Re: Any History on the Last '54s?

Posted by BH On 2013/1/10 21:35:37

Howard -

Unless he's quoting directly from a bona fide factory internal document, I believe the author of that article is a bit off the mark with that interpretation. Your take on things is probably closer to what actually went on.

Though I've yet to obtain copy of any production order from SNM, a friend who was more interested (than I) in the provenance of my Carib H/T had obtained photocopy from the private collector who was in possession of production records on 5687-97-99 models. What I received for my car was actually a copy of two different records - in both title and time.

The first record was titled "CAR PRODUCTION ORDER" and the VN shows NO suffix, with "SALES" as the shipping destination. The second record was titled "IN TRANSIT RECEIPT IN LIEU OF BILL OF LADING", but the VN now includes the suffix A, with the delivering dealer shown as shipping destination; there's also additional instructions advising "NOTE - WAS SALES" on that one.

Meanwhile, the copy of the production order (from SNM) that Randy Berger posted, here, for his special 56 Pat shows a dealer shipping destination, but the VN shows NO suffix.

This suggests that the VN suffix was applied only AFTER there was a change from the original order, but I'll go as far to include change in equipment as well as destination. Logically, it would follow that additional VN suffix (B, C, etc.) were applied for any subsequent change(s). I suspect that this was done because there could be multiple copies of multiple editions of any given build order floating around various desks in the plant(s) - for at-a-glance recognition of priority (as well as an audit trail).

Based on my limited experience with other manufacturers in more recent decades, I know the goal is to keep the assembly line filled to 100% capacity, but that NO vehicle would be built without an actual order (not from end-user, but a dealer). However, as distribution was not quite as refined back then, I have to wonder if Packard might have placed "house orders" to pad the line to 100% capacity.