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Image credits: Cord
 |  | View more photos Speedster Designer: Harry Miller |
The super-long front allowed body engineer John Oswald to craft a flowing hood fenders ensemble, and Auburn chief designer Al Leamy applied a Duesenberg-style radiator that only accented that impressive length and lowness conferred by front-wheel drive. In all, the L-29 looked sensational in its four 'factory' body types: Sedan, Brougham, Phaeton, and Cabriolet. Numerous celebrities bought L-29s, and coachbuilders at home and abroad created stunning custom bodies. Standard models were fairly priced in the $3100-3300 range.
Brooks Stevens purchased this Speedster new and redesigned the body in the mid 1930s. It has many advanced design features for its time and is extremely fast and agile for an L-29. Mr. Stevens kept the car for 65 years and used it in many road races, hill climbs and road rallys. The current owner purchased the car from his estate in 1997.
|  | View more photos Cabriolet Designer: Harry Miller |
The super-long front allowed body engineer John Oswald to craft a flowing hood fenders ensemble, and Auburn chief designer Al Leamy applied a Duesenberg-style radiator that only accented that impressive length and lowness conferred by front-wheel drive. In all, the L-29 looked sensational in its four 'factory' body types: Sedan, Brougham, Phaeton, and Cabriolet. Numerous celebrities bought L-29s, and coachbuilders at home and abroad created stunning custom bodies. Standard models were fairly priced in the $3100-3300 range.
Brooks Stevens purchased this Speedster new and redesigned the body in the mid 1930s. It has many advanced design features for its time and is extremely fast and agile for an L-29. Mr. Stevens kept the car for 65 years and used it in many road races, hill climbs and road rallys. The current owner purchased the car from his estate in 1997.
This was the first front-wheel-drive car to get serious production in America. Cord was introduced in November 1929 and was designed to occupy a sales position between Auburn and Duesenberg automobiles. This car is a category No. 1 certified original car and was the 78th of 633 produced in 1929.
The Cord was powered by a 298.6 cubic-inch, 125 horsepower, straight eight-cylinder engine, and the 4,300 pound car rests on a 137.5 inch wheelbase. The standard Cord sold for between $3,000 and $3,300.
The Cord was powered by a 298.6 cubic-inch, 125 horsepower, straight eight-cylinder engine, and the 4,300 pound car rests on a 137.5 inch wheelbase. The standard Cord sold for between $3,000 and $3,300.
| | View more photos Cabriolet Designer: Harry Miller Engine Num: FDA 1282 |
This example has been in the same ownership since the late 1980s and has been exhibited in a museum. The prior history is unknown and a chassis number could not be found on the vehicle. It has an older restoration though is still in fair condition. It has many of its period fittings such as the engraved door handles, firewall mounted sidelights, golfers/doctor's side door, luggage rack, and dual side mounted spares. It has a chromed mesh grille and chrome wire wheels.
It was offered without reserve and estimated to sell at auction for $120,000 - $200,000. Those estimates proved to be accurate as the car was sold for $165,000 including buyer's premium.
The Cord L-29 was revolutionary, using a front-wheel drive system rather than the popular rear-wheel drive configuration. Many believed that having the front wheels be responsible for turning, carrying the bulk of the weight, providing stopping power and for driving were too much. With the rear wheel drive systems, the weight could be dispersed throughout the body to take advantage of weight distributed. Cord wanted to be different and explore the possibilities of a front-wheel configuration.
Errett Lobban Cord was a visionary, promoter, young and intelligent individual when in 1924 he joined the Auburn Automobile Company which was under performing in respects to sales. Cord was able to revitalize sales and by 1926 he was in control of the company. He then began buying up companies such as Duesenberg Motor Company and Lycoming and brought them under the Cord Corporation.
With control of Duesenberg and Auburn automobiles, the Cord Corporation was positioned for success. What the company lacked was an automobile that could fill the price gap that existed between these two nameplates. The result was a luxury car named after himself, the Cord L-29. The Cord L-29 used a front-wheel drive system. Many people believe Cord used the front-wheel drive configuration because he wanted to exploit the advantages of a low-profile design. Rear-wheel-drive cars sat higher above their driveshafts because the engineers had not figured out how to let the shaft run through the passenger compartment.
Cornelius Van Ranst was tasked as the chief engineer for this unique automobile. John Oswald, a man responsible for many of the Auburn designs, contributed to the L-29. The result was dramatic styling that was attractive and elegant.
Under the hood lurked an 299 cubic-inch eight-cylinder Lycoming engine. The 125 horsepower engine could carry the 4600 pound vehicle to a top speed of just 77 mph, a respectable speed but not the fastest vehicle available.
