1928 526 Runabout

Posted by classiclincoln On 2017/9/17 18:45:24

Hope this is in the right place. So earlier this summer, I was in the Warren OH museum. While waiting for wifey to finish up, I was wandering around the gift shop and saw a 1996 issue of the Packard International Magazine with a picture of Dr. Lou Abelda's 28 526 Runabout on the cover. Grabbed it since I've never seen anything printed about the car except one picture in an AACA magazine last year.

Finally had a chance to read the article and found a few interesting things; the lower headlights are supposed to turn with the wheels (not really sure if they do or not; never been in front of the car since I'm the only one who can drive it) and that my dash should be wood grain and not painted. However, the real interesting thing was that allegedly there are only 14 of these left? I was a bit confused as to the number made; the article says "The newest Packard Six featured so many goodies that the factory "double -shifted" to speed 41,750 cars to their ecstatic dealers." Later, the article says "The late Grover Secord, the roster keeper of the 1928 Packards, said only fourteen of them are known to exist".

So, I was wondering if anyone has any idea as to where I can get more information regarding these numbers? Don't have the owner's manual with me, but does the article mean that 41,750 total Six cylinder Packards were made and only 14 are left? Or, since the car pictured is the 526 Runabout, do they mean that 41,750 526 Runabouts were built and only 14 are left? Or..... did Packard build 41,750 total six cylinder cars and only 14 526 Runabouts are left????

I'm also a bit confused regarding the serial number. The article says that the engine number was also used as the serial number, and the last once produced for the 1928 model year was 166941. However, the serial number on the body tag on the firewall of my car is 97582. Haven't had a chance to look on the engine; where would it be?

Anyway, really glad I grabbed the magazine! That $5 magazine is gonna cost me since now I want to get the lights moving!!!!

As always, thanks again for any help.