1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Convertible Victoria

V-12 engine, three-speed manual synchromesh transmission, independent front suspension by coil springs and wishbones, semi-elliptic rear leaf springs, live rear axle, four-wheel, vacuum-assisted hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 134. 4" Packard’s 424-cubic inch V-12 engine, the Twin Six, made the company’s fortune when it was introduced in 1916.

It was discontinued in 1923 due to cost concerns, leaving the company to concentrate on six- and eight-cylinder motors for the remainder of the 1920s. The resurgence of multi-cylinder fever in the early 1930s brought enormous V-12s and V-16s from Cadillac, Marmon, Pierce-Arrow and Lincoln, prompting Packard to reintroduce a 445. 5-cubic inch, 160 hp V-12 in 1932.

Generating almost double the horsepower of the old V-12, it was billed as the Twin Six for the first year and then became famous as “The Twelve. ” It was built until 1939 and was perhaps the finest American car of the decade. Designed by C.

W. van Ranst, who had worked for Harry Miller and E. L.

Cord, the engine boasted 322 foot-pounds of torque and could propel enormous coachbuilt sedans and limousines to 60 mph in 20 seconds. One was timed at 101 mph, but Packard only claimed “in excess of 85 mph. ” The 67-degree engine was a modified L configuration with valve stems almost horizontal and operated by a camshaft deep in the engine’s heads through roller rockers on hydraulically adjusted eccentrics.

The result was almost completely silent. In 1935 aluminum heads and a longer stroke boosted the engine displacement to 473 cubic inches and the horsepower to 175, putting a genuine 100 mph in reach.