It is ironic and unfortunate that Packard slipped into oblivion in 1956, just as the company introduced what were its best post-war models.

By this time, all Packards featured the innovative front and rear Torsion-Level suspension system, which automatically leveled the car to suit the road surface, making the company’s products some of the smoothest-riding and best-handling full-size automobiles of the era.

Under the hood were modern overhead-valve V-8 engines, as well as the Ultramatic transmission, which featured a locking torque converter to approximate the economy and performance of a manual gearbox and had by 1955 been updated with the ability to start in either high or low gear ranges.

These mechanical advancements were blended with fresh, modern lines penned by chief stylist Richard Teague.

Leading the Packard lineup was the luxe Caribbean convertible, equipped with a 275-horsepower, 352-cubic-inch V-8 featuring dual four-barrel carburetors and topped by the iconic “batwing...