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38-459: Packard introduced the Twin Six to stay competitive with Marmon , Pierce-Arrow , Rolls-Royce , Renault and other luxury brands. Cadillac and Lincoln began offering large luxury products starting in the late 1910s. Large displacement engines provided the horsepower and torque their clients wanted and due to the low quality of gasoline fuel at the time, and low compression ratios , 50 bhp

76-530: A rolling chassis . LeBaron Incorporated eventually became part of Chrysler Corporation . LeBaron, Carrossiers Inc. free-lance design consultants was founded in New York City in 1920 by American designers Raymond H. Dietrich (1894-1980) and Thomas L. Hibbard (1898-1982) who had met while working for Brewster & Co. Dietrich and Hibbard remained among the Brewster personnel so they invented

114-458: A 145 in (3683 mm) wheelbase (long for the era) and 36×4½-inch (91×11.4 cm) front/37×5-inch (94×12.7 cm) rear wheels (which interchanged front and rear) and full- elliptic front and ¾-elliptic rear springs. Like most cars of the era, it came complete with a tool kit; in Marmon's case, it offered jack, power tire pump, chassis oiler, tire patch kit, and trouble light . The 48 came in

152-508: A V16 with help from an ex-Marmon engineer, James Bohannon. The Sixteen's engine displaced 491 in³ (8.0 L) and produced 200 hp (149 kW). It was an all-aluminum design with steel cylinder liners and a 45° bank angle. The car's body was designed by Walter Dorwin Teague in 1930, with assistance from his son. The original Nordyke & Marmon Plant 1 was at the southwest corner of Kentucky Avenue and West Morris Street. Plant 2

190-400: A center-mounted gear shifter and brake levers in 1917. The range consisted of three series, built from May 1915 until June 1923. It was available with a shorter wheelbase from 1915 until May 1919. From 1915 to 1920, the Twin Six was the sole offering from Packard. Production was 30,941 automobiles. Prices started at US$ 3,050 ($ 85,400 in 2023 dollars ) to US$ 5,150 ($ 144,200 in 2023 dollars ) for

228-767: A heavier design than on previous years' models, while a column shift became and option alongside the center mounted shifter. This shape remained in use for 1939's 17th Series, the last of the Packard Twelves. 5262 examples were built in total, with the top sedan as the All Weather Cabriolet by Brunn & Company for US$ 8,510 ($ 184,202 in 2023 dollars ). For 1940 Packard's top model was the Packard Custom Super Eight . In October 1935, American President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave Joseph Stalin an armoured Packard Twelve, which became

266-457: A lucrative offer from Murray Corporation , one of Ford's and Lincoln's main body builders, in 1925 and resigned from LeBaron to start Dietrich, Inc. With both founders gone, LeBaron could have been in trouble. But Roberts continued to run the company and orders kept coming in. Walter O. Briggs began talks with Roberts in 1926 to buy LeBaron and move it to Detroit, setting up operations at Mack Avenue Stamping (Old Mack Factory) . LeBaron

304-656: A mile to operate, "independent of the chauffeur." In his memoir, "The Cruise of the Rolling Junk", F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote about a 1,200-mile automobile trip to the South that he and Zelda Fitzgerald took in their used 1918 Marmon Speedster. In 1916–17, Ruby Archambeau of Portland, Oregon, became the first woman to drive the circumference of the United States. Her vehicle was a Marmon . "King of Bootleggers" Italian Canadian Rocco Perri of Hamilton, Ontario,

342-748: A new name LeBaron, Carrossiers from a list of French words that could be easily pronounced but still sounded impressive. Within twelve months Brewster learned what they were doing and ended their Brewster & Co business relationship. They found more work and Hibbard offered the LeBaron administrative jobs to his friend, Ralph Roberts , who had just gotten his Bachelor of Science degree from Dartmouth College . Most design work came to LeBaron through dealers. Hibbard met fellow designer, Howard A. "Dutch" Darrin (1897-1982) in 1923. Hibbard and Darrin decided to go to Paris, initially to try to sell LeBaron designs where manufacturing costs were lower but once in view of

