1955 Packard Caribbean

Offered by Mecum | Kissimmee, Florida | January 6, 2023

Photo – Mecum

Tasty. And not just because of the dessert-y paint job. The Caribbean (or “Carribean” as Mecum calls it) was the sort of halo car for Packard from 1953 through 1956. The models were restyled for 1955 (which carried over to ’56), and looked just like this. Convertibles were the only body style offered for three of the years, and a hardtop joined for the final model year.

Two-tone paint was an option in 1954, and two- and three-tone paint jobs were offered in 1955 and 1956. It’s an iconic look. The 1955 Packard Caribbean is one of the most slyly iconic and fantastic American cars of the 1950s.

Just 500 were built for 1955, all of which were powered by a 275-horsepower, 5.8-liter V8. This one was restored 30 years ago, and you can read more about it here.

Update: Not sold.

1963 Falcon Caribbean

Offered by H&H Auctions | Buxton, U.K. | July 23, 2014

Photo – H&H Auctions

Peter Pellandine was involved in the design and manufacture of three separate automobile marques: Pelland/Pellandine, Ashley, and Falcon. The latter two were British special (or kit car) constructors. Essentially, the company built bodies to replace the less sporty bodies that their customers’ cars originally came with.

Pellandine founded Falcon Shells after he left Ashley Laminates in 1956. The company produced fiberglass cars – seven different models in all. The Caribbean was manufactured in kit (body-only) form between 1959 and 1963 with more than 2,000 sold. They were designed to fit on the pre-war chassis of the British Ford Ten. I’m unsure as to the chassis of this car, but the engine is a 1.3-liter straight-four.

The Caribbean was Falcon’s most popular model and it would be a fun, easy-to-maintain, and cheap-to-buy starter collector car. This one should sell for between $10,300-$13,700. Click here for more info and here for the rest of H&H’s Pavilion Gardens lineup.

Update: Not sold.