Identifying the Year
Finding the model year of a car in the Durant family can be hard, because the year is not recorded anywhere on the car. There are, however, a number of clues that can lead you to the answer.
Start with the body data plate
The most direct method is to use the body data plate, if it is still on the car. The plate gives you the make, the model number, and the car number. With those, look through the serial number listings in the model’s fact sheets in the catalog pages to see where your car number fits. See Car Numbers and Factory Prefixes for how to read the car number.
Without a plate: detective work
If the body data plate is missing or can’t be read, you will have to do some detective work. Compare the physical features of your car with the information in the catalog pages. The radiator badge and the body style also help. The engine block and cylinder head casting dates give further clues, but use engine information with care: there is a real chance that these parts were replaced at some point in the car’s history.
The year of purchase can mislead
The year a car was bought is not necessarily its model year. Production of a new model year generally began in August, and the new models were introduced in September. So a car bought in October 1928 may be a 1929 model, or it may be a 1928 if the dealer had old stock. This became a bigger problem in later years as sales dwindled and model changes became more frequent.