Packard Twelve History
History
The Packard Twelve, introduced for 1933 (briefly badged Twin Six in its first year), was the company's flagship through the great Classic era. Its 60-degree L-head V12 grew from 445 to 473 cubic inches; by 1935 it produced 175 hp, propelling some of the most coachbuilt and admired American cars ever made.
Built to compete with Rolls-Royce, the Cadillac V16, and Pierce-Arrow, the Twelve carried bodies by LeBaron, Dietrich, and other great coachbuilders and is today among the most coveted of all Classic-era cars. Only about 5,262 of the second-generation Twelves were built before the line ended in 1939, as the multi-cylinder luxury market collapsed in the late Depression.
Generations
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Packard Twelve · Twelve (V12 flagship)
Photo: “1934 Packard 12 11th Series Model 1107 Club Sedan (6663854635).jpg” by David Berry from Rohnert Park CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0
Packard's 60-degree L-head V12, growing from 445 to 473 cubic inches and up to 175 hp, carried coachbuilt bodies by LeBaron, Dietrich and others through the Classic era.
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1934 Photo: “1934 Packard Twelve 1108 Dietrich Convertible Sedan (3828552745).jpg” by Craig Howell from San Carlos, CA, USA / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0
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1935 Photo: “1935 Packard 1207 12 Coupe Roadster (21560223020).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0
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1936 Photo: “1936 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan - Automobile Driving Museum - El Segundo, CA - DSC02248.jpg” by Daderot / Wikimedia Commons — CC0 1.0
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1937 Photo: “1937 Packard 1507 Roadster (34808770595).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0
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Body styles
- Sedan
- Convertible
- Coupe
- Limousine
- Roadster
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