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

Very informative letter indeed, and thanks for sharing. I've read more than once that these bodies were completed in 1932 and stored in the white and I likewise believe that to be correct, but here's what I find interesting. The thief-proof number is in the 1934 range, well above the highest number for 1932 or even 1933. Thus this tends to confirm a suspicion I've had for a while that the thief-proof numbers were (sometimes) stamped after the body was assembled, perhaps using the triangles at each end for locating the stamping dies. I know this would seem awkward if not overly difficult, but if the numbers were stamped in 1932, they'd be in an entirely different bracket and Packard would have no way of knowing how many cars would be built between then and 1934. Think I've learned something to include in my upcoming article on the thief-proof numbers.

PS - still mulling this over and wonder if I might have reached a wrong conclusion. It would have taken a pretty big press to stamp the body dash number, perhaps making it unlikely that it wasn't done at the same time the cowl was formed. But then that would tend to say the bodies weren't all made in 1932, or at least completed at that time, as 32-33-34 have different cowls. Perhaps more likely is that not all the bodies were made in 1932, or if they were, they were incomplete at least to the extent of being minus the cowl stamping.

J.
Do you have the numbers from your LeBaron Town Car that you could give to Owen? Or isn't there enough left of that car to find those kind of numbers?

I don't know, honestly - will have to ask my dad.

Owen
The difference between the bodies of the 1932s and '33 are nil if any, but the 1934 bodies are quite a bit different. So it's possible that the '33 bodies were built in '32, but I'd doubt that the '34s were.

So West, are you in agreement then that the old adage that the 32-34 Dietrich convertible victoria bodies were all built in 32 and used thru 34 is at best an oversimplification and at worst, just not true. I think that's the conclusion I've reached.

A wise Packard expert once told me that custom shops usually built bodies in threes. However, this being a shop that Packard controlled, probably anything is possible.

As far as the stamped firewall theft numbers, I didn't quite understand all your thoughts on that. I don't know why the numbers couldn't be stamped in during regular 1934 Packard production of firewalls. It didn't really matter what car had what number, as long as it had "a" number. So, wouldn't they just take the next firewall off the stack when they had a car ready to assemble?

I didn't quite understand all your thoughts on that. I don't know why the numbers couldn't be stamped in during regular 1934 Packard production of firewalls. It didn't really matter what car had what number, as long as it had "a" number. So, wouldn't they just take the next firewall off the stack when they had a car ready to assemble?

West, I agree entirely, except it argues against Ed Blend's belief that all those bodies were built in 1932. If they were, they would have thief-proof #s in the 1932 range which clearly isn't the case. Guess I didn't express myself too well, it's a trait of mine.

Well, I'm not sure I agree that all the bodies were built in 1932, but even if they were, does that mean they'd have to have a firewall put on at that time? I guess it would be pretty flimsy without one, but.... ???

The theft proof number is stamped on a steel firewall, but behind the steel one is a wooden one. Perhaps that explains it? They had wooden firewalls on, and the steel one may have been applied during final assembly.

That sounds like the answer to me. I'd bet my un-bought grave site that the 1934 Dietrich's weren't built in 1932.