Re: 1939 Packard 12 Limo Data Plate

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2019/3/31 13:04:16

Well, that's a thought-provoking patent plate, to say the least. The general tag style is correct for a 1939 Twelve, it was used from the 16th Series (as a decal for Detroit production) thru the 22nd Series with of course appropriate changes in the actual patent numbers, and they were sourced in both tinned steel and aluminum.

The font is a bit of a puzzle and not what one would expect to see, I have seen what I believe to be that font and size used on postwar Packard patent plates and also on one or more prewar Canadian-built junior Packards and other early Packards but that doesn't necessarily mean it's correct or incorrect for the plate in question, it was obviously available to Packard whether it was or was not the correct one to use at that time. To quote Packard historian Arthur Balfour, "when it comes to Packard, never say never".

As to the stamping itself, it looks as if the 4th and 8 digits were afterthoughts and not stamped at the same time as the other 6 digits. Here's a possibility to ponder: at the point of initial body assembly Packard did not know if the vehicle was to be completed as a 1234 or the very similar 1235 so the plate was stamped incompletely and finished later when that decision was made. Sound plausible? Both 1234-2078 and 1235-2113 have survived and are available locally to me for examination of their plates which I'll try to accomplish soon.

FWIW, from what's visible of the theft-proof number, this body is a new-for-1939 Twelve body (as are those of the two cars noted in the previous paragraph), as opposed to a left-over 1938 Twelve body which about half of the 1939 Twelves had. Possibly that has a bearing of the font and stamping.

And what a shame someone carelessly mutilated the plate, looks like perhaps a solvent-wetted finger or cloth was swipted across the data section.