Re: Numbers Matching?

Posted by fredkanter On 2017/6/8 10:00:24

"numbers matching" is a misunderstood and often misused term. It refers to a vehicle that has the original engine, frame and transmission; the ones that were in it when it left the factory.

Prior to 1955 v-8's Packard did not have the vehicle serial number on anything except the vehicle number plate on the firewall or door post. The firewall plate or "patent plate" was attached to the firewall with 4 small screws and could be removed, switched or replaced literally in a minute. Thus there is nothing for the firewall or door post serial number to match with. In the 30's the firewall plate # was very close to the number on the steering box, maybe 50 or 100 numbers away and thus nothing to match.
GM muscle cars which did have the car serial n umber on the engine block and transmission case.

Another abused term is "barn find" which seems to apply to any unrestored older vehicle that has just been discovered , even if it was "discovered" in the owners single car garage attached to his house. A desirable car is worth the same whether it is discovered in a barn or sitting on your front lawn. A piece of junk is still a piece of junk no matter where it was found