'53 Packard Caribbean Convertible

The Packard Caribbean was made for three years until 1956 and is significant as one of the most famous 'halo' cars made by any American manufacturer in the post-war period.

This particular Maroon-Metallic model, I'd - hazard a guess - may be one of, if not the only, one in the country. Whilst not as rare as the 1954 models - 750 produced in the calendar year, as opposed to just 400 afterwards - the Caribbean actually started as an addendum to the existing Cavalier family that Packard had just started to produce.

After the overwhelming public enthusiasm for the 1952 Pan American car that was first shown at the New York Motor Show, Dick Teague was the designer tasked with turning concept into production. With coachwork by Mitchell-Bentley, the subtle hood scoop, rear-mounted 'Continental-style' spare tyre, Kelsey-Hayes wire wheels and the defining cutout housing around the rear, the Caribbean soon became one of the most exclusive cars to own.

The initial models sport an 327ci inline-8 that produces 180bhp. The incorporation of more powerful V8 engines was to come, however the exclusivity and overall ultimate desirability of the early Caribbeans is set by virtue of Packard becoming another manufacturer to quickly disappear only a few years later. Increased competition by Chrysler and GM meant that even with a merger with Studebaker, the Detroit car landscape was beginning to take shape.

I was lucky enough to briefly talk to the owner of the car and after viewing the exquisite original paintwork, chrome detail and ivory-cream leather would be quietly confident that if this car was to ever see auction would have a reserve price well into six figures. The three-speed manual gearbox, four-wheel disc brakes and fully-optioned interior maintains that it's an exceedingly beautiful example of an already rare and classic automobile.