First generation
The first company produced 12-cylinder engine was in 1916, called the Packard Twin Six (1-25, 1-35) signifying two different wheelbases of 125 in and 135 in, and was for four years the only product sold until the Single Six returned in 1921. The standard paint scheme for open cars, touring sedans, phaetons, and runabouts was Packard blue with cream yellow striping on body and door panels, with black used on the underbody, radiator, fenders, chassis and running gear with no striping. Wheels were painted cream yellow with black stripes. Closed body choices were painted similar without cream yellow painted wheels. Brightwork was nickel plated, and a Warner speedometer, with a Waltham clock, among other items, were standard equipment. Optionally, the choice of interior and exterior colors were endless to accommodate the customers preferences.
Ten different body styles were available on either wheelbase while coupe and runabout body styles were only offered on the 125" wheelbase. The engine was a 60 degree L-head displacing 424.1 CID producing 88 hp at 2600 rpm. Detachable heads and larger radiators came in 1916, a center-mounted gear shifter and brake levers in 1917.[4]
The range consisted of three series, built from May 1915 until June 1923. It was available with a shorter wheelbase from 1915 until May 1919. From 1915 to 1920, the Twin Six was the sole offering from Packard. Production was 30,941 automobiles. Prices started at US$3,050 ($0 in dollars ) to US$5,150 ($0 in dollars ) for the Imperial Limousine.[4] The 1919 Third Series Twin Six 3-25 Runabout was used as the pace car for the 1919 Indianapolis 500 auto race.
- First series (May, 1915 until August, 1916)
- Packard Twin Six 1-25; wheelbase 125 in. Engine without detachable cylinder head
- Packard Twin Six 1-35; wheelbase 135 in. Engine without detachable cylinder head
- Second series (August, 1916 until August, 1917)
- Packard Twin Six 2-25; wheelbase 126½ in. Engine with detachable cylinder head
- Packard Twin Six 2-35; wheelbase 136 in. Engine with detachable cylinder head
- Third series (August, 1917 until June, 1923. 3-25 ends May, 1919)
- Packard Twin Six 3-25; wheelbase 126½ in. tapered hood, straight body, center shift and brake levers
- Packard Twin Six 3-35; wheelbase 136 in. tapered hood, straight body, center shift and brake levers
Second generation
For 1933 Packard reintroduced a twelve-cylinder engine, initially called the "Twin Six", then changing the name to "Packard Twelve," to align it with the rest of the Packard lineup.[5] This was the 10th Series and two models were on offer: the 1005 and the 1006 had wheelbases of 142 in and 147 in. The Twin Six' double drop frame was replaced by a tapered design.[6] Convertibles and roadsters used leftover ninth series bodies with a smaller radiator than the all-new tenth series models.[2]
The Twin Six' V12-engine was retained without major change. The cylinder blocks are at a 67-degree angle, bore and stroke 3+7/16 and 4 in respectively. A 445.5 CID displacement was the result and maximum power is 160 hp at 3200 rpm. The cooling system was improved and a new Bendix-Stromberg EE-3 carburetor with an automatic choke was introduced, increasing power somewhat. A single dry-plate clutch replaced the earlier twin-plate model, matched to a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission and a new one-piece driveshaft. The existing mechanical brakes were also adopted for the Twelve.
The shorter wheelbase (Model 1005) was available with at least ten different styles of bodywork, ranging from the two-seat Coupe Roadster to the five-seat Formal Sedan. Standard bodyworks for the long wheelbase Model 1006 were Sedan and Sedan Limousine (both either five- or seven-seaters), with a host of custom bodyworks also on offer.
Year-to-year changes
In 1934 the 11th series model was introduced, adding a shorter third version on the 135 in chassis of the Super Eight.[7] An "Aero Sport Coupe" bodied in-house and a LeBaron-bodied "Runabout Speedster" were available on this wheelbase; only around ten of these two types were made. The appearance of the dramatic, almond-shaped Aero Sport Coupe was guided by Packard stylist Ed Macauley although the actual design work was done by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky in his stint as a consultant at Packard. Only four Sport Coupes were built. This was the last car to be "Custom Made by Packard."[5] The Model codes were 1106 (short), 1107 (middle), and 1108 (long). 960 Packard Twelves were built in 1934. This was also the first year that a radio was a factory option.
For the 12th Series of 1935, the engine gained aluminum heads and was stroked by a quarter inch, bringing up the displacement to 473.3 CID. Power was 175 hp at 3200 rpm and a high compression version with 180 hp was also available. The gearbox was now fully synchronized and both the mechanical brakes and the clutch received vacuum assist. The new wheelbases on offer were 132+1/2 in, 139+1/4 in, and 144+1/4 in. The 14th Series of 1936 was largely unchanged from the 12th (there was no 13th Series). The only differences were a radiator angled by five more degrees, the oil temperature regulator was redesigned, and the shortest wheelbase model was discontinued.
