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It was spring of 1933 and former Auburn Automobile Company president Errett Lobban Cord became Chairman of the Board of the Cord Corporation, a holding company. By this time Cord has sold nearly all of his Auburn stock. Meanwhile in Detroit, General Motors Art and Color Division, headed by Harley Earl, runs a contest among its stylists. One of the four competing teams is headed by young Gordon Miller Buehrig, formerly chief stylist for Duesenberg, Inc. His entry places last. In September 1937 E.L. Cord sold his interests in the Cord Corporation to a group of financiers headed by Victor Emmanuel. They began selling of unprofitable subsidiaries, and changing the product 'mix' of others. They ordered the Auburn Automobile Company to cease its unprofitable automobile production, and placed the company in receivership. Since the other car Auburn was still building was the Cord
The public embraced the Cord in numbers unanticipated even by Auburn! The company simply couldn't produce a reliable car fast enough, and the original customer base evaporated. The Cord was the sensation of the auto shows in November 1935. Over 7000 requests for information were received. Salespeople took deposits for hundreds of cars at the shows. The Cord engine was the only V-8 Lycoming ever built.
It was a very modern power plant, with almost 'square' bore and stroke and nearly-horizontal valves operated by roller-equipped rocker arms. Even the earliest engines were designed to accommodate the centrifugal supercharger that was offered as an option on 1937 models. Supercharging not only raised the horsepower to 170 but also the price to an extra $2000.
Collection of Art BishopSource - SDAM
The public embraced the Cord in numbers unanticipated even by Auburn! The company simply couldn't produce a reliable car fast enough, and the original customer base evaporated. The Cord was the sensation of the auto shows in November 1935. Over 7000 requests for information were received. Salespeople took deposits for hundreds of cars at the shows. The Cord engine was the only V-8 Lycoming ever built.
It was a very modern power plant, with almost 'square' bore and stroke and nearly-horizontal valves operated by roller-equipped rocker arms. Even the earliest engines were designed to accommodate the centrifugal supercharger that was offered as an option on 1937 models. Supercharging not only raised the horsepower to 170 but also the price to an extra $2000.
Collection of Art BishopSource - SDAM
 |  | View more photos |
Cord was the first production car with front wheel drive, unit body construction, disappearing headlights. One of only 196 of this model built.Source - Canton Classic Car Museum
The Cord automobile was launched in 1929 by Erret Lobban Cord, who gave the U.S.A. its first front-wheel drive car in reasonable numbers. The Cord Model 812, succeeded the Model 810 in 1937. The 1937 Cord cars are powered by super-charged Lycoming V8 engines. Cord ceased production of automobiles in 1936-1937. It is believed that only 2,320 units of the 810/812 model were ever built.
 |  | View more photos Chassis Num: 32463CORD |
This medium-priced, front wheel drive vehicle had styling by the legendary stylist, Gordon Buehrig. These 1937 Cords, known as the 812, were similar to the prior year models. The biggest improvement was the addition of the Schwitzer-Cummings centrifugal supercharger. It added an additional 6 psi worth of boost. The chromed exhaust pipes coming out of the sides of the hood gave visual hints of the vehicles performance and sporty persona.
This car shown is finished in burgundy and is one of only three examples constructed with a removable hardtop. Its unique qualities, coffin-nosed front end, and sporty characteristics inspired bidding. The car found a new home, selling for $225,500.
 |  | View more photos Chassis Num: FC3144 Engine Num: FC3144 |
He introduced the front-wheel drive Auburn in 1929, commonly known as the L29. The stock market crash in the early 1930s brought the luxury car market to a standstill; to combat this recession E. L. Cord commissioned Gordon Buehrig to create a baby Duesenberg. The result was a medium-priced, front-wheel drive car which ultimately led to the Model 810 in 1936. The car brought with it style and performance at a reasonable price. The car featured a coffin-nose and retractable headlights. The car was powered by a Lycoming V8 engine and was introduced at the 1935 New York Auto Show.
The Supercharged Phaetons were highly sought after, even by the noteworthy individuals of the period, including Frank Llyod Wright, Gary Cooper, and Clark Gable. There were a total of 610 Phaeton cars created and less than 200 were supercharged. 195 examples were Convertible Coupes and 64 were supercharged. These Convertible Coupes with the supercharger engine offered open-air driving with maximum performance and exceptional style. The Convertible Coupe has become known as the Sportsman, though it was never called that by Cord.
The convertible top can completely fold into the rear deck panel and is completely hidden.