Since it was a front-wheel drive system, the normal mechanical configuration needed rearrangement. The transmission and differential were in the front, ahead of the engine. The hood was very long, a result of having so many mechanical components in the front. The rear suspension used leaf springs and a beam axle while the front used a deDion type solid axle with quarter elliptic leaf springs.
As was the case in early years of automotive construction, custom coachbuilders were often tasked with providing the bodywork and designs. In 1930 an L-29 with styling courteous of Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was bestowed with prestigious awards at the Monaco Concours d'Elegance.
Two months after the introduction of the Cord L-29 the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. Just like many other manufacturers during this time, sales plummeted and production was low. To compete, Cord dropped prices in 1930 in an attempt to stimulate sales. For 1931 a large engine producing just over 130 horsepower was installed under the hood. Unfortunately, this was not enough and production ceased at the close of 1931.
During its production run lasting from 1929 through 1931, fewer than 5,000 total examples were created. In 1930 only 1,873 united were produced. Although production was halted in 1931, there were 157 L-29's dubbed as 1932 models.
Errett Lobban Cord was a visionary, promoter, young and intelligent individual when in 1924 he joined the Auburn Automobile Company which was under performing in respects to sales. Cord was able to revitalize sales and by 1926 he was in control of the company. He then began buying up companies such as Duesenberg Motor Company and Lycoming and brought them under the Cord Corporation.
With control of Duesenberg and Auburn automobiles, the Cord Corporation was positioned for success. What the company lacked was an automobile that could fill the price gap that existed between these two nameplates. The result was a luxury car named after himself, the Cord L-29. The Cord L-29 used a front-wheel drive system. Many people believe Cord used the front-wheel drive configuration because he wanted to exploit the advantages of a low-profile design. Rear-wheel-drive cars sat higher above their driveshafts because the engineers had not figured out how to let the shaft run through the passenger compartment.
Cornelius Van Ranst was tasked as the chief engineer for this unique automobile. John Oswald, a man responsible for many of the Auburn designs, contributed to the L-29. The result was dramatic styling that was attractive and elegant.
Under the hood lurked an 299 cubic-inch eight-cylinder Lycoming engine. The 125 horsepower engine could carry the 4600 pound vehicle to a top speed of just 77 mph, a respectable speed but not the fastest vehicle available.
Since it was a front-wheel drive system, the normal mechanical configuration needed rearrangement. The transmission and differential were in the front, ahead of the engine. The hood was very long, a result of having so many mechanical components in the front. The rear suspension used leaf springs and a beam axle while the front used a deDion type solid axle with quarter elliptic leaf springs.
As was the case in early years of automotive construction, custom coachbuilders were often tasked with providing the bodywork and designs. In 1930 an L-29 with styling courteous of Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was bestowed with prestigious awards at the Monaco Concours d'Elegance.
Two months after the introduction of the Cord L-29 the stock market crashed and the Great Depression began. Just like many other manufacturers during this time, sales plummeted and production was low. To compete, Cord dropped prices in 1930 in an attempt to stimulate sales. For 1931 a large engine producing just over 130 horsepower was installed under the hood. Unfortunately, this was not enough and production ceased at the close of 1931.
During its production run lasting from 1929 through 1931, fewer than 5,000 total examples were created. In 1930 only 1,873 united were produced. Although production was halted in 1931, there were 157 L-29's dubbed as 1932 models.
1929 Cord L29 |
|
| Year | 1929 |
| Make | Cord |
| Model | L29 |
| Body Style | Speedster |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Front Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1929 - 1931 |
| Body Designer | Harry Miller |
| Price | $31,000.00 |
| Weight | 4300 lbs | 1950.5 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Engine Number | FDA 1282 |
| Performance | |
| 0-60 mph | 20 seconds. |
| Engine | |
| Engine Builder | Lycoming |
| Engine Configuration | S |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 289.60 CU IN. | 4746.5 cc. | 4.7 L. |
| Valvetrain | SV |
| Horsepower | 125.00 HP (92 KW) @ 3600.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 34.4 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 26.6 BHP / Liter |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Engine | |
| Engine Builder | Lycoming |
| Engine Configuration | S |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 289.60 CU IN. | 4746.5 cc. | 4.7 L. |
| Valvetrain | SV |
| Horsepower | 125.00 HP (92 KW) @ 3600.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 34.4 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 26.6 BHP / Liter |
| Fuel Feed | Carburetor |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| In unit with front wheel | |
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| Additional Resources and Links |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Official Website |
| Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance Official Website |
| Christie's at The Monterey Jet Center Official Website |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com