380-405: A variety of models: two-, four-, five-, and seven-passenger tourers at US$ 5,000 ($ 154,141 in 2023 dollars ), seven-passenger limousine at US$ 6,250 ($ 192,677 in 2023 dollars ), seven-passenger landaulette at US$ 6,350 ($ 195,760 in 2023 dollars ), and seven-passenger Berlin limousine at US$ 6,450 ($ 198,842 in 2023 dollars ). The 1916 Model 34 used an aluminum straight-six, and used aluminum in

418-605: The Great Depression drastically reduced the luxury car market, the Marmon Car Company joined forces with Colonel Arthur Herrington , an ex-military engineer involved in the design of all-wheel drive vehicles. The new company was called Marmon-Herrington . In the early 1960s, Marmon-Herrington was purchased by the Pritzker family and became a member of an association of companies which eventually adopted

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456-584: The rear-view mirror , pioneering the V16 engine, and the use of aluminum in auto manufacturing. The historic Marmon Wasp race car of the early 20th century was the first car to use a single-seater "monoposto" construction layout. Marmon's parent company was founded in 1851, manufacturing flour grinding mill equipment and branching out into other machinery through the late 19th century. Small limited production of experimental automobiles began in 1902, with an air-cooled V-twin engine. An air-cooled V4 followed

494-611: The 12th Series of 1935, the engine gained aluminum heads and was stroked by a quarter inch, bringing up the displacement to 473.3 cu in (7,756 cc). Power was 175 hp (130 kW) at 3200 rpm and a high compression version with 180 hp (134 kW) was also available. The gearbox was now fully synchronized and both the mechanical brakes and the clutch received vacuum assist . The new wheelbases on offer were 132 + 1 ⁄ 2  in (3.37 m), 139 + 1 ⁄ 4  in (3.54 m), and 144 + 1 ⁄ 4  in (3.66 m). The 14th Series of 1936

532-688: The Imperial Limousine. The 1919 Third Series Twin Six 3-25 Runabout was used as the pace car for the 1919 Indianapolis 500 auto race. For 1933 Packard reintroduced a twelve-cylinder engine, initially called the "Twin Six", then changing the name to "Packard Twelve," to align it with the rest of the Packard lineup. This was the 10th Series and two models were on offer: the 1005 and the 1006 had wheelbases of 142 in (3,606.80 mm) and 147 in (3,733.80 mm). The Twin Six' double drop frame

570-490: The Twelve. The shorter wheelbase (Model 1005) was available with at least ten different styles of bodywork, ranging from the two-seat Coupe Roadster to the five-seat Formal Sedan. Standard bodyworks for the long wheelbase Model 1006 were Sedan and Sedan Limousine (both either five- or seven-seaters), with a host of custom bodyworks also on offer. These were mainly by Dietrich and LeBaron . The Super Eight long wheelbase chassis

608-548: The body and chassis to reduce overall weight to just 3295 lb (1495 kg). A Model 34 was driven coast to coast as a publicity stunt, beating Erwin "Cannonball" Baker 's record to much fanfare. New models were introduced for 1924, replacing the long-lived Model 34, but the company was facing financial trouble, and in 1926 was reorganized as the Marmon Motor Car Co. In 1927 the Little Marmon series

646-455: The dictator's favourite automotive vehicle for many years. Marmon Motor Car Company 39°45′07″N 86°10′51″W  /  39.7520492°N 86.1808944°W  / 39.7520492; -86.1808944 Marmon Motor Car Company was an American automobile manufacturer founded by Howard Carpenter Marmon and owned by Nordyke Marmon & Company of Indianapolis, Indiana , US. It produced luxury automobiles from 1902 to 1933. It

684-587: The name The Marmon Group . In 2007, the Pritzker family sold a major part of the Group to Warren Buffett 's firm Berkshire Hathaway . For the 1993 Indianapolis 500 , to commemorate the 40th anniversary of The Marmon Group of companies, Éric Bachelart drove a tribute to the Marmon Wasp , actually a year old Lola with Buick power, which was uncompetitive and failed to qualify. After qualifications ended,

