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

Hagerty has my '39 120 insured as a "1939 Packard Series 120", if that helps. See if they will accept it that way, as a Series 160.

I am curious about the decal. In addition to the one year only use of the decal did Packard also use the motor number as the VN in 38 or is that a replacement or repro decal made when the engine was changed. I would have assumed the factory 38 decals would still have followed the custom of using the body number plus sequence number --- 1103-xxxx --- format for the VN and would probably be in the typical deteriorated almost unreadable condition.

I believe California had their own unique numbering system for re-registering vehicles with replacement engines since it is one of the states that registered by motor number and maybe other states did too but AFAIK, Calif kept the original patent plates and VN intact and issued an additional ID plate. IIRC, there was a suspected but unproven example of that plate shown a few years ago when some were trying to understand the strange motor numbers on their cars.

It is difficult to make out the photo, it looks like the car has a divided windshield, if so it's for sure a '38. As for the common "explanation" for anomalys that a car uses a previous year's or following years parts, in 56 years I've never seen that. If car companies do that they carefully denote same in their parts books (before serial # 123456)etc.
Some explanations say maybe a worker picked up a part from another area of the factory...that's not how factories operate.

After the car was built someone installed another engine in it.
The serial # plate looks like a rather recent aluminum repro. I know that in 37 they were chrome plated brass. Check the date of the newest patent #, can be done on google.

Hi

Does anyone remember who the "REBUILT 2-1-58 by John Ray" refers to?

Steve

So I am back. I did speak to the previous owner who told me the man he bought it from has had many Packards. Maybe half dozen maybe dozen. He is in indiana I think. He also said this man bought it in Arizona. I am supposed to be getting contact info of the man of many packards soon. Who knows... He may chime in here and say "OH WOW that was mine long ago! I know everything about it!". Or at least I hope! I will measure my wheel base let you know. I will also get a better pic of the rebuild plate. Thanks for all the help!

Also I believe the rebuild plate says John& Ray. I could be wrong

I wanted to update anyone who followed this or helped me out. I took a closer look at my Id tag and in fact it is a decal not a plate. I don't know if the decals are reproduced or not. I've taken pictures but the quality is so poor I don't want to post any until I can get the car out into natural light. I've discovered that all the door handles, window cranks, and visor brackets are ribbed which someone else told me is only on a 38' model. I've measured my wheel base and it is 127". I was able to get insurance and corrected my new title to read model: super eight. Thanks for all the help

Yes, the decals are reproduced.