The 1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan / Photos, Specs, Styling, Model History

Featured is a beautiful 1938 Packard Twelve Convertible. This was the top of the line Packard, an automaker that had a reputation for building quality and luxurious vehicles along with excellent engineering. In addition to it’s great looks the Packard was considered a highly reliable automobile.

Packard automobiles were produced from 1899 to 1956. It was during the 1930’s that real classic styling took hold and it was the decade where Packard cars combined great looks and power. IPackard was one of the finest luxury car makers before World War Two, and was a favorite with European Royalty, celebrities and leaders of Corporate America. The Packard Twelve is a legendary car and most likely the finest car Packard ever produced. Packard surpassed it’s competition by attracting discerning buyers who wanted automobiles with opulent interiors, sophisticated styling, and last but not least a smooth and powerful V-12 engine.

The Packard Twelve Engine

Packard produced the twelve cylinder engine from 1933 to 1939. From 1933 until 1934 Packard used a 445 cubic inch V-12 engine. Beginning in 1935 until the end of production in 1939, a 473 cubic inch V-12 was used. The first Packard Twelve delivered 160 HP and the 473 delivered 175 HP. This was plenty of power for the 1930’s and put it right up there with Cadillac’s V-16.

As a side note, Packard did produce a 12 cylinder engine fro  1916-1923 that was called the “Twin Six” which was really unrelated to the engines of the 1930’s.

1938 Packard Twelve Styling

Packard’s Twelves were built for special bodywork by the finest custom coachbuilders of the time, in addition to a wide and versatile list of open and closed, factory catalog body styles designed by the famed automobile stylist, Ray Dietrich.

Packard ushered in a new design for 1938 which included a more upright radiator, higher front fenders that wrapped around the side-mounted spare wheels, and a V-shaped windshield. In 1938 Packard started an overall new design featuring a more upright radiator, higher front fenders that wrapped around the side-mounted spare wheels, and a Dietrich inspired V-shaped windshield. The front fenders are pontoon styled which could support optional side mounted spare tires. The interior consisted of  rich ads  rich ichprs  ng thet would seasiy uould sccoummoate pfver

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