1933 Packard 1006 Twelve

Packard's management had been intrigued and fascinated with the Cord L-29 and the Miller-engined race cars, both were front-drive cars. A front-drive prototype was commissioned with power from a new twelve-cylinder engine. The length of the V12 was shorter than Packard's inline eight which allowed more flexibility in packaging the front-drive chassis. The Achilles heel was quickly realized during testing, which revealed weakness in the front-drive chassis' design. These setbacks, coupled with the high development costs and Cadillac's introduction of the new sixteen and twelve-cylinder models, put pressure on Packard to respond. The solution was born of necessity; the new twelve-cylinder engine was installed into Packard's Deluxe Eight chassis. The result was the Twin Six, in recognition and honor of Packard's first V12, introduced over 15 years earlier. The name was changed to the Packard Twelve in 1933.

The Tenth Series 1933 Packard Twelve models incorporated classically swept fender lines, but now the fenders were skirted, neatly hiding the mechanical components underneath. The V-12 engine was positioned behind the vee'd radiator shell and rested on a new tapered frame. New mechanical refinements included a single dry-plate clutch and automatic choke.

The 1933 Packard Tenth Series Twelve included the 1005 Series resting on a 142-inch wheelbase platform and the Series 1006 on a larger 147-inch wheelbase platform. Both were equipped with a 445.5 cubic-inch twelve-cylinder engine with four main bearings, a cast iron monoblock, 6.0:1 compression, a Stromberg carburetor, and developing 160 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. The engine was backed by a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with a single dry plate clutch and floor shift controls. Mechanical brakes on all four wheels provided the stopping power.

The total production of all 1933 Packard Twelves was 520 units.

Standard coachwork on the Series 1006 included a seven-passenger sedan listed at $4,085 and a limousine at $4,285. All-Weather coachwork included a Landaulet, town car, and cabriolet. Custom coachwork by Dietrich included a coupe priced at $6,000, a convertible at $6,085, a convertible victoria at $6,070, a sport phaeton at $5,875, a convertible sedan at $6,570, and a formal sedan at $7,000. LeBaron coachwork included an all-weather cabriolet and an all-weather town car with both priced at approximately $7,000.

Many agree that the 1933 and 1934 Packards are arguably the highlights of Packard's Classic Era design.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019