In 1934 Packard invested $6 million on their One Twenty tooling and marketing which would eventually make it the mainstay of Packard’s entire line. Produced as a less-expensive Packard, the One Twenty was a direct response to the 1929 Stock Market crash and subsequent Great Depression.

One Twentys were produced in an all new facility on the Packard grounds which would manufacture entirely new engines, transmissions, steering gears, axles, chassis and steel bodies on the second floor.¹

The One Twenty was build on a new 120-inch wheelbase frame which was made from U-section steel with a central x-brace which was similar to the design used on Packard’s larger Senior line. It’s independent front suspension was nicknamed Safe-T-flex and used parallel arms with coil springs.¹

Jesse Vincent designed the L-head Inline-8 with aluminum pistons and an an aluminum cylinder head with 6.5 or an optional 7.0 compression.¹

Seven different bodies were offered by the factory and were made with a steel skin and wood-frame supports. Ranging from $980 to $1095, Packard made available a Business Coupe, Convertible Coupe, Sport Coupe, Touring Coupe, Sedan, Club Sedan and Touring Sedan at launch in 1935.¹

The One Twenty was the fastest selling car in the post-depression era and saved the company from an unlikely demise.

Sources & Further Reading.

1. Kimes, Beverley Rae. Packard, A History of the Motor Car and the Company. Princeton Publishing Inc: 1978.