Re: 1931 engine / body numbers

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2010/8/22 17:30:16

I don't fully understand just what numbers you are talking about, but I'll give it a shot. The official vehicle # should be on a brass "patent plate" on the firewall, which also says Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit Michigan. It does not match any other number on the car and if the plate is lost, there is generally no way to recover the original VN. It bears no relationship to other numbers that might be found on the steering gear, frame, engine, etc.

What do you mean by body number? If you're referring to the large embossed 6-digit number enclosed by brackets on the cowl, no it doesn't match any other number. Search this forum on "thief-proof numbers" to find more.

Or are you perhaps referring to a small brass tag under the carpet in the front compartment?

Engine# should be between the starting and ending engine # for the year and model. At bit earlier than you car the engine# was also the vehicle number and they should always match, but not for 1931.

Each of these sets of numbers have their own series and should agree with the range for that particular year and model, but don't match. Records of which engine was originally installed in which car with which thief-proof number have not survived in large numbers.

Care to provide photos of the numbers you're talking about, it would easier to answer.