See the glamorous Packard Caribbean, new for 1953, cruising the boulevards of the nation’s capital in this original factory promotional clip.

The backdrop for this Packard reel from 1953 is Washington, DC, a favorite setting for the venerable automaker in its advertising in those days, solidly projecting the qualities of dignity and permanence. While our nation’s capital has grown and changed tremendously since then, much of the city remains instantly recognizable today.  Here we are favored with some lovely glimpses of the Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington Memorials, the Capitol, and the White House, among other landmarks. See how many you can spot. (By the way, we’ve got another ’53 Caribbean spot with a completely different theme and setting here.)

Based on the stunning 1952 Pan American show car styled by famed industrial designer Richard Arbib, the Caribbean was introduced as a limited-production model at mid-year in 1953. And although Packard describes the Caribbean as “America’s smartest sports car” in this clip, in fact it shared little with the light and athletic sports cars then arriving in America  from Europe. The five-seat convertible rolled on a stately 127-inch wheelbase chassis, propelled by Packard’s smooth and silent 327 CID L-head straight eight. With leather upholstery and other attractions, the emphasis was clearly on luxury. At $5,210, well into Cadillac Eldorado territory, the price was equally posh, and only 750 units were made available the first year. Needless to say, the remaining examples are highly prized among Packard collectors today. Video below.