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So I bought this 1951 2dr post Pacard 200 a few months ago at a collector car auction. I guess because it was from an auction that I am familiar with I didn't look to make sure the vin on the title matched the car. Well now that I am looking to see what I bought I see there is no tag in the door jam on the drivers side(just two holes where the rivets were) and the previous owners used the engine number for the v.i.n. on the title. Usually there is another spot on the frame that has the vin stamped in it. Can anyone tell me where that is? Thanks in advance.

There is not. Only other number is the Briggs Body Number on the firewall. Sometimes it matches the Vehicle Number, sometimes it doesn't. But the first four digits would be the same.

My 54 is also missing its Vehicle Number plate, and was registered by the Engine Number.

Bummer! Thank you for your reply. I guess it is what it is. I will still look for it but probably gone for good.

The door jamb plate is the only official VN location and if that plate is gone so is the number. Unless it was also removed, there should be a small tag of roughly 1 x 4 inches fairly high on the firewall in the engine compartment which was installed by the body builder (Briggs) and is commonly called the Briggs tag. That number is of no use in registering but will often be the same as the official VN -- although it can be a few digits off if the body was placed on the assembly line in a different order than it was received from Briggs. The first 4 digits denoting the series and body type will be correct but the second set of numbers denoting the sequence in build may be off. The format will be 24xx-xxxx where 24 is the series or a 1951 model, the xx for body type and the -xxxx denoting where that particular car was in the total production of that body type

In that era many states did use the motor number to register so your paperwork may well be the only way it was ever registered.

In some states today even the motor number is not acceptable because the engine can be removed and the number lost or changed. In that instance your state DMV may use the large embossed number on the firewall above the heater box or sometimes issue their own.. Ironically that is the only number that cannot be removed but for all practical purposes is worthless in identifying a car because most records tying that number to a particular car are non existent.

Thank you! As I stated this is my first Pacard so it is fun to learn more. My Body number is 2495 so I guess that is a 200 Club Sedan. It does have the Swan? hood ornament and the three port hole things on the rear quarters, does that mean anything else? It is the 288 engine, #J248807H

Art

G'day amunson,
to PackardInfo.

I invite you to include your '51 200 Club Sedan in PackarInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry.

The "swan" hood ornament was an extra cost accessory on the "200" models. It was standard equipment on the more expensive Packard models in 1951 (250, 300 and Patrician). In Packard circles, the bird hood ornament is referred to as the cormorant. The "port hole things" or rear fender ornaments were standard equipment on the "250" and Patrician models. While not an official option, both dealers and owners sometimes affixed them to the "200" models in order to dress them up a bit. When new, a number of contemporary automotive writers criticized the appearance of the "200" series cars as being too plain for what was supposed to be a prestige brand, so it is understandable that some owners would want to give their cars a little added flair. On the models where the fender ornaments were standard equipment, there would be three of them from the factory. But I have seen a few cars where a fourth ornament was added. They are only stuck on with push pins, so it does not require very much effort to add them on if desired.

2495 is the Standard Club Sedan built on the 2401 chassis which would have been one of Packards lowest cost offerings in 51 and would have been very basic and somewhat thinly equipped. The Deluxe Club Sedan was a slightly more upscale version and had a bit dressier interior with added chrome trimming and features inside and some extra chrome molding outside.

The standard hood ornament would have been very basic and the side louvers would probably not have been there as standard equipment. The winged cormorant and lovers were fairly low cost options though and could have been ordered by the dealer to make the model a bit more appealing on the lot or bought by the owner after the sale. With a few limitations Packard did make most options they offered available for all models so how a car is equipped could vary greatly depending on how much an owner wanted to spend.

The engine number appears to be correct for the car and if it was verified that is the same number which is stamped on a smoothed pad above the starter motor most likely it has the original engine. Engine number denotes it is the basic 288 which would normally have had solid lifters. Since it is not the optional 300 engine listed as available for the 2401 chassis I believe the H suffix in that year motor number signifies the engine was bought with the optional hydraulic lifter package.

When researching parts, most mechanical items are found under the chassis number so in the parts manual parts listed with a 2401 or just a -01 in a long string of similar numbers would be what to use. Body and trim parts would be carried by body number -- 2495 or just the -95 in a string.

Here is the list of available models for 51.




Mechanical specs are in this service counselor and if the car is relatively unmolested there is a chance the original build slip is still with the car. Feel GENTLY on top of the metal cover over the glove drawer for a thin strip of paper taped on top of the metal cover. If it is there be gentle as it will be very brittle. It will be a piece of teletype paper a couple of inches wide and maybe 8-10 inches long with a string of printed numbers and letters in a line or two. Another place it might still be found is folded in a small square and stuffed somewhere in the length between the large fill and small vent pipes at the gas tank.

We don't have a 51 salesman's data book in the literature archive but there is one for 52 models. Aside from trim shape and placement the 51-2 cars are otherwise almost identical so you can get a feel for how your car was positioned and equipped by comparing it to those for 52. Go to the literature archive via the link on the left menu and then to Salesman and Dealer information to find that data book. Almost all 51 factory parts and service manuals along with after sale service bulletins and other information is also in the literature archive.

When the time comes, I have many good used (and a few new) 1951-1954 parts not far from you in Central Oregon and I also have here at home perfect reproduction owner’s manuals.

In the meantime, I am a licensed California VIN Verifier and a car like yours offers various conundrums. However, when verifying a vehicle by engine number, the number is filled into the VIN field (not the engine number field) and the DMV is none the wiser! I would transfer the title as it is, then deal with getting the correct number later. All of my own Briggs tags have been the same as the VIN number but, as already stated, that’s not always so so follow Howard’s advice to locate the build sheet. If the car came from out of state, it will somehow have to be verified in order to transfer it but not sure what verification services are offered in Washington state.

Bottom line when dealing with any DMV, do not volunteer any information that they didn’t ask for! They seem to confuse easily and better to not throw any wrenches into the works by accidentally saying the wrong thing.

Incidentally, we love to see some photos of your new car!

for including not only your '54 Clipper Super Panama Hardtop but your '36 Super Eight Convertible Sedan in the Registry, double thanks for double the inclusion.