When I was in high school (late '50s) one of the guys had a '55 Caribbean just like yours except the stripe and interior were a beautiful blue. One afternoon, as we were walking toward our car, The Carrib came rolling out of a side street with the guy's girlfriend at the wheel. I don't know if she misjudged the car's length or didn't put enough muscle on the brake pedal, but she came out into the main street and sideswiped a spotless '57 Chevy 4 door sedan as it drove by. The Packard's front bumper split that Chevy open from stem to stern. Bent up the Packard's bumper a bit, but not too bad. The girl jumps out of the car and she's beside herself. The Chevy driver gets out of his car, walks around to the passenger side, & just shakes his head. The girl's crying and asking, "What should i do? What should I do?" The Chevy driver says, "Well missy, for starters, you can go to Hell..."

Jay, you can stop apologizing for the "poor" quality of the pandemic episodes. I, and many many other viewers, love this format. I put the video in full screen, full 1080p resolution.....and it seems like I am in the garage with you and you are talking directly to me about your car. Just one car guy showing off his beloved 55 Packard to another car guy who has never seen the 55 Caribbean before. I look forward to each week's "personal" car chat with you.

I love this “pandemic” format. No producers pushing a format, just Jay talking about cars. Absolute gem of a guy!

In October of 1955 I ordered two brand new Packards. My wife chose a beautiful three tone red, white and black Clipper. I ordered a Caribbean hardtop. Wonderful cars. I kept that car until I traded it on a new 1963 Imperial Crown sedan.

“Welcome to another episode of Jay Leno’s garage - pandemic edition” has become my favourite sentence to hear

My Dad was a Packard salesman in 1952-53 and one day in early 53 he brought home a special Packard, a 53 Caribbean. If I remember it had the straight 8, it was a beautiful light green and had the reversible cushions leather on one side and a brocade on the other. Dad gave me a ride in it and I still remember that day.

Jay, I expect these “pandemic edition” videos are harder for you to make, but they are great fun to watch. I really enjoy your friendly style, like you are just hanging out with a buddy sharing your car experience. Thanks so much.

The day he shot the video for this , he gave me a Jumpstart on my cheapass car , humble guy

(Some guy in his 90's watching this video) SO HE'S THE ONE WHO KEPT KILLING THE BATTERY ON MY CAR???!!!

jay: this is not a show car the car: completely original and in amazing condition and would probably win most shows for rareness and originality

I’ve always loved the ‘55 and ‘56 Packards - especially the Caribbean - and am very grateful to see this segment. Also glad to see the emphasis on its torsion bar suspension, which is a very much under-appreciated piece of technology.

Went to school with a guy who was still driving the last 55 Packard from his dad's dealership in 1970. It had options like power windows and locks which virtually no cars had in '55. Neat car. I wonder if he regrets selling it.

Don't apologize! I love these pandemic episodes.

“Packard, Ask the Man Who Owns One” 😎👍

I like that Jay mentioned lead in the hood. My dad was a fender and body man in the 50's on. He knew how to lead the cars, Bondo was a dirty word in our house! This beauty and I are the same age, but she carried the years better than I do.....

Thanks Jay. With all the politics , pandemic and me just getting old, I get a level headed gentleman showing us his love for old machines. Thanks for taking the time to put together these vids.

I love these episodes, just Jay talking about the car as if he was chatting to a mate down the pub. The bit about the “ Sportscar “ ad was hilarious. Bentley called their Mk6 the silent sportscar back in the late 40s. In Standard Steel Saloon format, it was anything but!

She's a beauty, so innovative, and built during an era where the phrase "built to last" wasn't a marketing ploy. 👍

Every time I watch a JLG episode I always come away extremely impressed with Leno’s deep knowledge of car technology and auto history. Awesome! Thanks, Jay. 😎👍

Mr. Leno, I want to thankyou for an excellent review of the Packard Caribbean.I live in the Detriot area and to this day the Packard factory as massive as it is, is still standing. The reason you have been so successful in your career and life is you are a very down to earth person. It is sad that many talk show hosts that have tried to go forth after you are so alienating in their views. I had no idea what your political views were and are and I didn't care. Much success to you sir. Lance

The fact that this 70+ old man is hanging from a car , just to show us those bars, should get major respect.

"You saw the torsion bar twist... that sounds like a bad dance move from the 50's" 🕺💃

The "TORSION BAR TWIST" sounds like an awesome 50s dance.

Jay, doin this stuff solo. I like him even more as a car guy to keep his passion on point.

Pretty car. Worth saving. I always find myself thinking what will become if this amazing collection. My hope is Jay endows a museum . Priceless .

Jay has to be one of the coolest, nicest celebrity around and he really knows cars! Thanks Jay for the great videos and being so cool and unpretentious!

Thanks for showing this car. I was walking my daughter home from school one day and Jay drove by in this car, he waved and we waved back. Awesome car it was quiet and smooth

My father who retired from Ford Motor always raved about Packard's. Thanks so much for the memories. Your videos are the best thing on u tube

Thanks Jay I enjoy these pandemic videos especially because you feature your own cars.

Keep JLG coming Jay. In these times of chaos, this is refreshing.

The interior reminds of dining booths at Howard Johnsons.

I love how Jay drives his cars. Keep going strong!

I think it's wonderful that he kept his old faithful Packard. Hard to imagine that when he got it he couldn't afford to restore it!

"No clackity-clack" .... Don't come back? Thanks, Jay. As always. Very easy to listen to you yackity-yack about pieces of automobile history.

I almost prefer these Pandemic Editions; they’re very intimate, and it feels like I’m getting a personal tour, just you and me in the garage and in the cars, oblivious to the couple million other viewers. Thank you!!

This is one of the reasons I love your show Jay, I had no idea Packard even made that car. great job putting the camera on the far back end, I think we got a feel of how nice the ride is.

Someone needs to mention to General Motors that its really called General Engines. :-) Jay's such a great guy. Greetings from Arizona.

Every episode of Jay Leno's garage I'm like "Ok this is my new dream car now"

There were 2 of these('56 hardtops) beauties within a stones throw of my house when I was growing up in Sunbury, PA. One was owned by a Swiss Engineer recently relocated from Switzerland and the other one was owned by a cookie distributor. Mr. Packard was a very respected Engineer and built beautiful cars way back into the 30's. My Grandfather had a mid 30's Touring Packard that was actually beautiful. They were the cat's pajamas back then. My Mom learned to drive in that behemoth. She weighed about 100 lbs then as a teen and this car did not have power steering. She said she was able to toss that big car around very well. They were known for their superb engineering. I actually saw a 1940(?) sedan going down the road yesterday. Restored in a cream color -very nice. These were great cars. I think Mr.Packard founded Lehigh University. I think Roger Penske went to Lehigh.

Beautiful 55 Packard Jay! Love watching your show, especially when you feature one of 5he classics between 1950 to 1970. These classics like this beautiful Packard have so much style compared to anything have built n the last 20 years. Now a days you can't always tell the new cars apart, but back in the day you could, because the cars back then had so much style to them!

I've never seen before how Packard did the suspension before - amazing stuff for the time!

With the way the country is headed, love to see you're appreciation for our country's automotive history and preservation. Thank you Sir.

Little did I know when I started watching Jay's videos that I would start to drool ~ I mean seriously who else has a collection like this!!!!

Jay, You’re the best thing on wheels. This episode reminds me of my father, who loved Packard.

I just want to say thank you Jay. These pandemic videos make these dark times a little brighter. THANK YOU

Oh Jay . . . "I know the top works, I haven't put the top up or down in 20 years" -- That's some faith

Love this episode since it brings back some great memories. My grandfather was a Packard man and had a 1955 Packard Clipper. It was an awesome car; it had power windows, the leveling suspension and the first radio I ever saw that would search for a radio station

I remember working for my dad and doing lube and oil changes. We had one of these come in and I went to the big blue book that showed all of the lube points. Wow, there were a ton of them on this car. It also was one of the longest. We had the old "railroad rail" lifts, single piston in the middle. I was in awe of this car then and seeing one again brings back great memories. Thanks. Love this program.

The Detroit Historical Society posted a video on You Tube entitled “Out of the Future(1954)” offers a period explanation of the torsion bar suspension on these fine cars. Certainly worth watching, just as much as Jay !!

I've been a Jay Leno's Garage fan ever since before he was even on KZfaq. I've been waiting for Jay to do the Caribbean for a long time! I remember it from the original website but haven't seen it since.

I love the engineering of this car, well ahead of the times. That torsion bar suspension is amazing!

