Re: Information about a '31 840

Posted by Tim Cole On 2014/3/12 18:28:12

Starting with the 9th series they started using the body type in the serial number. Before that the motor number was the VIN. However, exceptions abound. There are VIN's on original cars that don't match anything.

The only way to trace a pre 9th series body is with the thief number. However, Packard dealers swapped bodies and the factory even advertised available bodies within the dealer network. So technically, there is no such thing as a modified body Packard without witnesses.

Part of the current stigmatization of body swaps came out of club politics. Some converted phaetons were showing up in the hands of club bigshots who, of course, claimed they were legitimate cars.

Another old case is a 33 Super 8 sedan that was sold via the newspaper in New Jersey. When they picked up the car there was a phaeton body in the rafters that was installed by the dealer each spring.

One thing that is neglected is the fact that open cars had different springs. So if the car has a lousy ride it probably is a swap. I dealt with a 32 Twin-Six phaeton that had a bogus VIN plate with a Jan. 1 1932 delivery date (totally bogus). Everybody knocked it, but the car rode like a real car. I can't remember what the VIN was but the number was junk. Sometimes those parts disappear.