Re: '56 V8 production vs serial #s

Posted by BH On 2010/2/15 22:38:39

Production records for some, though not all, of the '56 models are in the hands of the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend, IN, and they charge for copies or time to research and answer a question. I personally have not tried to order a copy for any of my cars.

While some automakers plastered their vehicle with build sheets and left plenty of 'em with it, Packard did not.

The only thing you might find is a strip of paper (like ticker-tape) affixed to the top of the glovebox. The only thing printed on that strip is a string of codes - hence, the need for my build code (RPO) chart.

Those who have found a build strip so many years later report that it is fragile and the printing is badly faded. I may have even inadvertently thrown the one away for my dad's Exec, after removing the i/p assembly and cleaning it up - not knowing what it was.

IIRC, the build code strip does not contain a date. Why is the build date important?