722-518: The next year, with pioneering V6 and V8 engines tried over the next few years, before more conventional straight engine designs were settled upon. Marmons soon gained a reputation as reliable, speedy upscale cars. The Model 32 of 1909 spawned the Wasp. The Wasp, driven by Marmon engineer Ray Harroun (a former racer who came out of retirement for just one race), was the winner of the first ever Indianapolis 500 motor race, in 1911 . This car featured

760-528: The opportunities decided to set up their own business in Paris and founded Hibbard & Darrin . Hibbard resigned from LeBaron in 1923. Dietrich and Roberts continued operating LeBaron with a new illustrator, veteran Roland L. Stickney . LeBaron took over the Blue Ribbon and Bridgeport Body companies thus becoming body builders as well as designers and changed name to LeBaron Inc. Dietrich received

798-495: The sponsorship was transferred to the car of John Andretti , who was driving for A. J. Foyt Enterprises . Andretti started 23rd and briefly led before eventually finishing tenth. Actor Francis X. Bushman , at the height of his movie fame in the 1910s, owned a custom built purple painted Marmon. Other actors who were owners of Marmons include Wallace Reid , Douglas Fairbanks and Arthur Tracy . Statesman and national hero of Finland Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim 's official car

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836-439: The world's first known automobile rear-view mirror . The 1913 Model 48 was a left-hand steering tourer with a cast aluminum engine and electric headlights and horn , as well as electric courtesy lights for the dash and doors. It used a 573 in (9,382 cc) (4½×6-inch, 114×152 mm) T-head straight-six engine of between 48 and 80 hp (36 and 60 kW) with dual- plug ignition and electric starter . It had

874-708: Was a Marmon E-75. Much later, the same car was bought by a group of technology students. It is still the representational car of the Aalto University student union after considerable repairs, and the name Marmon , to some extent, is coupled to this specific vehicle. J. Horace McFarland , president of the American Civic Association, owned a Marmon . In 1924, he wrote to John Gries of the National Bureau of Standards' Division of Building and Housing that his Marmon cost nine cents

912-449: Was an American design business from 1920 and also a coachbuilder from 1924 until 1953. LeBaron was one of the many prominent coachbuilders in the 1920s to provide bodies for luxury cars. Until World War II most of the great prestige automakers like Duesenberg or Packard would readily supply only a running chassis which wealthy buyers would have fitted with custom bodywork. Automakers like Rolls-Royce and Hispano-Suiza only supplied

950-685: Was at the southwest corner of Drover and West York Street. Plant 3 was a five-story structure measuring 80 x 600 feet parallel to Morris Street (now Eli Lilly & Company Building 314). The Marmon assembly plant was built adjacent to the Morris Street property line with Plant 3 behind and parallel to it (also part of the Eli Lilly complex). While the Marmon Company discontinued auto production, it continued to manufacture components for other auto manufacturers and manufactured trucks. When

988-540: Was established in 1902 but not incorporated as the successor of Nordyke Marmon & Company until 1926. In 1933 it was succeeded by Marmon-Herrington and in 1964 the Marmon brand name was sold to the Marmon Motor Company of Denton, Texas . Marmon-Herrington became the Marmon Group of Chicago , in 1964. Marmon was notable for its various pioneering works in automotive manufacturing, introducing

1026-526: Was for four years the only product sold until the Single Six returned in 1921. The standard paint scheme for open cars, touring sedans, phaetons, and runabouts was Packard blue with cream yellow striping on body and door panels, with black used on the underbody, radiator, fenders, chassis and running gear with no striping. Wheels were painted cream yellow with black stripes. Closed body choices were painted similar without cream yellow painted wheels. Brightwork

1064-422: Was guided by Packard stylist Ed Macauley although the actual design work was done by Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky in his stint as a consultant at Packard. Only four Sport Coupes were built. This was the last car to be "Custom Made by Packard." The Model codes were 1106 (short), 1107 (middle), and 1108 (long). 960 Packard Twelves were built in 1934. This was also the first year that a radio was a factory option. For

1102-585: Was introduced and in 1929, Marmon introduced an under-$ 1,000 straight-eight car, the Roosevelt , but the stock market crash of 1929 made the company's problems worse. The Marmon Sixteen was produced between 1931 and 1934. Howard Marmon had begun working on the world's first V16 engine in 1927. By the time the Sixteen was introduced Cadillac had already debuted their V-16 , designed by ex-Marmon engineer Owen Nacker . Peerless , too, had been developing

