Packard sure had a lot of numbers.

Bob, the Packard numbers where used to designate between the jr and sr cars as well as the various wheelbases and engines. It actually gets even more confusing with the different body style numbers added on. You can go to the Packard Club site and have a look at the data book section to get any info on the various numbers, models,etc., it's under reference and encyclopedia

http://www.packardclub.org/

I think for prewar Packards the first one or two digits designate the "Series", corresponding to the year built. Model 1508 is the 15th series (I think this corresponds to 1937) and 08 corresponds to one particular chassis (wheelbase/engine) combo. So a Model 1508 and 1608 have similar chassis but correspond to two different years.

To make it more confusing, some years the the last two digits represented the wheelbase. eg a model 745 was a seventh series Packard (1930) with a 145" wheelbase. Of course a 745 (as well as a 1508) could come in a variety of body styles, like a limo, phaeton, dual cowl phaeton, coupe, etc.

Needless to say, it makes for a lot of numbers to remember...I am not sure what Packard did earlier or later one when they had models like the Clipper, the twin six and so forth.

Bill

Albuquerque

1954 was the first year they started using a series number that actually related to the production year which was some attempt I guess at making it less confusing.

You are right, there are a lot of series numbers for Packard and the confusing thing is that they switched methods several times. Beyond this is the next level and that is that each body style has a different number within the series. Indeed, you have to be really into the cars to remember all the numbers, but the ones from 33 to 42 are fairly logical and I can maybe shed some light on those. Packard used series numbers like a lot of other manufacturers in the early days, only changing when they brought out a new model, which was when they had enough new features to put together and produce a new model rather than an updated old version. This didn't always occur once a year like magic to be ready around September and all companies didn't bring out new models at the same time. It was therefore more important to have series numbers, especially if a company like Packard had several lines running at once. Packard had overlapping series until about 1928 when the 6th series designations, commonly 1929s, covered all the models. As said earlier, the series was the first number in these years and the last 2 numbers were the wheelbase in inches (plus 100)- a 633 was 6th series 133 in wheelbase, 640 = 140 in wheelbase, and the bigger models had longer wheelbases. Bigger is better, right? This system was used from the early 20s until 1932. In 33 the 10th series came out with a new system - the Standard 8 was a 1001 and 1002, the Super 8 1003 and 1004 and the 12s were 1005 and 1006. The two numbers in each seres designated long and short wheelbases. As more models were added like the 6 and 120, this was modified so that in 1939 a Six was a 1700, a 120 was a 1701 & 1702, Super 8 was a 1703 & 1705 and 12 was 1707 & 1708. In 1934 Packard was asked by the economic recovery bureaucrats, as were with other manufacturers, to bring out their new models once a year, and the chosen time was fall. The thinking was that this would stimulate economic growth through more new car sales, like the big car sales push after 9\11. Interestingly enough, this tradition lasted until the 90s when we saw car companies trying to stimulate sales by bringing out a new, next year designation model in advance of the normal fall roll out. Now it doesn't seem to matter anymore.

Getting back to Packard, you can generally guess that the higher the last number, the bigger model with the longer wheelbase, as in the 37 12 - a 1506 was a 12 with 134 in, a 1507 12 with a 139 in, 1508, 12 with a 144 in. It is all sort of logical - 10th series is 33, 11th = 34, 12th = 35, 14th = 36, 15th = 37, 16th = 38, 17th = 39, 18th = 40, 19th = 41, 20th = 42, here things change as the 46 and 47s are both 21st series and the wheelbase system goes away. Note that 13 was unlucky, and there is no 13th series.

Sometimes you can tell a little more about a car when describing it with the series number, so it isn't just that Packard guys are trying to maintain a secret order. I haven't learned the Cad series numbers and they are just as mystifying to me as the Packard ones once were.

Take care!

It never ceases to amaze me, the vast knowledge of the club members.

Thank You gentlemen for the information.

Bob Horgan?Grand Rapids, MI