Istorie
Four years after Cord L-29's production ceased, the front-drive Cord was back, with startingly modern "coffin nose" styling by Gordon Buehrig. And so the 1936 Cord 810 and the consequent 1937 Cord 812 were becoming the single most instantly recognizable cars in the history of the American automobile.
Full description
There were two front-wheel-drive American motorcars announced in 1929, and they were produced by two of the most dynamic and colorful entrepreneurs in the American automobile industry at the time. Errett Lobban Cord managed to get his L-29 into the marketplace faster than Archie Andrews did his Ruxton. Although the front-wheel-drive idea had languished in America before the First World War, it was now enjoying public attention because of its successful application in several race cars for the Indianapolis 500.
The Cord L-29 was an uncommonly lovely car: many connoisseurs today consider it the best-looking American car of the period. Two months after the introduction of the L-29, however, the crash on Wall Street effectively killed its chances for commercial success. But the total production run of the L-29 — 5010 units — was almost precisely what Cord had scheduled for the car from the beginning. Production ceased December 31st. And that, seemingly, ended the story of a brand conceived to sweep in between the entry level Auburns and the high level Duesenbergs, both owned by Cord.
Four years later, however, the front-drive Cord was back, with startingly modern "coffin nose" styling by Gordon Buehrig. And so the 1936 Cord 810 and the consequent 1937 Cord 812 were becoming the single most instantly recognizable cars in the history of the American automobile.
Originally designed as a "baby Duesenberg." the car became a Cord when front wheel drive was decided upon in order to make for a lower silhouette. The 810 was powered by Lycoming's 125 hp V8, which did not change for the 812 models, though a supercharger did become available, which boosted horsepower to 170. The $2000-$3000 price range for the cars was not the 810/812's undoing. Nor were the teething problems of the car, since most new cars had technical issues. But Errett Lobban Cord exit out of the automobile industry in 1937 was. On August 7th that year, after the production of not quite 3000 810/812 units, the assembly lane stopped.
With the factory supercharged engine exhaling through flexible chrome exhaust pipes accenting the Tan exterior, this Custom Beverly (long 132 inch wheelbase) car is truly special, an almost unique piece of motoring history. This unit is an A.C.D. Certified Category 1 Original, meaning that all the parts are authentic 812 Cord parts.
This car has covered 928 miles (approx. 1500 km).
