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

Got two data tags on the cowl of the Clipper. They read, in part: Body Number: 2112-22185
Vehicle Number: 2112-22635

So, it is my understanding tha the body and chassis style is the Deluxe Touring Sedan. Are the second numbers the "erial" numbers of the body and chassis? The numerical order in which they were assembled? Is it common for these numbers not to match?

And, have not gotten ingine number yet, but does the engine number appear anywhere on these tags? Is there such a thing as a numbers matching Packard? And, if so, where do these numbers match?

I'm getting ready to register the car on this site and want to provide the correct info.

Thanks in advance.

The official vehicle number is the one on the large plate screwed to the cowl in front of the driver. The number on the small 1" wide tag lower on the firewall is on what is commonly called the Briggs Tag and is the number assigned when Briggs built the body. First 4 digits is the series and body style and the second set of numbers is the sequence number showing where that particular body was built in the total of all bodies of that model made. I believe 21st series numbers started at 200l. The various year starting numbers have been posted a few times but I never remember so others will correct if I guessed wrong. The 2112 does designate a Deluxe Clipper 8 sedan.

Except for a couple of years the sequence numbers on the two tags mostly match but since the body might not have been put on the assy line in the order it was received from Briggs or if there was a shortage of something needed for the car the body might have started down the line and had to have been pulled off somewhere before the official number was assigned. If that happened they can be off by several numbers. Yours being off by three hundred+ seems a bit unusual but there are others on the forum who might have more insight.

The engine number does not appear on any tags. For the 21st series It is stamped on the block right below the head and generally toward the middle above and either side of the distributor. It can be faint and covered with dirt and grease so sometimes hard to see. If it has the original engine the Motor number will start F32xxxx which is the 47 year 282 eight.

I don't believe Packard had anything resembling matching numbers much past the late 20s early 30s.

Thank you for this. It is a starting point. What is the embossed longer number on the upper cowl passenger side? Not on a tag, but stamped into the metal from the interior side of the cowl.

That is officially called the body dash number but most just call it the theft proof number. It was a number used internally at the factory and is on some info cards that went to dealers when the car was shipped but is not part of any official registration uses. Ironically it is the only number on the car that is permanent and cannot be removed by unscrewing a plate or changing the engine yet the only number of which almost all records have disappeared. In cases where the patent plate with the VN has been removed it is of no use in finding the official number. The few records showing both numbers that do exist are owned by individuals who have found them in various dealer archives but nothing on a large scale.

Owen_Dyneto has been compiling a database of the theft proof numbers for years and am sure he would be glad to get yours to add to his collection if you would share it along with the official VN and motor numbers. You can PM him privately if you would rather not post them.

Today in some cases of long sitting cars with lost paperwork or where there is no longer a previous registration trail the body dash number has been used for registration instead of the VN or Motor Number. Some state inspectors have chosen to use it just because of the fact it cannot be removed.

Not at all uncommon in the 21st Series cars to have a difference of several hundred between the sequential portion of the Briggs and Packard vehicle numbers. In the 22nd/23rd Series, differences are rarely more than 25. Beginning with the 24th Series they almost always match.