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

Hello All,

I am a new owner just purchased my first Packard. A 1940. At least I’m told it’s a 1940…. Anyway I’m not sure if it’s a 120 or a 160. The identification tag is missing from the firewall. There are numbers on the engine on drivers side just below the head in center of the block. Also on lower driver side and passenger side. One number appears on both sides on lower portion of block close to firewall, it looks like a date.

Welcome to Packards! Hard to tell what it is without any photos, though.

Also a welcome and as Don said, a few photos showing various angles will help others identify the model and confirm the year.

The number stamped on the motor just under the head is the official motor number and may help identify the year providing it is the original engine. The larger number and date cast into the block just above the oil pan is a casting number and date block was cast in the foundry. There is also a casting number on the head. Both of those casting numbers are of very little use since it just identified the raw casting before any machining was done.

The vehicle number which would have been on the missing plate is the official number. Depending on the state where registered that number or the motor number were used for registration purposes. With it missing your state may assign a number or some inspectors have used the large embossed number on the firewall. Surprisingly that is the only number on the car which is not removable yet was not used for anything outside the factory. Most records of the number have also been lost to time.

Here is a list of 39-41 motor numbers. If the car is a 40 and still has the original engine the motor number will start with a C. Except for the sixes, the CID and model engine was installed in is determined by the second number

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  motor number.jpg (258.38 KB)

One other possibility of getting close to the missing number. If your car has the small tag labeled D in the illustration that may be helpful. The small tag was placed by the body builder and while it was often the same as the official number, depending on how the body landed on the assembly line there are instances where it will be a few numbers off so was only used by the factory.

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  numbers.jpg (110.04 KB)

Thank you for the information I was able to determine that the engine is a 160. As far as I know it’s original to the car. I will look on the body for those other numbers as well. For some reason I am having trouble uploading photos

An 1803 160 and a 120 share a basic body - some of the folks here can help acquaint you with the trim differences between a 120 and a 160.

Quote:

Photos are easy once you get used to it. In the form at the bottom of the post, just select the one you want to upload, then press the Upload button! Repeat for each photo you want to show. If you're sending high resolution photos from an iPhone or other mobile device, best to not do it full size as they may be to large to Upload.

You can add or remove any photos after you've posted too by selecting Edit for the post, then following the same procedure as outlined above.

Note: even though Apple's HEIC format photos are shown as an accepted type, they do not seem to work.

That’s something I would like to become more tan with. What are the trim differences between the 120 and 160?

Here are a couple photos

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  E04264B6-E688-4AB7-A19F-A84210611BE2.jpeg (319.70 KB)


  0A64DEAD-A86A-4AE7-95A4-621EDC0B9940.jpeg (291.83 KB)


  74972C0A-BB20-4A79-B978-91EE8040B5B0.jpeg (375.39 KB)


  B0E97A34-F12D-4F66-8A2C-CF23B581987A.jpeg (203.29 KB)


  850F77E7-EC1A-41A3-8D62-402472CCE93A.jpeg (74.88 KB)


  B833E7E7-B350-4C69-A604-64D8D7175B21.jpeg (206.99 KB)

G'day JBrown,
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '40 160 Packard in PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry