Pre-war of the week: Packard Twin-Six - “Ask the man who owns one”

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

James Alvan Macauley was the President and General Manager of The Packard Motor Co. and it was he who coined the phrase in our title which became their advertising slogan.

When, in 1913, designer Jesse Vincent read his 35 page proposal for the twelve-cylinder engine to the Packard board, their reaction slowly changed from respect to astonishment and between 1915 and 1923, Packard produced 35,102 cars with the V-12 engine.

Dubbed the “Twin Six” car, it immediately became a sensation and although Packards were too big and too heavy to be considered true performance cars, in July 1915, racing driver Ralph De Palma lapped the Chicago Speedway in a Twin Six touring car at an average speed of 72.7 mph (117.1 km/h).

But it was the car’s luxury that sold it. When ‘Sir Hubert’ wrote in the Illustrated London News that Packard was to America what Rolls-Royce was to England and commented that the Twin-Six was … “so smooth running that the car does not appear to be moving. It is simply that the road is winding under the wheels…”. Packard graciously thanked him and added they …” occasionally operate a Rolls-Royce just to make sure we aren’t outdone.”

The two banks of six cylinders were set at 60 ° and the torque of the 6,950cc engine permitted the driver to pull from 3mph to top speed in high gear.

If you feel tempted to own one, then you can learn more about a 1922 Type 3-35 7-passenger tourer that is being offered for sale. It is easy to see the passion of the owner when you explore the car’s own website.

The gallery of pictures shows the fabulous condition of the car and a thorough description of the mechanics can also be found. This specific car has some unique features like a very handy air compressor operated by a pulling device underneath of left/front door, to be used in case of a puncture/ flat tyre. Which you very likely do not need to use in the near future as this Twin-Six is equipped with 6 brand-new white wall tires. Besides this, there is a front bumper supported by springs, a vacuum operated whistle, an adjustable set of glass windows tonneau-compartment, and very important, a bar-locker in the rear compartment to keep your whiskey safe.

In the 1920s and 30s Santa Monica, California, a comfortable upper-class community of pink stucco and cocoa palms perched on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean, was known as “The Packard City.” For its residents, the Packard was synonymous with quality, and ownership of this automobile was nearly as common as a manufactured expense of front lawn.

Look around your neighbourhood. Do your neighbours keep their lawns beautifully manicured? Could your town become another Santa Monica? Contact the owner.

Words by Robin Batchelor.

Plaats een reactie, stel een vraag, geef uw mening, deel aanvullende informatie of start een discussie door de onderstaande velden in te vullen