Re: 12 cylinder Packard questions...

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2010/1/22 15:06:05

Packard introduced their twin six engine in 1916. This was the first mass produced twelve cylinder car on the market. From 1916 to 1923 it was Packard's flagship car. In 1920 they added a smaller Single Six model.The Single Six lasted until 1928.

For certain technical reasons the straight eight was impractical at the time and the V8 had problems with vibration and smooth running.

The leading luxury cars of the time were mainly six cylinder cars.

Packard contended the V12 gave extra power, smoothness and silence compared to the six or V8.

Then in 1923 Packard dropped the twin six in favor of a new straight eight. This was the first mass produced straight eight of the type that dominated the luxury car field for the next 25 years. Once the straight eight was proven, the six and the V8 fell behind.

Issotta Fraschini and Duesenberg both had straight eights a year or 2 before Packard but these were smaller engines and not made in mass produced quantities. They deserve the credit for starting a trend but Packard was the first to really put the straight eight over with the public.

Then in 1932 they brought out an all new V12 model. It was called the Twin Six at first in honor of the original 12 cylinder Packard.

There were several 12 and 16 cylinder luxury cars in the 30s. They were fine cars but represented an engineering dead end. Improvements in engine design, rubber mounts, and automatic transmissions made the straight eight or V8 car practically as good at a lower price. Similar to the way the V6 front drive luxury car replaced the big V8 rear drive cars in the 80s.