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

Did Packard use engine no. as the VIN no? I have a 1924 Packard roadster and need to know if on my title the vehicle id should be the engine no. or the number on the firewall brass plaque? Someone help me with my dilemma.

I believe for many years it mostly depended on what the state in which the car was sold or located wanted to use. Not sure about cars as early as 1924 but from at least the early 30s on Packard did provide an official vehicle number different from the motor number. In 1955 they became the same.

In most cases the VN was the number supposed to be and was used for registration. Even so, some states officially went by the motor number even though that number could change if an engine was replaced. In that occurrence states sometimes assigned their own numbers as has been evidenced by some very strange motor numbers owners here on the forum have found on their cars and in paperwork.

Not sure exactly when that motor number use officially ended -- probably around 1981 when the federal government said a standard format VIN was required on every vehicle and that number was to be used.