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

I recently purchased this vehicle with zero documentation. I have searched all over looking for the model number of this car.

I was built on 05/1928 in Detroit
Body is by Dietrich Inc
Shipped to Worcester BRA or BBA

It has a SIX Flathead not an eight. I originally thought it was a 4-43 but only see them as 8 cylinder models.

Any guidance is appreciated

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Welcome to the site. I see you own a 1928 Packard Towncar custom-bodied by Dietrich - lucky you.

I take the data plate is missing. Have you looked on this section of this site?https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/modelinfo/index.php? Because it is a custom body, it MAY have begun life as a 533 Six Sedan model 325.

Hey, you cannot be more than 10 miles from the Packard Proving Grounds at 49965 Van Dyke Avenue and what would be 22 1/2 Mile Road. You need to visit us sometime and also join Motor City Packards.https://www.motorcitypackards.org/

You'll get plenty of good advice at either place.

Hi Gar, welcome to PackardInfo.com!

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If the talk revolves around the so-called body tag then open the rear right door and lift the carpet up a bit. There should be a brass body tag about 4 inches in nailed to the floor.

G'day Gar,
to PackardInfo, and I invite you to include your '28 Packard custom-bodied Dietrich Towncar in the Packard Owner's Registry.

Hi Gar

Congratulation on purchasing a fine 1928 Six Series 533 and welcome to the Packard Info Forum. Looks as if you've acquired a ready-to-enjoy example from which you should derive much pleasure.

Your primary question is centered on the body provenance. Proof of coachbuilder takes detective work, but there are cues such as cited by Gusha, a four inch brass body tag placed in a discreet location. The lower front seat frame was also frequently a favored spot. When a custom body was being built, each wood frame component would have a job or design number stamped on it. This was done as the shops were busy building a variety of bodies as the same time, to keep components for specific job readily identifiable. Those stamped numbers might be visible with careful examination.

Dietrich, Inc., by the time bodies were built for the 1928 model year, was a division of Murray Corporation of American, a major production body maker. Careful investigation of the town car body will be necessary prove a Dietrich provenance.

For what its worth, I'm not a custom body expert but am versed in the type. My personal view seconds the opinion by RogerDetroit that the body on your car " it MAY have begun life as a 533 Six Sedan model 325". Custom modifications to factory-supplied body both as authorized by the factory and aftermarket are not unknown. It was much more common from the mid-1930's on to the WWII years when custom coach building largely died out.

The "devil is in the details" as they say. Studying those details in your large photo shows standard factory-supplied door handles typical of the 5th Series. Dietrich custom bodies have a very specific style door handle. The profile view with the open front blocked out, compared to a profile view of the Model 324 seven passenger sedan and 325 Sedan-Limousine reveals an exact match. The difference between those would be the addition of the partition window in the latter. The angle windshield frame does not match those used on Packard open cars. It may be a modification of the sedan A-pillar or a roadster/phaeton component from another maker. Dietrich town cars at this point still display vertical windshield posts.

Typically, town car chauffeur canopy had a small storage cupboard with a hinged door above the partition in the front of the tonneau. Here would the canopy canvas be folded along with the solid windshield header and hinged canopy stiffener arms that helped close the door glass seal against. If these details are on your car, it's a good indication it was completed in the period to make it completely functional.

Town cars were frequently placed on the shorter prestige makers chassis as the car would be used in a crowded urban traffic. Chauffeurs were consulted for their choice of make since they would be handling the car as well as maintaining it.

Hope this helps determine the coachwork provenance of your new acquisition. Good Luck and please keep us apprised of your findings.

Steve

Hey Roger, is the Motor City Packard club taking membership for 2019 yet? We are sold in joining them.

Thanks for all of the replies and sage advice.

I was able to determine that is a 1928 with a 533 chassis ID and is a 305 Limo.

Hi Gar

Thanks for the follow-up, confirms what clues indicated it started out as. Detailed photos of the windshield, canopy in the open position, canopy storage at the top of the rear compartment and partition might yield clues to their origin if they are the work of a known coachbuilder.

Steve

Gar,
for including your '28 Six Sedan Limousine in the Packard Owner's Registry.