early 1950s, Detroit was engaged in a fierce war of prestige. Packard’s answer to the rising luxury personal touring segment was born from the imagination of visionary designer Richard Arbib, whose six 1952 Pan American concept cars captivated the motoring public. Tasked with translating this bold vision into a limited-production flagship, Packard Chief Designer Dick Teague refined the design, adding deep-set wheel arches, a prominent faux hood scoop, and sweeping chrome side trim.

To execute this low-volume, handcrafted triumph, Packard contracted Mitchell-Bentley / Ionia Manufacturing to perform custom coachwork modifications on standard Convertible bodies. Most notably, Mitchell-Bentley extended the rear quarter panels by eight inches to seamlessly integrate a factory Continental spare tire kit, giving the car its long, low, and unmistakable silhouette.

For 1954, the Caribbean reached the zenith of its exclusivity. At a astronomical retail price of $6,100—when a standard Ford cost less than a third of that—just 400 fully optioned units were assembled. High production costs forced Packard to bring all manufacturing back in-house for 1955 and 1956, making the 1954 models the absolute final chapter in the storied era of outsourced, coachbuilt Packards:

• 1953 Production: 750 units ($5,200 base price)
• 1954 Production: 400 units ($6,100 base price — The Final Coachbuilt Year)

CAR #152: RESTORATION & PROVENANCE

Car #152 represents an unrepeatable opportunity to acquire what is undoubtedly one of the finest, most meticulously researched 1954 Caribbeans in existence.

Spanning an astonishing 21 years and completed in 2023, the body-off-frame restoration was executed by renowned Packard historian and restorer Parker Roaf of Parker’s Packards. Every single assembly, mechanical component, trim piece, and hardware element was exhaustively cataloged, refurbished, or sourced to exact factory specifications.

The bodywork is laser-straight, finished in the devastatingly attractive period combination of Sahara Sand complemented by Gulf Green Metallic flanks. The chrome and brightwork—of which the 1954 Caribbean boasts an extraordinary amount—features a mirror finish. Inside, the cabin features correct, high-grade leather upholstery, a fully restored dashboard with jewel-like instrumentation, correct power top mechanics, and every factory option.

Under the hood sits Packard’s legendary 359 cubic-inch L-head inline eight-cylinder engine—the highest displacement engine offered by Packard—fitted with its original-style aluminum cylinder head and four-barrel carburetor, mated to a smooth-shifting Ultramatic transmission.

SUMMARY

Offered complete with historical documentation and restoration records, Car #152 is fully sorted, mechanically turn-key, and concours-ready. Whether intended for the world’s most exclusive lawns, high-level luxury touring, or as the centerpiece of a world-class collection of post-war American landmarks, this restoration stands at the absolute pinnacle of the marque.

Inquire today for pricing and private viewing details. Contact Parker at 774-578-0873 or parker.roaf@parkerspackards.com