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The Packard Twelfth Series One-Twenty is an automobile produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, from 1935 to 1937 and from 1939 through the 1941 model years. The One-Twenty model designation was derived from the wheelbase, and it was replaced by the Packard 200.
The One-Twenty signified the first time that Packard had entered into the highly competitive mid-priced eight-cylinder car market. Packard enthusiasts view the production of the One-Twenty and the Six/One-Ten models as the start of Packard's losing its hold on the market as the premier American luxury automotive brand. It was a marketing strategy shared with GM's LaSalle, the Chrysler Airstream, and the Lincoln-Zephyr. It was introduced after Rolls-Royce brought to market the Rolls-Royce Twenty, which was manufactured between 1922 and 1929 (succeeded by the Rolls-Royce 20/25 which was built until 1936).
The introduction of the One-Twenty (and later the Six/One-Ten models) was a necessary move to keep Packard in business during the final years of the Great Depression, expanding on an earlier approach with the Packard Light Eight. Branding the One-Twenty a Packard afforded buyers the cachet of owning a Packard. Other reasons the company decided to forgo the development of a companion brand name to sell the less expensive models may have been linked to its single production line capability at its Grand Boulevard manufacturing plant or to the expense of launching a new brand of automobile. It also ushered in a novel advertising approach, commissioning an advertising "jingle" called "When Heaven Was at the Corner of Sycamore and Main".
In its introduction year, the Packard One-Twenty was available in a broad array of body styles including two and four-door sedans, convertible and Club Coupe. The One-Twenty, weighing in at 3,688 lb. (1,673 kg), was powered by an all-new Packard aluminum-head L-headinline eight producing 110 bhp (82 kW) at 3850 rpm. Prices ranged from $980 ($21,779 in 2023 dollars) for the three-passenger business coupe to $1,095 ($24,335 in 2023 dollars) for the Touring Sedan. Introduced in January 1935, the car was an immediate success with consumers, with Packard producing 24,995 One-Twentys, compared to 7,000 of all other type Packards for the year, while competing with the 1935 LaSalle Series 50.
For 1936 Packard increased the displacement on the L-head eight, increasing its output to 120 bhp (89 kW), making the car capable of reaching a top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h). The One-Twenty added a convertible four-door-sedan model which was the most expensive model in the range priced at $1,395 ($31,002 in 2023 dollars). A total 55,042 units rolled off the line in 1936, the highest production that the One-Twenty would reach. A built-in radio was available at a cost of $59.50 ($1,311 in 2023 dollars).
Engine, 1970-73 400 4 bolt main block.
Heads, camel hump heads.
Breaker point distributor.
Carburetor, Holley spread bore double pumper (unknown cfm)
Transmission, Turbo 400
Custom driveshaft to a stock 36 Packard rear axle assembly and leaf springs.
Stock 36 Packard front and rear.
Front, independent with coil springs, and unequal length control arms.
Rear, parallel leaf springs under a live axle.
Brakes, front disc's adapted to the 36 Packard spindles and hubs. Rear drums appear to be stock 36 Packard.
Steering, GM, Saginaw rear steer power steering box, ited to the 36 Packard front steering pitman arms and tie rods.
Pre-War Classics / 1916–1941
