Watch Jay Leno Lust Over One Of America' s Greatest Creations CarBuzz News Features New Cars Used Cars Sell My Car Shopping Tools Car Reviews Car Finder Compare Cars Best Cars Car Dealerships Used Car Reviews Car Advice Home News Watch Jay Leno Lust Over One Of America' s Greatest Creations
Watch Jay Leno Lust Over One Of America' s Greatest Creations
Jun. 14, 2022 5:42 PM ET by Jarryd Neves Classic Cars / 4 Comments He describes the Caribbean as the last great Packard ever made. Those lusting after the heydays of American motoring must look at current domestic offerings with great disappointment. Not because they're terrible - far from it. The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is a true world-beater and we know a thing or two about building luxury SUVs. But the rise of the crossover has killed niche segments like the personal luxury coupe and convertible, vehicles that were once a symbol of America. Many desire the famed Lincolns and Cadillacs of the era but, according to Jay Leno, it's the Caribbean from defunct Packard that's the one to own. In his latest video, the famed car collector takes us on a tour of his 1956 example, a car he describes as "the last great car [Packard] made." It's certainly impressive to look at. The imposing front end is festooned with chrome embellishments and boasts a striking egg-crate grille. The styling of this topless wonder is further enhanced by rich black/white paintwork and contrasting whitewall rubber. Just 15 examples wear this unique color combo. Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube You paid for all this style, though. As Leno notes, this bastion of excess would set owners back nearly $6,000 in the '50s. "My parents paid $19,000 for their house in 1959, which shows you how expensive this was." Monied owners were rewarded with impressive features. Things we take for granted today - power windows, seats, and top - shipped standard on the Caribbean. It also brought plenty of innovation, with Leno highlighting one particular feature as the reason behind his purchase. "The torsion bar suspension...[provided] an amazing ride for back in the day." The unique setup comprises torsion bars that run the length of the car. "They will twist and turn to bring the car up to level. Leno demonstrates the feature by sitting on the rear; shortly after, the Packard lifts itself back to the correct ride height. The 6.1-liter V8 produces 310 horsepower, more than enough for cruising duties. The two-speed automatic transmission sends power to the rear wheels. Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Despite the muscular powertrain, the Caribbean was about luxury rather than outright speed. The cabin is lavishly equipped (by '50s standards) and trimmed with gorgeous materials. The engine-turned dashboard works beautifully with the sumptuous upholstery which is a particularly interesting feature in itself. "The '56 had [switchable] upholstery. The cushions came out [and] were cloth on one side and leather on the other." Leno jokingly adds, "the only problem is when you hit the brakes it's like a pillow fight." Interestingly, this particular example has leather on both sides. Out on the road, the Caribbean is the polar opposite of Leno's Austin-Healey Sprite. "This is such a hilarious car to drive. There's a complete absence of road feel," he notes. The former talk show host does admit the Packard is a stellar highway cruiser. "This is like the ultimate California car. Just perfect for cruising," he adds. Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Jay Leno's Garage/YouTube Join The Discussion
Show Comments (4) Gallery
18 Photos Tags: #Chevrolet News #Classic Cars #Luxury #Video Related Cars
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Coupe Jarryd Neves Associate Editor After wandering onto the wrong career path, Jarryd quickly abandoned his legal studies to pursue a career in journalism. An internship at a leading motoring magazine nurtured his love for reporting and prepared him for the world of finance and investment writing. Thrilling as it was, Jarryd's first love has always been motoring, and joining CarBuzz in 2022 put him back where he belongs - covering the latest automotive news and events. In his spare time, he trawls the classifieds for cheap (and ruinous) classic luxury sedans or simply cruises around in his own aging German luxobarge. Contact Jarryd @jarrydneves LoginSign Up Home News Features Car Reviews Car Advice 2021 CarBuzz Awards New Cars Used Cars Future Cars Compare Cars Sell My Car Car Dealerships Buy Here Pay Here Used Car Reviews Popular Tags Cars # Video # TOP # Spy Shots # Reveal # Rumor # Auto Show # Supercar # Tuning # Car Culture # Industry News # Motorsport Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Make Acura Alfa Romeo Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Bollinger Bugatti Buick Cadillac Caterham Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Genesis GMC Hennessey Honda Hyundai Infiniti Jaguar Jeep Karma Kia Koenigsegg Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Lordstown Lotus Lucid Motors Maserati Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mini Mitsubishi Nissan Pagani Polestar Porsche Ram Rimac Rivian Rolls-Royce Spyker Subaru Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo By Car Type SUVs Crossovers Sedans Coupes Trucks Sports Cars Wagons Vans Hatchbacks Convertibles Small Cars Luxury Cars Electric Cars Hybrid Cars Future Cars By Price Up to $15K $15K - $25K $25K - $35K $35K - $45K $45K - $55K $55K - $75K $75K - $100K $100K - $200K $200K - $300K Above $300K Back To Top