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 |  | View more photos Chassis Num: FD2936A |
There were only 1873 Cords produced in 1930, and just over 5000 produced from 1929 through 1932. Only a handful of the four-door convertible sedans were produced. This example was one of the first full production front-wheel drive automobiles built. It has been on display at the Smokey Mountain Car Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee for a number of years. It is finished in light gray with royal blue beltlines and trim and a tan top.
 |  | View more photos Cabriolet Chassis Num: 2928297 |
The dark blue example with silver accents and grey leather interior carries chassis number 2928297. It was offered for sale at the 2006 Worldwide Group Auction held on Hilton Head Island. It was expected to fetch between $150,000-$175,000. It is an ACD Certified Category 1 automobile and was originally owned by Mr. Biff Behr, of Bloomingdale, Illinois. Many optional accessories were ordered such as a grille guard, dual side mounted covered tires with attached mirrors, six wire wheels, rumble seat, trunk rack, and cowl lights. At the conclusion of the auction, the vehicle was left unsold.
 |  | View more photos Chassis Num: FDA3837 |
|  | Phaeton |
In 1927, E.L. Cord was a star salesman at the John Quinlan, Moon car agency in Chicago. He was approached by local bankers to see if he could make the Auburn Company profitable again. he accepted the challenge and became president.
The new Cord, a product of the Auburn Company, and the 1929 Duesenberg, were introduced under Cord's leadership. Powered by a Lycoming straight eight of 299 cubic-inches and 125 horsepower, it was priced at $3,295. The economic depression effectively killed its chance of success as a product slotted between the popularly priced Auburn, and the high-end Duesenberg. The total production was 5,010 units, from 1930 to 1932. Al Leamy is credited with the low, sweeping lines on the low-slung chassis, made possible by the front-wheel-drive configuration that created a sensation here and abroad. The L-29 received 39 awards at 23 concours events on the continent. Frank Lloyd Wright remarked that, 'it looked becoming to the houses I design!'
This car was purchased by B.J. Hall in Baltimore, Maryland in January of 1930. A collector completely disassembled the car for restoration in 1958, but never did work on it. In 2004, the current owner purchased it from the collector, then had all pieces restored and reassembled.
 |  | View more photos |
 |  | View more photos Hayes Coupe Coachwork: Hayes Body Company |
The ultimate representation of a 'one-off-custom-bodied' automobile is this stunning coupe designed for the Hayes Body Corporation of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Its main purpose was to promote the Hayes potential for contract body building and to attract the attention of Cord and the world's automakers.
Upon its completion, this car was sent to Europe and entered in a number of prestigious French concours d'Elegances. Concours rules of the time stated that the car must be driven to the show, and Hayes' first challenge was to get the car from Michigan to Paris for the 1930 Concours.
In 1991, after 50 years of ownership, Brook Stevens sold his masterpiece to Blackhawk Museum. The Hayes Coupe was sold again only a few months later to the current owner. Under current ownership the car was sent to the 1993 ACD National Meet where it was certified as a Category 1 Original Car, and awarded First in Class.
This perfection - combined with the lovely proportions, long hood, extremely low profile, lack of running boards, unique window shape and the luxurious materials in the cockpit - presents a singular automobile that owes nothing to previous designs from any manufacturer or coachbuilder. Put quite simply, the stylistic features of the Hayes Coupe was way ahead of their time.
While the four factory bodies for the L-29 Cord were stunning, E.L. Cord wanted to offer a full line of coachbuilt bodies for his namesake car. Having a close relationship with the Murphy Body Company regarding the Duesenberg Model J, it was only natural that Murphy built at least one half of the coachbuilt L-29s. Among the most breathtaking are the Town Cars, built on both the standard 137.5-inch wheelbase and the stretched 152.5-inch wheelbase. The profile of these cars with their low height, raked windshield and close-coupled bodies is simply perfect. Movie stars, including Dolores Del Rio and John Barrymore, loved these cars.
| Phaeton |
 |  | View more photos Phaeton |
| | View more photos Phaeton |
| | View more photos Cabriolet Convertible Speedster |
Stevens wanted more than a cabriolet - he wanted a unique speedster. He extensively restyled the car, adding skirted fenders, a speedster tail and Woodlites. He drove it in races, hill climbs and other sporting events until his death in 1995.
The Current owners purchased the Cord from the Stevens family in 1997 and commissioned a two-year restoration.
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.
| Cord: 1920-1930 |
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| 1931 L-29 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2009 Conceptcarz.com