Specifications

STANDARD EQUIPMENT1:

• Power brakes

• Power steering

• Twin-speed cam-o-matic windshield wipers 

• Electronic Twin Ultramatic pushbutton transmission1; 

• Back up lights 

• Dual ash trays (front and back) 

• Torsion level suspension1; 

• Load levelizer 

• Electric window lifts

• Reversible seat and back cushions

• Zip-on (detachable) cushion upholstery

• Fresh air header and defroster

• Front under seat heater

• Luxurious leather and fabric interior appointments1

• Directional signals

• Oil filter

• Oil bath air cleaner

• Foam rubber cushions

• Electric-operated 4 way seats

• White sidewall tires

• Windshield washer

• Radio 3-way tuning with dual electric antennas

• Rear fender shrouds

• Non-glare rear view mirror

• Tubeless tires

• Trunk light  

ACCESSORIES:  View a 1956 Packard accessories brochure.1

• Tri-color lacquer paint

•  Chrome wire wheels 

• Seat belts

• Driver and passenger side-view mirrors

• Electro-locking system1

MSRP:                                     $5495.00 base + options

BUILD DATE:                         June 1956

PRICE AS DELIVERED:          Unknown

DELIVERY DATE:                   June 12, 1956

DELIVERY LOCATION:         1237 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA

MODEL YEAR:                       1956

SERIES:                                   56th

MODEL/CHASSIS:                 5688

MODEL/BODY:                      5697

ANTITHEFT/BODY#:             029391

WHEELBASE:                         127"

TOTAL LENGTH:                   218.5" (18' 2.4")

WIDTH:                                78" (6' 5")

FRONT TRACK:                     60"

REAR TRACK:                        60.8"

HEIGHT:                                 62" (5' 1.92")

CARBURETOR:                      2x 4-Barrel Rochester 4GC Downdraft

ENGINE:                                OHV 374 Cubic Inch V8 / 6.1L

COMPRESSION RATIO:       10:1

BORE & STROKE:                 4 1/8" x 3 1/2"

HORSEPOWER:                     310bhp  (5 HP more than Cadillac)

TORQUE:                               405 ft/lb @ 2800 rpm

EXHAUST:                              Dual Exhaust w/ Resonators

ENGINE OIL:                         5 US qts

COOLANT CAPACITY:         25.9 US qts

FUEL CAPACITY:                   20 gallons

FUEL CONSUMPTION:        9 mpg

TRANSMISSION:                  RWD, 2 speed (Automatic) Twin-Ultramatic Electronic Pushbutton

GEAR RATIO 1:                     6.44 

GEAR RATIO 2:                     3.54

TRANSMISION CAPACITY: 12 US qts

FINAL DRIVE CAPACITY:     1.7 US qts

SUSPENSION:                       Torsion-level, self-leveling 

TOP SPEED:                          116 mph

GROUND VOLTAGE:            -12 / Air-cooled generator

BATTERY CAPACITY:            60h

CURB WEIGHT:                     4590lbs.

PASSENGERS:                       6

TIRE SIZE:                              8x15

TIRE PRESSURE:                   24psi (F&R)

BRAKES:                                Power, 

FRONT BRAKES:                  12' Drum

REAR BRAKES:                     12" Drum

COLOR CODE:                     M-E-S (M=Dover white, E=Danube Blue, S=Roman Copper)

                                               95 cars ordered this color scheme.2

TOTAL PRODUCTION:        263

NOTE: According to The Packard Cormorant magazine, four standard color schemes were offered.2  Interiors corresponded with the exterior colors.  A notable feature in the this model is the "reversible" seat cushions. One side was leather, the other a high quality fabric.

CODE MES = Dover White, Danube Blue, Roman Copper

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CODE MAV = Dover White, Shannon Green, Corsican Black

 

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CODE MTV = Dover White, Naples Orange, Corsican Black

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CODE MKN = Dover White, Scottish Heather, Maltese Gray

 

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While the four codes listed above were the official offering from Packard, according to Richard M. Langworth, author of the Illustrated Packard Buyer's Guide "...many variations existed, especially toward the end, when Packard was building to order.  For eample, while more than 200 convertibles used one of the four standard three-tone color combinations, 31 had monotone paint jobs, 25 had two-tones and 12 had paint jobs that remain unknown or may have left the factory in white...many special-order interiors were produced..."8

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                                            Factory Photo                                                                                                                                                             Factory Photo

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Packardinfo.com provides the below-listed details the 1956 Caribbean Hardtop Coupe.1

"New closed coupe Caribbean model introduced for 1956 - one year only and based on Four Hundred body shell.  Changes from 55th Series include restyled hood and chrome scoops, with hood prop rod eliminated. Hood crest is added - same as other Packard models. Front fender headlamp brows are extended forward, increasing the appearance of overall length. Grille is restyled with larger openings, backed up by a mesh panel that was initially made of chrome-plated steel, but Packard quickly switched to a gold-anodized aluminum material to keep up with Cadillac. Front bumper guards are moved outboard; air opening in lower valence is enlarged and also includes a mesh panel. New gas door molding features a concealed finger cove, which necessitates retooling of upsweep molding to eliminate a notch provided for 55th Series. Roof drip rail features a wide molding. Fender skirts and lower body moldings are standard. Trunk lid is squared off, and circle-vee ornamentation replaces former trunk handle. V-shaped ornaments on taillights replaced by a hexagonal red reflex. All exterior script plates are gold-plated. Four standard tri-tone paint schemes are updated with new colors - though other color combinations could be special-ordered. Interior trim, like 55th Series, is typically color-coordinated to exterior paint. Reversible, full-foam, seat cushions - upholstered in all-leather one side and cloth and leather on the other - are new for 1956 and exclusive to Caribbean models. Dual rear radio antennae are standard (though only one provides signal to receiver). Sensational Torsion-Level suspension is again standard. New pushbutton electric shift for Twin Ultramatic is standard - optional on all other Packard and Clipper models."1