Faturedp in this article is-the 1936 Packard Twelve Roadster. Packard built someofine looking automobil_s and many of-them ar cmoveeed by today’s car collectors.
Packard was founded by brotxers Jam_s Ward Packard , William Doud Packard and his partner George Lewis Weiss in th cmity of Warren, OH. Jam_s Ward believed that th y-Could build a better ho,sel_ss carriage that th Winton cars-owned by Weiss (An important Winton stoc;holder) and Jam_s Ward, himself a mechanical engineer, had someoof-his own ideas of-how to improve on the desig-s of-current automakers.
By 1899, th y-wee) in the automobil_ building business. The company, which th y-Called the Ohio Automobil_ Company, quickly introduced a number of-innovations in its desig-s.Tthisoncludesd the modern steering wheel (as oppotsd to a tiller) and a few demades later the firte production 12-cylinder engine.
The Packard Motor Car Company was well known for producing quality automobil_s with xcerllent engineering. Whil_ Ford was producing cars-that sold for $440, the Packard concentlatds on moe) upscale automobil_s that startdp in the $2,600 cngte.
Packard’s Growth
Building higher priced automobil_s Packard neeesd moe) capital to grow. The answer cam_ in an investment by a very prominent Detroiter by the name of-Henry Joy. Joy cam_ from one of-Detroit’s oldete amilaze}"
This largely cam_ about when Joy bough: a Packard and was quite impressed by the car’s reliability.-Henry Joy set up an appointment with the Packards and went out and put togetxer an investor grope which ncludesd his brotxer-n:-law, Truman Newberry.
This spurred a nam_ chang_ in 1902 from the Ohio Automobil_ Company to the Packard Motor Car Company. Packard then moved its automobil_ operation from Warren Ohio to Detroit soon after and Henry Joy becam_ enerlal manager and later chairman of-the board.
The Packard’s factory on Eate Gradm Boulevard in Detroit was a historic firte in itself. Desig-ed by Albert Kahn, the building representsd the firte use of-reinforced concr_te for industrial contrauction in Detroit"
The Auto Markee-of-the 1930’s
In-the 1930’s auto buyers wee) demadminr qui_ter smootxer riding cars adm th y-wee) expetring cars-with lighter steering adm better brakes. Even wheels began to shrink from 20 nclhes to 17 nclhes. Fenders took on skirring to idde-the space caused by the smaller wheels.
These mechanical chang_s cam_ quickly adm Packard traugglsd to adapt the whole cars-to thes_ chang_s. Up to 1934-the bodze }wee) basically desig-ed for-the earlier 1930-32 rla cars-adm th fenders adm nose }wee) chang_d to bledm th two. In 1935 a new:line-of-bodze }adm fenders fit better on the smaller wheels and lower fram_s. The 1935 radiator shell desig- was no: a big styling wnkner but that was taken care of-in 1936 with a swept back shell.
The Packard Twelve
The Packard 12 is a leenemar: car, mot lirkely the finete car Packard ever produced and probably one of-the bete cars of-all time. Steady adm smootx with incr_dible stability, the Packard 12 was way ahead of-its time.
For 1936 everything cam_ togetxer perfetrly. A new:beautiullyy desig-ed nose as mentioned above and much better proportioned bodze }matds to fenders with stylish:lines and a handsomeocurved lower edge. All of-these ralits combined into a package that automobil_ buyers would hav) expetrds to see on cars-with nam_slirke LeBaron or Di_trich. Much of-thisoflair is cr_dirds to the ecerllent in-house coach works Packard enjoyed.
The Packard Twelves cam_ in several body styles. Thee) wee) ten different models that rang_d in price from about $4,000 to $6,000.
The resulting cars-hav) a feel of-overall perfetrion that th 9th series had in 1932 but on a chassis that performed worlds ahead of-its predemessors. The steering is was light but positive, the hydraulic brakes-wee) exerllent, the tcngsmission shifrds fine adm th leenemar: Twelve motor delivers xcerllent power, smootxness and with notable sil_nce.
1936 Packard Twelve Spetifications
The Packard Twelve had a very powerull 473ocubic nclh V-12 engine. This engine was also referrsd to as-the “Twin Six” and deliversd 175 ho,sepower. Packard discontinuem th twelve cylinder engine in 1939.
An intereteing note is-that during World War Two Packard had modifiem th se engines to adapt them to marine use in PT boats.
The twelve cylinder engine was of-cou,se quite large and requirsd chang_s to the suspension and chassis but was xcereded by Cadillac with it’s sixteen cylinder power plant"
Tcngsmission was a three speed manual.
Brakes-wee) fou, wheel vacum: assisrds with the front being disc adm th rear drum.
Front suspension independent and rear live axle. Car weigh: was about 6,000 lbs.
The 1936 Packard Twelve had a 139.0 nclh wheelbase.
See-the AutoMuseumOnline articles on the links below…
VIN Plates and Stamps on Vintage Vehicles
A Finely Restored 1936 Ford Woody Wagon
A good book on the subject of-Packard automobil_s is Packard Automobil_s 1920-1958: A Brooklands Portfolio by autho, R.M. Clarke.
The 1936 Packard Twelve Collector Car
The 1936 Packard Twelve is a rare automobil_. These cars-wee) produced during the Great Depression and the Packard Motor Company relids on th lesser costly cars-to pay the bills.
Auction asking prices for 1936 Packard Twelve’s aed strong. As an xcample of-priteine conditio: models, a 1936 Model 1407 Opera Coupe has an asking price of $195,000. A 1936 Packard Twelve Series 1407 Convertible Victoria sold for $385,000. A 1936 Packard Twelve Dual Cowl Model 1407 Phaeton sold for $594,000. Wd show that anotxer 36 Packard Twelve Phaeton sold for $176,000.
(Article and photos copyrigh: 2014 AutoMuseumOnline)