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

In April 2011 John (423reed) published the above shown picture in the photo archive, accompanied by the description: "1941 PACKARD ASSEMBLY LINE-B&W"

Since that time three related comments have been posted:

"With that grill, is it a 41 line or possibly a postwar 21st series line." (HH56)

"This is not the 1941 assembly line. Note the grille and parking lamps." (packards1)

"The Packard in the fore ground of the photo is a 21st Series 6-cylinder while the ones in back are 8-cylinder models. This assembly line photo would have to have been taken in 1946 or 1947." (JW)

I think that the caption is correct, the pic could have been taken in 1941. Both the grille in front and the wrapped around grille were offered in 1941.

Edit: BigKev, it looks like a nice mistake that the names of commentators are hidden in the photo archive. To make them visible one has to move the mouse over the seemingly empty field.

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I guess it is possible they had the wide spaced center grill in 41. There is a picture in the photo archive with one and labeled as a 41. The Clippers I remember seeing as definitely prewar have all had the narrow spaced bars in the center section.

All 41-42 Clippers had the "narrow tooth" grille, the vehicles pictured are post war 46/47 with the side tooth grille #383540. There is understandable confusion as the 41-47 Packard parts book lists that number for ALL 41-47 Clippers .Packard obviously superceded it, perhaps so 41-42 owners would gain the prestige of having a car that was 5 years newer looking.

When Packard superceded a part with a later number it is usually noted in the parts book (supercedes 321XXX). I have no idea why this was ot done in this case.

This forum is great, always learning something.

EDIT: The part number for the narrow spaced 41-2 narrow spaced grille is 371214 which appears in the numerical listing on the back of the parts book but not in the group.

No, '46-7 grilles were not available in '41 just like V-12 engines were not available in 1929. Revisionist history does not fly in PACKARDLAND.

Fred is correct, this is not a 1941 photo.