Re: 1939 Packard 12 Limo Data Plate

Posted by Tim Cole On 2019/5/26 7:03:08

Looking through present ads I see several fakes. This body swapping stuff all got going because Turnquist stated that Packard had a program of body interchangeability. This created a false assumption. Beginning with the 9th series the body number became part of the VIN which makes detection easier without a doctored title. However, the bodies are not identical. I will forgo saying why to avoid helping these scammers.

Body swapping by dealers did take place, but as mentioned above certain open car parts are different and these would be taken care of to guarantee proper performance.

Today we retrofit cars under contract from the manufacturers. However, every part that is different right down to the smallest fastener is changed out to create the correct vehicle.

The question of legal liability for this stuff has been pretty much set in precedent. Courts generally don't hear these cases because money being spent on frivolous wants does not create an injury in the legal sense.

I will say the lack of concern for authenticity has created this situation to the point that scammers are running the show. An authentic restoration is the exception these days. I don't see many of them.