Danbury Mint 1956 Packard Caribbean Hardtop

When I got the new order #195-153 from the Danbury boys I knew little else than this was an all-new build that was some time in the making. I had to embargo the model listing to reveal itself no earlier than today, 11/20/2007. This gave them ample time to ready catalogs, brochure ads and customer service order sheets. Thoughts of just how long it had been in the pipeline completely vanished when I learned it was to be a Packard. “Hot dog!” I thought; I love Packards! Then they tell me it will be a triple-shaded fifty-six Caribbean. Ok, I am enthralled with the Caribbean and loved the only mid-fifties versions we were treated to by the ‘Mints’, the FM’s 1955 iterations. But this is the first precision foray into the 1956 model year. Did I say, “Hot Dog!”?

A hardtop, the full-sized Packard Tri-Color order-code, ‘MES’, rendered code 2403-H Dover White, code 2389 Danube Blue and code 2396-H Roman Copper (aka "Metalli Chrome"). My thoughts re-engaged to the song lyrics, “Heaven; I’m in heaven...” Then the time came to open the little parcel from Nirvana; okay, I admit it, white box stickers marked, “Norwalk, Connecticut”, in my brain, translate by default to Paradise. Unveiling the little treasure sent shivers up the old spinal column. In perfect harmony, were the off-white upper body and roof, with the lower copper metallic, sandwiching the light baby blue that runs the middle length of the still-gorgeous-today body and hockey-stick’s its way up the tail to the twin unfolding antennae. In-between lies some of the most awesomely incredible detail living on a 1:24th scale auto replica today. The overview of the model is astonishing. It looks positively 1:1.

What makes it appear so lifelike are detail touches such as stipple-textured roof covering, extending antennas, delicately-formed metal wire wheels and tight shut lines on every body panel including the opening gas filler door. The rear shelf exhibits multi-perforated holes as if made by some 1:24th specialty worker and the gold scripts are from some other planet, they are that good. The paint is DM-phenomenal, full and rich and the copper is metallic-scaled to perfection. Inside the tartan plaid trunk is a removable spare with jack and tire tool. Beneath is outstanding chassis craftsmanship. The suspension is pliable yet authentic to the 1:1 ride height. The doors open on realistic inner-body hinges to display an awesome interior view. The full scale fifty six came standard with push button drive and featured reversible seat cushions front and back.

Danbury’s model has both. The cushions mimic the actual car; leather on one side and brocade material on the other side. DM furnishes us with a cushion tool. Magnetic in nature, it adheres to each cushion so that we can position each piece to where they belong and are held in place with another magnet attachment device. We have our choice of matching blue or a grayish pattern. I went with the blue-tone to match the folding sunvisors. The dash, flooring detail and seat operation is amazingly accurate. The carpet matches the copper exterior. The inner door detail is also tri-color and its fixtures scaled in flawlessly. Under the hood is a plethora of craftsmanship. From the still-awesome-even-for-the-day scissors hinges to the delicately scaled wires, fuel lines and tubing to the material usage and hood insulation, the detail carries the day.

This is one more credit to the DM for innovative additions such as the reversible seat cushions and an all-new tool that is as bright and exciting today as the 1:1 was back over half a century ago. This is a regular issue with the Preview Society buyers getting theirs automatically.

-Tony Perrone