Re: VIN information

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2009/9/10 9:16:46

Just to elaborate a bit on the previous answer, the VIN numbers of today have a format dictated by Federal regulation and such was not the case when Packard was in business, all manufacturers used their own formats and systems. But Packards have vehicle numbers (VNs) which appear on the Patent Plate (from the 20s thru 1953?) and on the vehicle number plate from 1954 thru 1956. The vehicle number,depending on the vintage of your car, can tell you which series or year, model or chassis, body style, and an approximation of its placement in the production sequence for that model. But things like date of manufacture can only be obtained if you can find the "build slip" or obtain a copy of it, and precious few of these remain. Using casting dates from engine blocks and the like is not particularly useful in this regard.

From 1929 on they also have a "body serial number" or thief-proof number embossed on the firewall in large numbers usually bracketed at the ends by triangles. These can also be useful in guestimating whether a particular car is early or late production.

Why not just post your vehicle numbers and see what we can tell you about it?