Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Is there a way I can determine the build date of our Packards by the serial and body numbers? I'd like to know if our Patrician and Clipper are older or younger than I am!

What model years are your cars?

The short answer is no.

Except for 1955/1956, you can make an educated guess from the theft-proof number which except for extremely early or late numbers might get you within a month or so of the build date. For some V8 models you can get a copy of an original shipping order which would get you generally within a few days. Generally vehicle numbers are only useful in making good guesses if they are very early or late numbers and we also know which models and body styles initiated or ended production. For example we know that the initial 22nd series production consisted of only convertibles.

Unless the engine has been swapped, one other possible way to get within a few months would be to find a casting date on the block. Haven't read that Packard stockpiled large volumes of unfinished blocks or finished engines so doubt the date the block was cast and then engine finished and installed in the car would be different by more than a month or two.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Sometimes one can find the "build sheet" under the front carpet. I found the remains of the one for my 55 Clipper there near the transmission hump. Good luck. JWL

Here is a photo of what was left of the "build sheet". Mostly gone, but a valuable find. JWL

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Contact the gift shop at the Studebaker Museum in South Bend, give them your vehicle numbers and $45 each and they will send you your build sheet and shipping manifest.

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I've never found any correlation between engine casting date codes and car build dates. Most blocks carry 1955 dates, so it would seem the contract foundry cast most of them within a short window.

jack vines

Great! Thank you!