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Liberty L-8 (Packard) V-8 Engine, 1917. Creator: Packard Motor Car Company
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Liberty L-8 (Packard) V-8 Engine, 1917. Creator: Packard Motor Car Company
The Libertys purpose was American mass production of standard units when the U.S. entered World War I. Co-designed in a week in mid-1917 by Jesse Vincent of Packard Motor Car and Elbert Hall of Hall-Scott Motor Car, with a planned series of 4-, 6-, 8-, and 12-cylinder models, this Model L-8 was the first Liberty engine. However, power requirements made it obsolete before entering service, and the twelve-cylinder Liberty was then built. To ensure workable engines in the shortest time, only proven components were used. The Libertys success was due entirely to the fact that the best engineers, production experts, and manufacturing facilities were provided to the Government. Leading automotive manufacturers, including Ford, Lincoln, Packard, Marmon, and Buick, built the engines. The Liberty 12 Model A powered numerous aircraft including the de Havilland DH-4, the Navy-Curtiss NC-4, Fokker T2, Loening Model 23, Douglas World Cruiser, Douglas M-1 Mailplane, and Curtiss H-16 flying boat
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Media ID 23877299
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Air And Space Museum Company Packard Motor Car Engine Liberty Nasm National Air And Space Museum Packard Motor Car Company Propulsion Propulsion Reciprocating Rotary 1st World War
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print showcases the iconic Liberty L-8 (Packard) V-8 Engine, a significant creation by the Packard Motor Car Company in 1917. The purpose of this engine was to facilitate American mass production of standardized units during World War I. Co-designed within an astonishingly short span of one week by Jesse Vincent of Packard Motor Car and Elbert Hall of Hall-Scott Motor Car, this Model L-8 marked the inception of the Liberty engine series. Although initially intended for service, evolving power requirements rendered the Model L-8 obsolete before it could be deployed. Consequently, a twelve-cylinder version known as the Liberty was developed instead. To expedite production without compromising quality, only proven components were utilized in crafting these engines. The resounding success achieved by the Liberty engines can be attributed to the unwavering commitment displayed by top-notch engineers, production experts, and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities provided to the Government at that time. Esteemed automotive manufacturers such as Ford, Lincoln, Marmon, Buick, and Packard joined forces to construct these powerful engines. The Liberty 12 Model A became instrumental in powering numerous aircraft models including de Havilland DH-4s, Navy-Curtiss NC-4s, Fokker T2s , Loening Model 23s , Douglas World Cruisers , Douglas M-1 Mailplanes , and Curtiss H-16 flying boats. This remarkable photograph encapsulates not just a piece of engineering marvel but also represents a pivotal moment in history when industry leaders united their expertise for national defense purposes during World War I.
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