Re: Interesting Packard 12 Engine

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/1/25 14:07:49

West, if I implied in my response over on the AACA forum that the 1st edition of Kimes had a picture of the engine, pardon me, it was a picture of the car itself.

Reputedly the major problem encountered with the engine was torsional lag of the crankshaft between the foremost and last cylinders, but the implications for practical body space on a reasonable wheelbase must have been severe as well. Looking at the wear on tires in the picture of the engine, it would seem the car accumulated only a limited amount of mileage.

Neat little piece of Packard history, that one. And I think it also shows the influence Jesse Vincent had to spend the corporate coffers on such a unusual idea and one that must have seemed impractical, even at the time.