1140-565: Was known to favour Marmons in the 1920s. Actress Bebe Daniels was driving a Marmon Roadster 72 miles per hour south of Santa Ana when she became the first woman to be convicted of speeding in Orange County . Philip Marlowe drives a Marmon in the short story, "FingerMan". LeBaron Incorporated 42°23′03″N 82°58′44″W  /  42.3840732°N 82.9788219°W  / 42.3840732; -82.9788219 LeBaron Incorporated (originally LeBaron, Carrossiers Inc. )

1178-530: Was largely unchanged from the 12th (there was no 13th Series). The only differences were a radiator angled by five more degrees, the oil temperature regulator was redesigned, and the shortest wheelbase model was discontinued. Model year 1937 brought hydraulic brakes for the 15th Series Twelve; these had already been available for two years on the Packard One Twenty . Suicide doors were changed to conventional, front-hinged ones. With 1300 built, 1937

Packard Twelve - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-499: Was more than adequate. It is estimated that the rating equivalent of early gasoline available varied from 40 to 60 octane and that the "High-Test", sometimes referred to as "fighting grade", probably averaged 50 to 65 octane. The first company produced 12-cylinder engine was in 1916, called the Packard Twin Six (1-25, 1-35) signifying two different wheelbases of 125 in (3,200 mm) and 135 in (3,400 mm), and

1254-554: Was nickel plated, and a Warner speedometer , with a Waltham clock , among other items, were standard equipment. Optionally, the choice of interior and exterior colors were endless to accommodate the customers preferences. Ten different body styles were available on either wheelbase while coupe and runabout body styles were only offered on the 125" wheelbase. The engine was a 60 degree L-head displacing 424.1 cu in (6,950 cc) producing 88 hp (66 kW) at 2600 rpm. Detachable heads and larger radiators came in 1916,

1292-498: Was no longer available, restricting custom bodyworks to the new Twelve. In 1934 the 11th series model was introduced, adding a shorter third version on the 135 in (3.43 m) chassis of the Super Eight . An "Aero Sport Coupe" bodied in-house and a LeBaron -bodied "Runabout Speedster" were available on this wheelbase; only around ten of these two types were made. The appearance of the dramatic, almond-shaped Aero Sport Coupe

1330-560: Was purchased by Briggs Manufacturing Company of Detroit in 1926 and operated as a subsidiary. Briggs was already supplying bodies to nearby Chrysler , Essex , Ford , Hudson , and Overland . As a Briggs subsidiary, LeBaron handled special custom work, provided design ideas for the main business, and supplied exquisite custom bodies for various car companies such as Chrysler 's luxury Imperial line, Duesenberg , Packard , and Cadillac . In 1932, for example, they built 28 Imperial Custom Convertible Coupes, Chrysler's top model, which rode

1368-409: Was replaced by a tapered design. Convertibles and roadsters used leftover ninth series bodies with a smaller radiator than the all-new tenth series models. The Twin Six' V12-engine was retained without major change. The cylinder blocks are at a 67-degree angle, bore and stroke 3 + 7 ⁄ 16 and 4 in (87.3 and 101.6 mm) respectively. A 445.5 cu in (7,300 cc) displacement

1406-572: Was the Twelve's most successful year, and Dietrich offered six custom coachwork options. 1938's 16th Series brought yet shorter wheelbases: 127 + 3 ⁄ 8  in (3.24 m), 134 + 3 ⁄ 8  in (3.41 m), and 139 + 3 ⁄ 8  in (3.54 m). The shortest Model 1606 used the Super Eight chassis but was not included in Packard's brochures and it is unsure if any were built. Only 566 16th Series Twelves were built, followed by 446 17th Series. The fenders were of

1444-432: Was the result and maximum power is 160 hp (119 kW) at 3200 rpm. The cooling system was improved and a new Bendix-Stromberg EE-3 carburetor with an automatic choke was introduced, increasing power somewhat. A single dry-plate clutch replaced the earlier twin-plate model, matched to a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission and a new one-piece driveshaft. The existing mechanical brakes were also adopted for

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