Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Somewhere I've got several bits and pieces of articles about the armoured 35/36 Twelve of Stalin, I believe a twin or near twin to it was built for the union labor leader Walter Reuther here in the US. May take me a while to find the material.

Both cars appear to be 12-cylinder cars, though I believe those bumpers were optional on all series. The second car is a 1933 touring. The windshield frame would be different if it were a phaeton.

In 1941, was there a number written or stamped on the cowl-separate from & different from the VIN tag information?

In 1941, was there a number written or stamped on the cowl-separate from & different from the VIN tag information?

Yes, the Briggs body number from 1941 thru 1954. Packard contracted body construction to Briggs during these years; the Briggs number should match the vehicle number in the first (left-most) set of digits, and is usually quite close, often matching, to the VN.

Also of course the "thief-proof" or body serial number, the large embossed number enclosed by triangle-shaped brackets at each end.

Did Briggs use numbers, letters or a combination? What size were they? Also, is there a way to decode the body numbers for body style or model year? Was there any deviation or any bodies sent without a number?

Briggs numbers were on a small metal tag screwed to the cowl near the heater box and had the same format as the vehicle number on the patent plate. In the very few cases where letters were part of the vehicle number, for example the DeLuxe versions of the 1941 160 convertible and convertible sedan, the letters DE were used in the vehicle number - can't say if I've ever noted if they were also in the Briggs number.

Of course vehicle numbers decode quite easily into year, chassis, body style and sequential production number.

Chassis sold naked for custom coachwork were numbered differently. Also some 1940 cars lacked the thief-proof numbers for reasons not entirely clear. The thief-proof numbers started in 1929 and ended in 1956.

Some commercial chassis, for example Henneys, may have different numbering systems.

If some VERY UNCOMMON cases, for example a one-off custom by Derham, the Packard patent plate (VN tag) was sometimes removed completely and replaced by a Derham VN tag.

WAKADJA1,
Like to say G'day and you to PackardInfo.

Please see this document for more information about the Vehicle Numbers, Briggs Numbers, and Theft Proof Numbers.

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/article/view.article.php?397

Thank You
I'll print & read

I've been looking as time permits. I know I've seen it somewhere.