Decades in a barn
Decades In A Barn: 1956 Packard Caribbean
By Scotty Gilbertson
This 1956 Packard Caribbean convertible is one regal car. Unfortunately, this one is in rough condition as you can see. It’s listed on eBay in Isanti, Minnesota where they know a thing or two about road salt and it has a $25,000 buy it now price or you can make an offer.
You can see the snow tires on the back of this Caribbean and that has to explain the rust situation. I can’t imagine driving a car like this in the winters here in Minnesota but that’s what people did, drive whatever cars they had year’round even if it meant driving an ultra-luxurious convertible in the winter. All is not lost, however. The seller says that “This car is nearly complete and in very restorable condition. Pulled from the barn of a local collector this car has not seen the weather for decades and has solid floors and frame.”
With fewer than 300 1956 Caribbean convertibles made they are very rare and as such they are quite valuable. Hagerty lists a value of a #4 fair condition car as being $47,200. This car is a long, long away from being in fair condition but they list $115,000 as a value for a #2 excellent condition car. Would it be possible to bring this car around for $75,000 in restoration costs? If so this could be a good buy.
The seller has provided a decent number of photos but only two overall photos of the exterior are included. The interior will need multiple specialists during the restoration process as these were not simple cars. The push-button transmission controls alone would probably make a NASA engineer weep let alone tracking down power window issues and other possible trouble spots.
The engine should be fairly straightforward, although it won’t be inexpensive to rebuild and restore this 310 hp 374 cubic-inch V8. In 1956 Packard offered a coupe version but value-wise the convertible is almost four times as valuable. Have any of you restored a car in similar condition to this ’56 Caribbean?
IMAGES:
image: https://barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/051418-1956-Packard-Carabbean-Convertible-3-630×354.jpg
image: https://barnfinds.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Scotty-Gilbertson_avatar_1510764136.jpg
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