Hello All - I posted some time ago that the book was finished and should be in production some time in November. It is on schedule and will probably be in print by the time you read this post. I am having about 100 copies sent to my home for those who want autographed copies. That is going to be the only way to get them signed. Cost will be $55 plus $5 shipping, either from me or from advertisements you will be seeing elsewhere.

If you want one from me contact me via email. DO NOT USE PRIVATE MESSAGE ON THIS OR ANY OTHER SITE. You can send a check or use Pay Pal to my email address.

It has been great fun and the finished product turned out great.

I am still collecting 1948 - 1950 number data so keep it coming. VIN #, Briggs Body #, embossed firewall # and engine #. The roster is close to 2,500 entries and I still get numbers which add something significant. Just got, a month or so ago, a new high 2365 VIN by 400 numbers. That was a big jump in information.

Robert
RJNeal0000@aol.com

Thanks Dave,
I have been asked by many to let them know when the book is available. An understandable request but somewhat difficult on an individual basis. Various announcements will be made in both national Packard club's publications. In addition, I will try to get it posted on this and a couple of other antique auto sites when it occurs. A publisher has been picked and actual printing and binding is now being arranged. My guess is that it should be in print some time in November. 8 1/2 x 11 format, hard cover, 300 pages, about 650 illustrations with about 150 of them in color.

Robert

This is the latest update on the book. It is finished. I am working on the publication process and it should be in print before the end of 2011.

I do have a specific item I am seeking for final "clean-up." I need some good pictures of 22nd Series (1948 or 1949) Super Eight cars, Sedans and Club Sedans, both interior and exterior for the color section of the book. If you would like your car to "go down in history," contact me with some pictures.

However, I am always looking for new number data on any 22nd-23rd Series Packard to add to the roster and anything you might think could be new or interesting information on the cars. It is never too late to add something to the book until at actually goes to the printer's press.

Robert Neal
August 5, 2001

Now for the latest on the Packard 6. I have noted that the Packard 1M-356 marine engines built in the 1948-1950 era were serialed MA20001 and up. Actually these engines always came with an attached reverse gear and the top of the reverse gear had a data plate with the model and serial stamped on it. The engines were built as both left and right rotation and the serial number would also include that designation. Therefore, the data plate of 1M-356 engine number one with left hand rotation would have a data plate stamped MA20001L. I just had the chance to look at how the actual engine block was stamped on one of these engines. It was engine 1M-356 MA20025L and the block is stamped A20025L with no "M". So now we have a precedent. The "M" was dropped and it might appear that the non-automotive (as in non Packard autos) engines of the period carried the prefix of "A." That would then make A26044B seem acceptable for a White truck engine number.

Now I guess we go on from here and find a White truck with a Packard engine and check it out and prove the theory.

Robert Neal
RJNeal0000@aol.com

I got a nice email from Fred Kanter and it prompted me to once again add to this thread. Two times in as many days is really a record for me. Maybe when I get this book finished I will shift some of my time to cruising the forums. In the mean time you guys can help me finish up this project. Go out there and chase down a White truck with a Packard 1T-245 (they also called it a 55A model)and let me know where it is so I can get some information from it, like what serial number did they stamp on it.

Until you find one, however, take a minute to go out in the garage and get the vin, Briggs body and firewall number from your 22nd or 23rd Series car and send it to me for information for my roster data base. This data base is very helpful in my research and will be here for other researchers after I am gone. So far i have number data from almost 2,300 cars. I am aiming at 2,500, which would represent about 1% of production. Most cars in the site owner's registry do not include an number information, probably 1 out of 20 do.

Email it to me. It could be after Christmas before i get back (or it could be tomorrow, who knows.).

Robert Neal
RJNeal0000@aol.com

Dave (Owen Dyneto)
I just was cruising through looking for some Tech Bulletin info and came across this six cylinder post. I have received NO request from you for information on this subject. You need to contact me directly by email in any case like this. I CANNOT OVER INFASIZE THE FACT THAT I DO NOT FREQUENTLY GO TO ANY OF THE FORUM SITES. I JUST DO NOT HAVE THE TIME TO DO SO. That is why I almost always leave my email address on all posts. I WILL ANSWER any request by email, but not often from posts BECAUSE I SIMPLY HAVE NOT SEEN THE POST. It is not that I ignore them. It is a simple fact of life, If anyone wants an be sure of an answer, THEY MUST CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BY EMAIL.

