For Sale: 1917 Packard Twin Six in Saint Louis, Missouri

When Packard, like many of the world's automotive manufacturers, turned its attention to designs for aircraft engines during World War I, it decided upon a V-12 configuration for its combination of compactness and power. Packard's brilliant chief engineer, Jesse Gurney Vincent, had another attribute in mind when he chose the 12-cylinder configuration for a road car: unmatched smoothness.
At 6,950cc, or 424 cubic inches, Packard's new V-12 was only marginally larger in displacement than the smaller of the two Sixes it would replace. Aluminum pistons, a product of WWI technology, reduced reciprocating mass. The two blocks, each of six cylinders, were cast as a unit with the heads. The crankshaft, less massive than the Six's, was supported in three main bearings. At 900 pounds, the new engine weighed 400 pounds less than the previous Six.
Production of the new First Series Twin Six began in 1915 for the 1916 model year. It was offered in two wheelbase lengths, and priced at $2,600 to $4,600, undercutting its predecessors by hundreds of dollars.
The engine's smoothness and tractability left automotive journalists grasping at superlatives. A writer forThe Automobileraved that the car would accelerate smoothly from three miles per hour in top gear. A journalist who caught a ride with American soldiers in their pursuit of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa related that, "it was like riding on velvet when those big Packards laid back their ears and breezed along as though their only ambition was to catch up with the horizon."
The Twin Six showed the handsome design, top-notch craftsmanship and tireless attention to detail for which the company was already famous. The bezels of the big electric headlamps echoed the lines of the famous grille, and incorporated auxiliary lamps for city driving, while the rest of the coachwork was embellished with just the right amount of sparking brightwork.
The 1917 Packard 2-25 Twin Six Touring offered here has only been owned by two families. The original owner bought the car when new and was then shortly deployed to fight in WWI and unfortunately never returned, leaving the car to sit for nearly 40 years with only 2,900 miles on the odometer. It was then purchased by its second and present owner and his father in 1956. The car underwent a full restoration that began back in 1956 with the chassis, leaving the original body largely as found. Fast forward to 1985, and the cosmetics were finally given the restoration they deserved.
The car has been beautifully finished in green with black fenders and accented with pale yellow artillery wheels and matching coachlines and features a beige canvas top, staying true to the original Packard aesthetics. The bright work on the car remains excellent with only slight signs of use. A Packard-branded Boyce Motometer hood ornament allows the driver to monitor coolant temperatures while driving, and the headlights are adorned with depression glass lenses for added elegance. This is not just another pretty face, it has been set up with touring in mind; during restoration turn signals were added, along with a discreetly and tastefully integrated third brake light for safety.
The interior of this Twin Six has also undergone a full restoration, featuring black upholstery that complements the exterior accents. The rear compartment is equipped with jump seats for two. The dashboard instrumentation is quite comprehensive for its era, including a Packard branded Waltham speedometer, a Waltham eight-day clock, U.S. Gauge Co. gauges for oil pressure and gasoline, and an ammeter. The engine compartment is nicely detailed, and even with a few miles under its belt it is still gorgeous .
This Second Series Twin Six is a handsome, capable, and rarely seen automobile, a major landmark in Packard's ascent to the pinnacle of luxury car production. A cherished family member for almost seven decades, this is an unrepeatable opportunity to be to be only the third owner of a 100+ year old car! It remains in superb mechanical condition and is ready to be enjoyed on driving events such as CCCA CARavan tours, (and its one of the earliest cars considered a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America) or simply used to take family or friends on a weekend outing they will never forget.



Offers welcome and trades considered