You may feel like a V12 is the height of engines, but Packard doubled that in the 1920s with a 24-cylinder beast. Here's the short but interesting story.

A New Standard In Luxury The V12 was built from two blocks of six cylinders, and was first offered on Packard's 1-25 and 1-35 chassis, stretching 125 inches and 135 inches long, respectively.

JMS Racing Engines in El Monte, California, is rebuilding a rare flathead V-12 engine from a 1934 Packard Twelve.

Physical Description Type: Reciprocating, V-type, 12 cylinders, water-cooled Power rating: 447 kW (600 hp) at 2,500 rpm Displacement: 25 L (1530.4 cu in.) Bore and Stroke: 137 mm (5.375 in.) x 140 mm ...

The Packard L-head V12 engine is also included in the sale and is mounted on a display stand. The listing does not mention the condition of its internal components.

We traced the airport’s perimeter, the big-bore V12 smoothly, quietly pulling us along. The engine makes so much torque that there’s rarely need for more than second and third gears around town.

While this engine was under development, the Packard Company obtained an Army contract for a refined and enlarged version known as the 1500. This was superseded by the 2A-1500 which was built in ...