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I've never seen a plate where the customer name was engraved/stamped.

Fraud Alert!

Slight correction to my earlier comment in this thread about the style of the patent plate. The one shown is late 11th series and early 12th series and differs slightly from the 10th and early 11th series plates. For those with an interest in such trivia, the 10th and early 11th series plates do not have a separate data space for including the city, it was normally just stamped after the selling dealer's name, if at all. Both plates showed the same number of patents.

Wait a minute. Why is a Georgia car showing up on a Detroit and Nashville Craigslist????? Maybe i am mistaken but i thot C'list rules was strictly regional by city unless dealers are allowed to post ads outside of their own local C'list area. No multiple listings for same item allowed either.

Not that i give a rip. But i'm surprised to see the multiple listings of the ad and across region/cities.

It could be worse. Just think if this were a Mercedes site, every pre-war example is passed off as Hitlers.

Gentlemen:

I know this car, and I know at least one former owner and I have driven the car. Now any discussion involving the data plate can be viewed as interesting discussion but as long as no one tries to pass the car off as an Al Capone original then no harm no foul, however if the current owner is trying to get $150K based on that plate then he has a problem. For the record the previous owner that I know sold it about 5 - 6 years ago for $30K and it was located then in Columbus Ga. It is a fine looking car in any event.

ALK

Hello Al:

Good to find out that a PackardInfo guy knows the car from a prior owner. And I agree that it is a nice example.

However, it does appear the current owner is trying to pass off the car as an original Alphonse Capone car. Take a look at the title of the ad and take a look at this quote from the ad, "...was purchased by Alphonse Capone as authenticated by the original brass placard on the firewall."

He would need a whole hell of a lot more supporting documentation to convince me it is a Capone car. An unathenticated data plate from 1933/34 is a real problem.

Just out of curiosity, if it could be verified that the car did in indeed belong to "THE" Al Capone and that the data plate is valid, would it be worth $150K ?????

Not to me but to some that would be a selling point and worth every penny. After all, he was the Mr Big of the day. Right up there with some movie star whose cast off belongings or half eaten lunches go for astronomical amounts to some fan.

If the name attached didn't do it legitimately, remember there is a fool born every minute -- some with more money than sense and ripe for the picking. Remember the guy who paid a HUGE amount for a nothing particularly special Chevy convertible a few years ago just because he wanted it and could afford it.

Unless the seller is called out by a knowledgeable person demanding more proof, I wouldn't be at all surprised to read in coming days that the car did sell -- and then to see it listed again somewhere shortly after the sale hoping another gullible person will buy it for even more money.

As regards personalization of the vehicle plate, Packard would do that for very special customers, although never for a bum like Capone.

Bob Turnquist had a mint original 39 twelve and the vin number was "George M Cohan"

As regards personalization of the vehicle plate, Packard would do that for very special customers, although never for a bum like Capone.

Bob Turnquist had a mint original 39 twelve and the vin number was "George M Cohan"