Love it '' The torsion bar twist'' sounds like a fifties dance. Those torsion bar motors must draw some amps The Morris 1000 had torsion bar suspension so did the 70's Morris Marina here in UK. They had a fixed bars that were manually adjustable via splines don't ever remember having to touch them.

No apologies needed, Jay. It’s great that you’re doing this during the crisis. 👍🏻👍🏻

"The torsion-bar twist"...sounds like a bad dance from the 50's. LMAO, Jay. Awesome

The suspension reminds me of when I was in Paris many, many years ago and sat on the rear bumper of a Citroen to rest my tired feet. After about 45 seconds, the car started to level itself, something I had never heard of before! I jumped up off the car as I actually thought someone was in the car doing something!! As i stood there, it re leveled itself back down again!! SHOCKING,!! Thanks for another great episode Jay!! Greetings From Atascadero, the proposed home of the Doble Steam Car!!

I love the pandemic version of Jay Leno's garage. It's so nostalgic and refreshing to hear J just talked about his vehicles, history and any fun stories he may share

Great Vid! Brings back a lot of memories!! Growing up in Portland in the 50s... @ 52 Ave & Taylors Ferry Rd.... 52nd was a gravel road and the Adams family up the street had a tan 49 Packard Clipper... Straight 8. The Adams boys... all early teens would race the ole girl up and down 52nd... till it finally died. (Transmission failed... you couldn’t kill a Packard St 8) Went to Destruction Derby’s out at Jansen Beach on Saturday nights... Packards were often “last to die” in the Derby’s. Thanks for the Memories Bob... er Jay!!

Seeing this my dad and watched your show for years and everytime he seen this he said everything you showed and I loved this, he wanted me to find one after I bought him the 34' airflow desoto, Packard is so hard to find. He has now passed away two years ago, My goal is to ride or own a Packard.

Out of all the cars you've shown us, I think this one might be my favorite. Absolutely beautiful.

Mr. Leno, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting you in person three different times. The first time was in front of Autobooks in Burbank. I was driving my 1964 Mini Cooper and you were in your lovely Miura. You were so pleasant and enjoyable. You asked me about my car and had a few questions. For you to have paid attention to my little people's car touched my heart. I notice you apologize for the info you provide in your videos a lot. Don't let angry know-it-alls who correct you online force a position on you. You are the most genuine guy and for you to openly provide the opportunity for guys like us to share your experience, well it's a good thing. Thank you for being who you are. Sincerely, an old fan and gearhead.

This is a beautiful car. I love American cars of this period. We don't see anything like this in the UK. Many thanks for the channel. Your reviews are detailed and very interesting.

Jay. don't ever change back from this format! Also happy to see you can pronounce Caribbean.

If you're a car guy like me and trying to stay safe during the pandemic these videos are a great escape. The Caribbean and the '58 DeSoto Fireswep are my favorite cars ever made. The last car we had with torsion bar suspension was a '72 Valiant Scamp purchased new with the 318 V8 and we got 130k trouble-free miles out of it. The suspensions were indeed wonderful and, while I love our '18 Challenger Scat Pack, you can drive over a cigarette and identify the brand. I miss smoother riding cars. I guess I'm getting old...

Gosh. Just when I think I've found a favorite he brings out another one. I really really love this one.

Such a beautiful car, I love the fact it’s unrestored.

I died at the, "no matter how many dead bodies in the trunk" line at 2:45! haha

Wow! A car with as much style and cool as Jay himself. Thanks, Jay. Very nice to watch.

I remember visiting a Packard dealer with my dad as a kid, and the salesman demonstrated the torsion bar by having my and and me sit on the back of the car. I wanted my dad to buy that car, but my dad instead bought a specially appointed 1956 Lincoln from the niece of Edsel Ford. I also visited the Packard Factory a few times with my dad as he made sales calls there. What a car that Packard was! Thank you, Jay, for sharing it! It brought back some great memories, even though my dad never owned a Packard. All we could do is "ask the man who owns one!"

in the early 80's there was a car lot in Monterey CA, that had a 55 packard on the lot. Bone stock, low miles, perfect condition except for sun faded fabric upholstery. (there was a line where the sun fade stopped, so it was parked in the same place for a long time) outside of new belts, hoses and such, it was completely factor. Not a Carrib, but it did have the self leveling feature. It kinda looked like a 55 chevy that had been over eating a bit. Coulda had it for 5500 bucks. Of course I didn't have the 5500. In the eighties that was a lot more scratch than it is today. Same lot had a Dellahaye, a Pantera, and a dozen other not often seen.

