1933 Packard 1005 Twelve Roadster Coupe

The Twin Six was designed by Cornelius Van Ranst, whose resume included the Cord L-29, and was originally intended for a front-wheel drive Packard. The project never materialized but the engine survived and was transplanted into the chassis of the Deluxe Eight. The engine was a 67-degree vee (an unusual configuration) with its valves positioned nearly horizontally and it was actuated by hydraulic tappets. The combustion chamber was partially in the block, giving rise to the description of a 'modified L-head.' Van Ranst explained the design was 'selected to make the powerplant as compact as possible while leaving adequate room for a horizontal valve mechanism within the vee, and to eliminate the synchronous periods which frequently occur in multi-cylinder engines designed for equal firing intervals.'

With all of its technological advancements, the new Twin Six was destined for success. However, it would attain only modest success. By the close of the year, just 549 examples had been built. In 1933, the Standard Eight and Deluxe Eight were renamed Eight and Super Eight, respectively. The V-12 was simply called the Packard Twelve. Individual Customs was now the province only of the Model 1006 long-wheelbase line. Engineering improvements included a new cruciform chassis frame, an angle-set hypoid differential, three-position headlamps, and new carburetors. The Twelve was mechanically the same as its Twin Six predecessor, but now it had a new single-plate, vacuum-assisted clutch.

Production of the 1933 models ended in August, with just 520 Twelves being built. The Tenth Series Packard's had a shortened model year so the company could concentrate on improvements for 1934. Of those 520 Twelves built, just 50 were coupe roadsters, or what Packard called convertible coupes.

This example, wearing body number 639-10, is one of the final bodies of that style. It was delivered on August 26th of 1933, just five days after production of the Eleventh Series began. The Berry Motor Car Company, of St. Louis, handled the sale.

In 1996, the current owner acquired this car from Dennis Sobieski, after the completion of a four-year, no-expense-spared rebuild. It is finished in dark red paint with a beige leather interior. It has earned Best of Show at the Barrington, Illinois, concours and the Glenmoor Gathering in Ohio, and it was judged Best Packard at Cincinnati's Ault Park Concours d'Elegance. It was selected as Most Elegant Full Classic at the second annual Celebration of Automobiles at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in May 2012.

The car rides on wide whitewalls on chrome wire wheels. There are dual side-mounts with metal covers, with each carrying a mirror. Pilot Ray driving lights are mounted to the front bumper. The convertible top is tan canvas, and the side windows are equipped with glass wind wings.

By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2014