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

What do these numbers mean ???

Body serial number, also known as the "theft-proof" number. A number by which Packard could identify a car if the vehicle number was altered or defaced. Each body was numbered in sequence as it was produced, starting in 1929 with either 000001 or000010.

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I thought so but was checking as I saw a car that dose not have the numbers in between the arrows!!

For reasons not entirely clear, the numbering system was suspended for approximately the first half of the 1940 model year production. Some vehicles had the end brackets with no
numerals between them, others even lacked the end brackets. Also note that the numbers on the junior models between 1935 and 1937 did not have the brackets or arrows at the ends and thus could have the same 6 digits as a senior car.

A car that I am buying has <538I54> so what do this tell us ??

That it's a 1940 body, and about 2000 bodies from the end of production for that model year. The following chart summarizes my findings to date.

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