1913 Packard Model 38

One of Alexander Winton's first customers was James Ward Packard who had acquired a Winton motorcar in 1898. After encountering several issues with his new automobile, he voiced his complaints to Mr. Winton. Mr. Winton's response was similar to the one that Enzo Ferrari would make to Ferrucio Lamborghini many years later - if he was unsatisfied with the product and thought he could do better, then he should do just that. With the help of his brother William and two former Winton employees (George Weiss and William Hatcher), James Packard built his first motorcar by November of 1899. A total of five cars were built that year and 47 of the new Model B in 1900. However, these cars were not known as Packards; instead, they were built under the auspices of the New York and Ohio Company, a subsidiary of the brothers' Packard Electric Company, which manufactured transformers and electric lighting equipment. Much like most other automobiles of this era, these Packard-built cars were runabouts powered by a single-cylinder engine located under the seat, and backed by a two-speed planetary transmission and chain drive.

The brothers formed the Ohio Automobile Company in their hometown of Warren, Ohio, on September 10th of 1900. Customers included William Rockefeller and wealthy Detroit businessman Henry B. Joy. Mr. Joy was impressed with the product and bought large quantities of stock in the company, including the entire issue of 2,500 shares in 1902. The company became the Packard Motor Car Company and a year later moved to Detroit, and into a new modern concrete factory that had been designed by industrial architect Albert Kahn.

Although the company built two- and four-cylinder cars from 1902, it was a single-cylinder car that beat Winton's coast-to-coast record in 1903, with driver Tom Fetch in 'Old Pacific' besting the record by two days. Chief engineer Charles Schmidt set a world record in a Packard at Ormond Beach in Florida in January of 1904.

In 1907, Packard introduced the Model 30, helping them establish a reputation for well-built, quality, luxury cars. Packard would become part of the 'Three Ps' of prestige American automobile manufacturing, which included Peerless and Pierce-Arrow. Packard was the only member of the Three Ps to survive the Great Depression, and would continue to lead the American luxury segment after World War II, and was outsold by Cadillac only once before 1950.

In April of 1911, Packard introduced its first six-cylinder model, called the Model 48, powered by a 525 cubic-inch T-head with 48-rated horsepower (a full 74 bhp at 1,720 rpm). It had a Bosch dual ignition system and Packard's unique float-feed carburetor with automatic mixture control. Prices ranged from $5,000 to $6,550 and thirteen body styles were offered on wheelbases from 121.5 to 139 inches. During its inaugural year, nearly 1,350 examples were sold.

A smaller six, the Model 38, was introduced in December 1912. Its engine had an L-head design with cylinders cast in pairs. It displaced 415 cubic inches, had seven main bearings, and developed 60 horsepower. This model was the first Packard to have left-hand drive and electric starting. The electric starter used was a Delco starter-generator of the type developed by Charles Kettering. Chief engineer Jesse Vincent attached a control unit to the steering column, which had switches for the ignition, lights, and horn, an ignition lock, and mixture control for the carburetor. This brought most of the controls within easy and convenient reach of the driver, leaving the instrument panel free for instruments, except for a carburetor primer needed for starting.

Most of the 13 body styles rested on a 134-inch wheelbase, although Phaeton and Brougham's styles used a 138-inch chassis, and the runabout and two coupe styles had a short, 115.5-inch frame. The only open style to use the intermediate wheelbase was the Touring car, which was also the most popular Model 38 body type. Other body styles using the intermediate frame include Limousines, Landaulets, and a new open-drive 'Cabette.' Prices ranged from $4,050 to $5,400, which made them about $1,000 cheaper than the larger car. Model 38s were also called '1-38' or '1338' and over 1,600 examples were built in 1913. Nearly 700 '2-38s' were built the following year.

The six-cylinder models were so popular, Packard soon discontinued the four-cylinder models.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020