Cord Automobiles

1937 Cord 812 Beverly

Photos by Douglas Wilkinson at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum in Pinellas Park, Florida.

1929 Cord L29 Brougham

Photos by Douglas Wilkinson at the Tampa Bay Automobile Museum in Pinellas Park, Florida.

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton
Photo By: Douglas Wilkinson
Date: March 14, 2010
Location: Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Amelia Island, Florida

This was the last year of production for the Cord automobile. A total of 1,146 Cord 812 cars were produced this final year.

As originally delivered, this car was fitted with a standard, normally aspirated, Cord V8 engine. At some point, it was upgraded with the installation of a correct "FC" series supercharged engine, including the rare, but correct, Stromberg AA-25 carburetor. This front-wheel drive 812 SC Phaeton is capable of comfortably cruising at modern highway speeds.

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Rear View

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Engine

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Interior

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Exhaust Detail

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Dash Detail

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Front

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton Front Detail

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton
AUCTION RESULTS: Car was Sold at a price of $175,000

Est. 190hp, 269 cu. in L-head V8 engine with centrifugal supercharger, four-speed electric pre-selector gearbox, independent front suspension with rear semi-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 125"

The Cord 812 Supercharged Phaeton offered here was a one-owner car between 1948 and 1996 and was completely and thoroughly restored from a very sound and rust-free original chassis. The previous owner, Mr. Richard Scott, conducted an engine rebuild on the car, which included new pistons and connecting rods. Since acquiring the car in 2000, the vendor has always kept it in a heated garage and it currently shows about 50,000 miles, which are believed to be original. It is equipped with its original factory heater, radio, correct amber fog lights and the original headlight lenses, to name but a few features. As a very correct and well-restored Cord, this example is well-suited to be shown or driven.

RM Auctions
Automobiles of Amelia Island
March 14, 2009
Website: www.rmauctions.com
Sold at a price of $175,000
Lot #235

Cord History

Born in Warrenburg, Missouri, in 1894, Everett Lobban Cord was no stranger to automobiles. His ventures included building racing bodies on Model T Fords, operating a trucking company, becoming vice-president and general manager of the Chicago distributor for Moon cars and, in 1924, serving as General Manager of the Auburn Automobile Company. By 1929, Cord had turned the failing company into a very successful concern by purchasing other companies which included Duesenberg and Lycoming. Wanting to produce a car bearing his own name, plans began for a Cord automobile.

The Cord automobile debuted in 1929 as a midprice offering between the Auburn and Duesenberg marques owned by Errett L. Cord. The L-29 Cord had a 125-horsepower inline eight-cylinder Lycoming engine mounted backward to accommodate the car's unique front-wheel-drive.

The Cord was a part of an empire owned by its namesake, E.L. Cord that included auto makers Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg, and Checker Motors. Additionally, E.L. Cord owned Lycoming Manufacturing Company (engines), Limousine Body Company and Central Manufacturing Company (auto bodies), and Century Airlines, among others.

Cord L-29

Cord launched the L-29 for the 1930 model year. The Classic Cord L-29 had front-wheel drive powered by a redesigned 299-cid 125-bhp straight-eight engine that had to be mounted "backward" with the transmission toward the front of the car. The 137.5-inch wheelbase provided the length necessary.

The new Cord proved to popular with celebrities and custom bodies were provided by several coachbuilders.

Four basic bodies were offered by Cord: a brougham, cabriolet, phaeton, and a four-door sedan. The sedan was the least expensive at $3,095.

During its production run from 1929 to 1932, 5010 Cord L-29 chassis were built.

Cord 810/812 Beverly

Cord next produced the Model 810, also a front-whell drive like the L-29. Designed by Gordon M. Buehrig, their styling was a radical departure from the typical design. These models featured a massive coffin-nosed hood with a wrap-around grille, pontoon front fenders, center hinged doors, and lower body sills that eliminated traditional running boards, and the first disappearing headlamps (retracted by hand-cranks on either side of the steering wheel). The Model 810 was considered the best looking car at the 1935 New York Automobile Show.

Despite many orders at the show, the 810 did not go into production until February, 1936, by which time many customers had become impatient and had cancelled their orders. This fact, combined with problems with the transmission and overheating, dampened Model 810 sales and only 1,174 were built in 1936.

A longer wheelbase and a chauffeur's division were offered in 1937, together with an optional supercharger on 810/812 models. Only 1,146 1937 Cords were sold before production ceased.

The front-wheel drive 1936 and 1937 Cord models were some of the most visually striking, novel, and mechanically advanced automobiles of the day.

1937 Cord 812 Beverly

1929 Cord L29 Brougham

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton

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