Roger has contacted my by email and I have told him that I believe his recent engine is one of those produced for the White trucks. I have so far not been able to raise any White truck collector or historian with a six cylinder Packard engine, so I do not know how they were serial numbered. Most information I have on these engines is in Master Motor Builders. The serial of Roger's engine, A26044 would seem to indicate they started serials at A 26001. It seems to fit OK with the way they serialed their marine engines of the period. 1M-245 started at MA 1001 and 1M-356 started at MA 20001 for example.

And yes, they did build some 23rd Series six cylinder cars. Very few, I will grant you, but they did build some. Acording to Packard documentation, their numbers started at H1516 whereas the 22nd Series six started at G1501. Don't ask me why the change but their documentation says all 23rd Series engines started at "16" instead of "01".

Regards,
Bob Neal
RJNeal0000@aol.com

Hi Peter,
I am interested in hearing about any Australian 1948 through 1950 Packards, particularly the long wheelbase ones. I am currently writing a book on the 1948-1950 cars and there will be a chapter devoted to the LWB models as well as one to the custom bodied cars. The Australian bodied ones would seem to fit both categories.

I am particularly looking for good pictures of Australian cars such as the Martin & King ambulances.

Robert Neal
RJNeal0000@aol.com

Hello all,
As most of you know, I am currently writing a book on the 1948 through 1950 cars. A very interesting subject, I might add. The renumbered car have always been somewhat of a mystery because Packard never revealed exactly how they chose to assign the new numbers. We only have surviving cars or dealer records to go by. I am building a data base, roster if you prefer the term, and one of its aims is to figure out just how Packad did their renumber thing. The data base now exceeds 2,000 numbers by quite a bit but still contains NO renumbered cars in several significant areas, which is difficult to explain. The missing body types with renumbered cars are noted below. I note in each case about where the numbers start for cars to be considered as renumbered. If you have or know of a car with a vin number at or above the noted numbers, please send it to me.

It is important to send ALL NUMBERS of the car. These include the # on the vin plate, the # on the Briggs body plate, the embosed body serial (firewall) number and the engine number. Comparing these numbers is the final determination as to whether the car was actually renumbered.

2292-9-20900 and above (Eight sedan)
2295-9-5500 and above (Eight club sedan)
2262-9-62000 and above (Deluxe Eight sedan)
2265-9-17250 and above (Deluxe Eight club sedan)
2272-9-19000 and above (Super Eight sedan)
2275-9-3800 and above (Super Eight club sedan)

There must be some cars out there which fall in the above ranges.

By the way, when this book project is over I will transfer all this data on a computer file to the PAC roster keeper who tracks these cars.

I guess you can call this the latest update on the project and its needs. Hope to hear from a bunch of you guys. Someone out there has got to own one of these mystery cars!

Robert

Hi Oh-I-Brag,

I came across this thread recently and wonder what came of the Australian ambulance you were considering. It is most likely a Martin & King bodies car as it appears they built a number of them. I am currently writing a book on the 1948-1950 Packards and am very interested in any pictures or information of the Martin & King Packards. What did you do on the car and do you still have the pictures? I would very much like to have high resolution copies sent to me if possible.

Robert Neal
RJNeal0000@aol.com

Hi John,
Dave passed the information on your convertible on to me and I appreciate your providing it. It does lead me to ask further questions, however. I believe you are looking for further number information and I am anxious to see it when you find it.

They are: the engine number - found on the left side of the engine on a flat boss above and slightly to the rear of the distributer. These numbers are frequently difficult to read because of either being filled with paint (the numbers are stamped into the metal) or rust. The number should be G40----. The next important number is the one on the small metal plate mounted on the firewall just above the big embossed number. It reflects the original number of the body. Since the number on the data plate of your car is 2279-9-9905 this second number becomes an important identifier.

Your firewall number of 751977 indicated a rather early body which would normally have fallen in the group of cars with data plate numbers in the area of 2279-5000 to 2279-7000. Yours, being a RHD car, is unique so it will be interesting to see what all the other numbers are.

It would also prompt review of the firewall number and data plate number for accuracy.

Good luck on your restoration.
Robert