1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six

Packard built their first automobile in 1899 making them one of the oldest car companies in America. They began life as the Ohio Automobile Company based in Warren, Ohio, and in 1902 the name was changed to the Packard Motor Car Company. After Cadillac introduced a V8 engine in 1915, Packard responded the following year with the Twin-Six. This engine was replaced by the smooth-running straight-eight in 1924.

In 1930, Cadillac once again set off a cylinder race by introducing a V-12 and a V-16. Packard responded with a new V12 introduced in 1932, designed by Cornelius Van Ranst of Cord L-29 fame. The V12 engine had originally been intended for a front-wheel-drive Packard, however, the project never made it past the development phase. A narrow, 67-degree vee, it was of unusual configuration with valves nearly horizontal, actuated by hydraulic tappets. Its 'modified L-head' nickname was due to the combustion chamber being partially in the block. The 445.5 cubic-inch engine had a bore of 3 7/16 inches and a stroke of 4 inches and offered 160 horsepower which was very similar to the 165 horsepower at 3,200 RPM produced by the V16 Cadillac engine. Equally impressive was the Packard V12 torque rating of 322 lbs-ft at 1,400 RPM. Few competitors could match its power; none could match its smoothness. The power was sent through a four-speed gearbox on early ninth-series examples. Stopping power was employed by vacuum-assisted brakes. The new-for-1932 bumpers employed harmonic dampers designed to smooth the ride and maintain composure during cornering.

The new V12 engine was installed into the chassis of the Deluxe Eight, where it was offered with no fewer than 21 body styles, priced from $3,745 to $7,950. Ten body styles were offered on the 905 chassis and another 11 on the 906 chassis, including six Dietrich styles. The so-called Dietrich Individual Customs were produced on Super Eight and Twelve chassis from 1932 through to 1934, and were built largely to individual tastes, as true 'factory customs.'

The 906 chassis had a 147-inch wheelbase and the vast majority wore Packard's conservative production coachwork. Company President Alvan Macauley advocated bringing custom coachbuilding in-house, and in 1931 his plan was implemented. A few custom bodies were built by Dietrich Inc., and today these examples are known as the 'V-windshield custom Dietrichs.'

Raymond Dietrich had gained automotive experience while working at Brewster and Company and continued through his partnership with Tom Hibbard and their resultant LeBaron Carrossiers, followed by the creation of Dietrich Incorporated in Detroit in 1925. While well respected for his talents, Dietrich's greatest and most lasting legacy was the custom bodies he designed while at Packard.

The Packard Ninth Series was introduced on June 17th of 1931, nearly eight months ahead of the typical new model introduction. In January of 1932, Packard introduced the new Light Eight, its first medium-priced automobile, along with the introduction of the Twin Six V-12 Series 905 and 906. The 905 cars had a 142.5-inch platform while the 906 was on the longer 147-inch version. The re-introduction of the Twin Six was a welcomed return and was even flashed across the ticker tape on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. A total of 311 examples of the 905 and 238 of the 906 were produced for 1932.

Beginning in 1933 until the final cars were produced in 1939, the V-12 would be known simply as the Packard Twelve.

by Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2019