Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

We used to have inspection stickers on the windshield until the early 2000s. I like the look of a clean windshield much better. Luckily anything 30 years or older does not require inspection to get tags now.

Weirdly enough, when I buy from VA (I'm right on the line and work in VA), I don't have to get the vehicle inspected until I've had tags on it for a year. When I buy from NC, I have to have it inspected before they'll issue tags. Weird. Virginia titles don't have to be notarized when I buy, but NC titles do.

My car had a busted windshield when I got it, but had an inspection sticker from 1969 which was in nice condition. When I changed windshields I transferred the sticker to the new windshield.

That is cool! I like seeing cars with vintage bumper stickers preserved, but this car had no stickers. Luckily, all the glass is in great shape, but the '94 inspection sticker was in very bad shape, so I removed it when I cleaned the glass.

Aside from the old brake cylinders, spark plugs, 8V battery, and spare I found in the trunk, the only artifacts I found in the car were an old, disassembled generator and two parts receipts from the 80s which I saved because they listed the locations where the parts were bought. Both handwritten in cursive.

That is all cool stuff to find! I've been trying to track down my car's history, and I found out who owned it from the early 60's to the early 80's, but the rest is a mystery.

I don't know about the state DMV there where the car is but here in California, switching it over from the engine number to the actual VIN would be an easy matter of a VIN verification which can be done at the owner's home or business so is very easy. All it takes is using the proper number, then put in a remark that the engine number was used originally and that it's being switched over to the vehicle number. On old vehicles, the DMV does not usually have issues with the tag being screwed on as it often is on some cars. It's even held by screws on my 1965 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty Special.

I'm sure it could be done without too much fuss, but the VN tag in the door jamb appears to have been popped off when the car was painted however long ago, so I don't have that number, I just have what is listed as the VIN on the title. That plate would be the only place on the car to find the VN, correct?

I have a 1968 model camper I bought without a title (it's in great shape and was really cheap) to see how the process would go to obtain a new title. I got a bill of sale, called an inspector who sent me paperwork to fill out, and then scheduled a date for him to come view the camper. Once he saw the original serial number plate riveted on in good condition, he just took a picture of it, went to have the paperwork notarized with me, and now I have a good title for it. His comment pretty much summed it up: "As long as the paperwork looks good and they know how to tax you for it that's really all they care about."

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Windshields get broken, not busted. Women are (sometimes) busted but not windshields or anything else on a car.

"Most" of the time, in 1951-54, the Briggs Body Number which is on a small plate on the firewall matched the Vehicle Number.

If you click on Packard Decoder link on the menu, it will provide you information on all the various numbers, and where to find them.

Also, you can punch in your Vehicle Number or Engine Number and get back a sheet with information about your car.

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I briefly explored the decoder when I brought the car home. I tried that with the K222xxxx number, I removed the K and tried it that way, but I knew it wasn't right when it came back to a 1948 Super Eight. I just tried the body number and sure enough it came up! Base model 200 dressed up with hood ornament, gas door lock, side mirrors, rear "fins", etc.

I wonder why NC titled it as a '51...build date or purchase date maybe? I doubt build date would have been on the tag, or if they jumped ahead model years mid-year like they do now back then. I'm not sure where it was sold new, but receipts I found in the driver's ash tray indicate it was in the area where I purchased it in the '80s at least.

I really like running YOM tags on my old vehicles, so I will need to run a '51 tag for now to be 100% legal. I have a 55 and a 56 or 57 tag on the wall, but don't think I have a 52.

Some states, in the past, titled the car by the date it was first sold, regardless of the model year.