NortheastWheelsEvents.com - Car Show Calendar

#Pic_A_Day (1579) @AlMachFineArt - 1921 Packard 3-35 Twin Six Custom Town Car

1921 Packard 3-35 Twin Six Custom Town Car
Coachwork by Wolfington, Philadelphia
Chassis no. S24583
Engine no. S167752B

424 ci V12 Engine
Single Carburetor
88bhp at 2600 rpm
3-Speed Transmission
Rear Mechanical Brakes

*Striking coachwork by Wolfington
*Well preserved original example
*V12 power and incredible smoothness

THE PACKARD TWIN-SIX

By late 1915, production began on the model christened the "Twin Six." The name brought to mind Packard's six-cylinder experience and success. The resulting engine was a triumph. The smoothness, power, and flexibility were unheard of at the time. Those who were experienced with driving more conventional cars of the era were shocked by the smooth power and free-revving quality of these engines. Enzo Ferrari was so impressed with the smoothness of the Twin Six engine that he used it as inspiration for his own V-12 engines years later. Famed sportsman Briggs Cunningham regarded the Twin Six as the fastest American car of its day. Brigs owned one in his youth and boasted of its ability to out-pace anything on the road.

THE MOTOR CAR OFFERED

This wonderfully well preserved third series Packard Twin-Six wears elegant coachwork by the Philadelphia firm of Wolfington. Clearly a well-loved and cared for example, this is undoubtedly a low mileage example. Fine formal cars like this often survived because their owners kept them for decades and would use them only on special occasions. Being Wolfington bodied, it is most likely the car spent its early life in Philadelphia. Coach building was still a regional concern at this point and most of their clientele were local.

The Wolfington Body Company started in 1876, when British immigrant Alexander J. Wolfington set out to apply his skill as a blacksmith to carriage building. He wanted to build the best horse-drawn carriage in Philadelphia. Wolfington, like many coach builders, transitioned into motorcars. By 1910 they were well established and would eventually receive orders for Stutz, Packard, Pierce-Arrow and Cadillac, to name just a few, that bore the sign "Body by Wolfington." Wolfington also continued to customize vehicles for its richer clientele, everything from crafting gold hubcaps and door handles to reproducing a favorite leather armchair as the driver's seat. Unusually, Wolfington still exists today as a major player in the bus industry.

Formal cars like this represent the most expensive and high-quality bodies available for a fine motorcar. There is an extra degree of quality and craftsmanship that these styles offer that the less expensive open cars lack. This fine example would be a wonderful museum piece or welcome entry in some of the most prestigious Concours preservation class.