There’s a snapshot of why you are one of America’s greatest treasures wrapped up in that short phrase, “I hope I did a good job.” Thanks again for sharing your time, knowledge and automobiles with us.

One of the first cars I remember growing up was a 1951 Packard Clipper that was our family car. It instantly made me a fan of Packards. I recall a 55 hardtop that a friend in high school had that was turquoise and white. In our town there was a traffic circle that became the scene one night of this friend's Packard being driven round and round in an attempt to see how far this car would lean over. He went so far as to cause sparks to fly from the rocker panels scraping the pavement due to the torsion bar suspension. It was quite a sight. Years later I found a 55 Caribbean that was for sale at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, it would have cost way more money than I had to restore it. The owner told me at the time that he would have little trouble finding a buyer due to how few of these beauties were around.

I’ve never been a huge fan of ‘50s car but this one is beautiful, not a bad line on it, the interior is stunning, the dash is pure class and those twin aerials look absolutely fantastic! Being English I grew up saying “Cari-bean” but now I live in Canada I’ve learned to question my mother tongue, 95% of the time Queen Elizabeth is correct but every now & then I have to agree with you North Americans, with two B’s in the middle it definitely has to be “Carib-bean”! Jay is such a top bloke, he’s achieved much greatness in life but he still remains a very humble and down to earth guy, he could easily take a year off but no, he does these “pandemic editions” for his fans just to keep us sane in these crazy times. I’m loving this format, it’s different but it really works, it’s like Old Skool TV from when I was a kid, just one presenter, one subject, no nonsense, just education 👍

That's simply a beautiful machine.

I remember as a kid getting up bright and early in the mid 1950’s just so I could listen to our neighbor start his up Packard to go to work, it was quite a distinctive sound. They sure don’t build anything that sounds as good as those old Packard’s today.

I love Packards. I had the privilege of working on a couple 1926's, a sedan and a roadster. Though the old 6 cyl. flatheads were common, what was not common was the roller cams they had. I would have left the TorqueFlite in it and the only upgrade I would have made was upgrading it to a 4-speed overdrive TorqueFlite. These had the locking torque converter like the Packard's had in their Ultramatics. Two speeds forward doesn't get it. Now, the Caribbean Packard existed before 1955 during the straight-eight years. Back in the 1990's, I happened on a Packard show at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and a fellow had a 1954 Caribbean. Although Packard didn't do twin airscoops on the hood, it did have one that went across the front of the hood. Still leaded in, the owner let me pick up the hood and, believe me, it was heavy. Also in 1954 was the first year of the 'gear-start' Ultramatics which were the first to be fully automatic and not remaining like a 'flush and go' Buick Dynaflow. It was the merger with Studebaker that killed Packard. Studebaker gave away the opportunity to get a foothold in the luxury car area. A Packard Hawk, derived from a Studebaker Hawk, with a Studebaker 289 V8 just didn't get it. Putting the Packard 352 V8 in a Studebaker Golden Hawk, with an Ultramatic, didn't get it either. Selling Nash the 352 V8 and ultramatic was good for Nash but only increased the competition in a field in which both Studebaker and Nash were already competing. No, when the merger occurred, each company had assumed that the other had more capital than they actually did. That was the nail in Packard's coffin. Studebaker floundered on for a few more years, but made mistake after mistake. It never had a new body style which didn't have it's roots in Studebakers of the 1950's. About the only exception was the fiberglass-bodied Avanti, built on a Lark chassis. Then, they stopped making it in 1964. History showed their mistake. Avanti was ressurrected by some investors and continued for another couple of decades.

I’m going back watching these videos that you’ve made by yourself, I enjoy these the most.

I love the pandemic episodes. They are like taking to a friend about a car. There are plenty more behind you Jay, please just keep going down the row.

My Dad had a Packard when I was a young lad. He would put the top down and take us to the drive-in movie. My brother and I would sit in the rumble seat,King's of the World.

Jay, I was 21/1955 when I saw this beautiful car at the beach in Misquamicut, RI. The driver was male with a bird /dish in the front seat. Never forgot how much I wanted one. My Dad had 1939, 1948 Packards. Thanks !!!

