Isn't 38 the year they had disappearing or self destructing decals instead of a data plate? If so, maybe clearing a path to get information would have been a futile experience.

"... 1938 #s have been among the hardest to come by. As to the VN, 1938 was the one and only year that Packard used a decal rather than a metal plate ... But if you can't get the original VN from prior documentation or owners, there really isn't any significant chance that the # can be recovered. Somewhere along the line of ownership and titles it was recorded, if you can trace it back far enough, that's about the only chance.

PS - I believe that perhaps only the Detroit-built Packards in 1938 used the decal, the few Canadian-built ones that I've taken note of have a brass plate..."