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The car has just completed extensive 'refreshing.' The A.C.D. Club has certified this car as an authentic Cord and one of only 17 of this body style left in the U.S. as of March 31, 1993.
The Cord was one of only two marques available for sale in 1930-1931 with front wheel drive. With front-wheel drive it eliminated the need for a drive shaft, hence cords are significantly lower than their contemporaries, thus appear racier.
This Cord was originally cosmetically restored in the 1970's and recently restored mechanically and cosmetically.
E.L. Cord sold pizzazz, consequently the Cord cars were presented in striking color schemes, unusual features, look at the Art Deco touches, especially on the dash board area and what was presented as advanced engineering.
This Cord was originally cosmetically restored in the 1970's and recently restored mechanically and cosmetically.
E.L. Cord sold pizzazz, consequently the Cord cars were presented in striking color schemes, unusual features, look at the Art Deco touches, especially on the dash board area and what was presented as advanced engineering.
| Rumble Seat Cabriolet |
| | View more photos Rumble Seat Cabriolet |
The motor is a Lycoming straight eight with a 298 cubic-inch displacement that generates 125 horsepower. The transmission is mounted in front of the engine and the shift lever changes gears in an innovative manner.
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.
1931 Cord L-29 |
|
| Year | 1931 |
| Make | Cord |
| Model | L-29 |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Front Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1929 - 1931 |
| Price | $3,295.00 |
| Weight | 4500 lbs | 2041.2 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 298.60 CU IN. | 4894.1 cc. | 4.9 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Horsepower | 125.00 HP (92 KW) @ 3400.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 36.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 25.5 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 5.3:1 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Transmission Information | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| 4.08 | |
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| 1930 L-29 |
| 1930 L-29 Voll & Ruhrbeck Victoria |
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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