This example has a long and renowned history. It has undergone a complete and comprehensive restoration that included every nut-and-bolt. The total hours invested was between 6,000 and 7,000. The most unique feature of this car is its color, which is an 'improvement' upon the factory Cigarette Cream color. This color is a very vibrant yellow that stands out among other Cords.
This car is well maintained and built to the highest standards. It was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held at Meadow Brook where it had no reserve and estimated to sell between $325,000 - $375,000. This car is highly sought after and it showed at the auction; the car was sold for $352,000.
 | Chassis Num: 32023F |
It is an original factory Supercharged Convertible Coupe Sportsman and certified by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club.
This car was offered for sale at the 2007 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction presented by RM Auctions, where it had an estimated value of $225,000 - $275,000. It left the auction under new ownership, having been sold for $247,500 including buyer's premium.
 |  | View more photos Chassis Num: 32485F |
It is painted in Cigarette Cream with a matching burgundy interior. When it was new it was sent to South Africa where it remained for many years. Around the early 1970s it was purchased by Dr. Frank Hayward of Johannesburg who later sold it to Dr. Fay Culbreth of Charlotte, North Carolina in 1999. At that time, the odometer read 62,000 miles. Two more owners owned this car before it was brought to the 2008 Automobiles of Amelia presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $250,000-$350,000. As the gavel fell for the third and final time, the car had been sold for $220,000.
This car has been treated to a complete, professional, frame-off, nut-and-bolt restoration that was completed just prior to making its way onto the auction block. It traveled a mere 51 miles since the restoration and is in top concours quality. It is still a right-hand drive vehicle with the interior retaining its original steering wheel, 150-mile-per-hour speedometer, ashtray, speaker, and radio.
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The Cord was owned by Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg. Thus their similarities in vehicle design. These three firms also owned the Lycoming engine manufacturing company. This company supplied the 289 cubic-inch V8 engine that gave this vehicle life. The engine was rated at 125 horsepower, with the supercharger the horsepower increased to 170 bhp. The 125hp engine was capable of 90 miles-per-hour with a zero-to-sixty rating of about 20 seconds. A four-speed pre-selector was used, and the wheels were fitted with drum brakes.
The Gordon Beuhrig design is very classic, clean and inspired by aviation. The hood was called the 'Coffin Nose' look for obvious reasons. The hood, when opened, would open upwards. The windshield was split in the middle and was small in comparison to other vehicles. This was due to the room needed by the massive V8. The front had a chrome bumper and a wrap-around grill. Two lights were attached to the bumper and two retractable lights were hidden in the front wheel covers.
Production began for the Cords in 1936 and sales were steady. However, the company itself was not doing as well. The industry was very tough during that era due to many obstacles such as competition.
In 1937 the car was renamed to the 812 and included a few modifications. The 812S were supercharged and had chromed exhaust pipes attached to the side. It was too little, too late. Production ceased later that year due to company financial problems.
The Gordon Beuhrig design is very classic, clean and inspired by aviation. The hood was called the 'Coffin Nose' look for obvious reasons. The hood, when opened, would open upwards. The windshield was split in the middle and was small in comparison to other vehicles. This was due to the room needed by the massive V8. The front had a chrome bumper and a wrap-around grill. Two lights were attached to the bumper and two retractable lights were hidden in the front wheel covers.
Production began for the Cords in 1936 and sales were steady. However, the company itself was not doing as well. The industry was very tough during that era due to many obstacles such as competition.
In 1937 the car was renamed to the 812 and included a few modifications. The 812S were supercharged and had chromed exhaust pipes attached to the side. It was too little, too late. Production ceased later that year due to company financial problems.
1937 Cord 812 SC Convertible Coupe |
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| Year | 1937 |
| Make | Cord |
| Model | 812 SC Convertible Coupe |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Production Years for Series | 1937 |
| Price | $2,585.00 |
| Weight | 3715 lbs | 1685.1 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 31940F |
| Chassis Number | 32023F |
| Chassis Number | 32463CORD |
| Chassis Number | 32485F |
| Chassis Number | FC3144 |
| Engine Number | FC3144 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| L-Head | |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Aspiration/Induction | Supercharged |
| Centrifugal supercharger | |
| Displacement | 269.00 CU IN. | 4408.9 cc. | 4.4 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Horsepower | 185.00 HP (136.2 KW) |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 20.1 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 42.0 BHP / Liter |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 4 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Electric preselector | |
| Final Drive | 4.30 |
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1937 Cord.... Design original, not like the cars today, all look alike
Replies: 0 Sunday, May 15, 2005 |
| 1937 Cord models |
| 812 |
| 812 SC Phaeton |
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