Always a pleasure to watch you Jay , love the way you describe the vehicle of that particular day ,,,,, and btw ,,,,,, My wife and myself still miss seeing you at night on the tonight show , it's never been the same without you , thanks so very much for sharing your cars with us and for all the great years on television , you're truly loved .

The first time I saw a Caribbean, I was in awe. It was a beautiful, clean example. I called my dad (a car guy) and asked him if he was familiar with the model. He said, "What year? Is it a two tone or a three tone?" Me: "'56. Three tone." Dad tells me all about the car in detail. Me: "You wanted one, didn't you?" Dad: "Yeeeaahhh..." His father, also a car guy, had a Packard (don't recall which model), and an Indian Chief motorcycle.

Thank you Jay, if there's one silver lining to this pandemic it's that Jay is apparently going to video document his entire collection.

Great episode Jay! The Caribbean is my second favorite car after the 65' GTO. I learned a lot here today! Thanks

Great video...thanks Jay. Noticed the wheel covers. I am 73, class of 65 and I was very familiar with cars of the 50's and 60's. Seems that people 40 and under don't know the terms hub cap nor wheel covers. My Sister's 1953 Chevrolet had bow-tie hub caps and my Father's 1960 Plymouth had optional wheel covers. Hub caps were standard and wheel covers were optional. Please share with your audience by demonstrating and show some car brochures for proof.

My mom used to talk about how her parents had a Packard in the 1940's and was supposed to be better than a Cadillac. Really enjoyed Jay's Packard demo.

This is a beauty. 56 was the best year.

Yes Jay your one man shows were a bit rough in the beginning, But they are as polished as any of your full crew shows of the past you have nothing to apologize for. It does show how much you care about what you do and how much you care about us the viewers .Thanks for keeping the show going and a BIG thumbs up from all of us old car guys with old cars.

Jay, thank you for bringing us this amazing and gorgeous luxury car of the last Mid-Century. Your videos are always so interesting as well as informative. This vehicle is truly just an amazing feat of engineering in so many ways... such striking beauty, absolutely the epitome of luxury for the time. I can’t imagine being the “baller” that bought one of these new... back in the day... because you’d truly have to be a very high roller to have bought one of these new at the time. They were extremely pricey... in the same range as an Eldorado Biarritz convertible. I really admire the fact that you always try to make your cars “stock” and don’t put glass-pack mufflers on them, even though some people think they are cool and acceptable. You even put resonator mufflers back on the cars....usually the first things to go! You do a tremendous job with your cars, and like you always say... the best are the “unrestored originals”. I agree. Thanks for continuing these through a worldwide Pandemic as well. You do a great service to your (many) fans to keep some sense of normalcy, by keeping these coming. . Thanks.

Jay, I love it when you said everyone smoked back then. Gosh I remember even the marionettes on the kid show the Thunderbirds smoking. I love your informative/entertaining videos.

Most people wouldn’t sit on the fender to “not scratch the paint” gotta love Jay

Brake fade is just a real treat!! I experienced it many times on my '56 Buick until I upgraded the brakes.

Really enjoy these episodes thank you for the time you put in these shows

Totally fascinating Jay! I had a chance to see one of these in an old barn in western NY in 1973 when I was a lad. A friend of my father, a lady in her 80s then, kept it after her husband died. It was dusty, but just like this car. And the top was down. I had no idea about the wild suspension, but I was still in awe of the fact it was a Packard, and a CONVERTIBLE.

Again Jay, don't apologise for the pandemic editions. We're getting far more in depth looks at far more interesting cars.

Oh please Jay!! Have owned a 61 Lincoln convertible for 36 yrs. Parked it on hills and uneven ground and never experienced body issues or door issues from the body twisting. Urban legend!!

You really can "see" how smooth it rides. The back camera shot makes it look like it's floating on air.

I was so hoping when Jay opened the trunk we'd find Jimmy Hoffa.

My Dad had a Packard when I was very young, I think it might have been a 49 Coupe? Thanks and Blessings Jay, I hope you are well!

What a beautiful car. Thanks, Jay for bringing us into your garage and giving us a look at your collection. I always look forward to what you'll show us next.

A chiropractor who lived next to my grandmother had one; a hardtop. What a big car it was. Dad's dad, whom I never met (deceased before I was born) was a Packard fan. Dad said their ads said: Ask the MAN who owns one. Ever heard that? That would not go over so well these days. As always, thanks for this and so many great memories. Note: late night tv ended for me once you were gone!