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1931 Cord L-29 Navigation
This 1931 Cord is an authentic recreation of the car that made its debut at the 1931 Paris Automobile Show. Paul Berns, the husband of screen actress Jean Harlow, purchased the original car off the Paris show floor. It was designed by 23-year-old Philip Wright. Construction of the original was credited to LaGrande, a fictitious coachbuilder of Union City Body Company, a Cord subsidiary.
The L-29 Speedster was displayed at auto shows in both Europe and the United States in 1931 in hopes of stimulating slumping Cord sales. It won first prize in the 'Concours d'Elegance en Automobile' in Paris, France, in June 1931.
This replica was built using an original Cord chassis and running gear. Much attention was paid to creating an exact replica, and the result is stunning. The replica was the creation of Dr. Fay Culbreth, who commissioned Stan Gilliland of Kansas, to build the vehicle in 1994. The coachwork was constructed by Mark Kennison. Guided by archival photographs from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, the coachwork was reconstructed and the car assembled on an original L-29 chassis. The car has an unusual amenity for a car built during prohibition. A panel on the passenger's door opens to reveal a hide-away cocktail bar.
The fate of the original Phil Wright speedster is not known.
This front-drive replica is powered by a 298 cubic-inch Lycoming eight-cylinder engine offering 125 horsepower. It rides on a wheelbase that measures 138 inches.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016
The L-29 Speedster was displayed at auto shows in both Europe and the United States in 1931 in hopes of stimulating slumping Cord sales. It won first prize in the 'Concours d'Elegance en Automobile' in Paris, France, in June 1931.
This replica was built using an original Cord chassis and running gear. Much attention was paid to creating an exact replica, and the result is stunning. The replica was the creation of Dr. Fay Culbreth, who commissioned Stan Gilliland of Kansas, to build the vehicle in 1994. The coachwork was constructed by Mark Kennison. Guided by archival photographs from the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, the coachwork was reconstructed and the car assembled on an original L-29 chassis. The car has an unusual amenity for a car built during prohibition. A panel on the passenger's door opens to reveal a hide-away cocktail bar.
The fate of the original Phil Wright speedster is not known.
This front-drive replica is powered by a 298 cubic-inch Lycoming eight-cylinder engine offering 125 horsepower. It rides on a wheelbase that measures 138 inches.By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2016
No auction information available for this vehicle at this time.
1931 Cord L-29 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Cord L-29
(Data based on Model Year 1931 sales)
| 1931 Cord L29 Phaeton Chassis#: fda2308 Sold for USD$148,500 2026 Mecum : Kissimmee | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Brougham Chassis#: 2929340 Sold for USD$71,500 2024 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2929758 Sold for USD$280,000 2023 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2927175 Sold for USD$229,600 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Convertible Sedan Chassis#: FD3954 Sold for USD$131,600 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale Arizona | |
| 1931 CORD L29 CABRIOLET Chassis#: 2929884 Sold for USD$275,000 2022 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Brougham Chassis#: 2928803 Sold for USD$89,100 2020 RM Sothebys : The Mitosinka Collection | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2928916 Sold for USD$242,000 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Brougham Chassis#: 29929177 Sold for USD$44,000 2018 RM Auctions : Auburn Fall | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2231 Sold for USD$224,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2928916 Sold for USD$210,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Auburn Spring | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 3916 Sold for USD$187,000 2017 RM Auctions : Amelia Island | |
| 1932 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 4987 Sold for USD$236,500 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2929506 Sold for USD$180,000 2015 WorldWide Auctions - Houston Classic Auction | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Convertible Phaeton Sedan Chassis#: 2930071 Sold for USD$156,750 2015 RM Sotheby's : Amelia Island | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Convertible Sedan Sold for USD$258,500 2014 Worldwide Auctions - Auburn | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 2928812 Sold for USD$258,500 2014 The 7th Annual Auburn Auction | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2929244 Sold for USD$246,488 2013 RM Auction - London | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2929040 Sold for USD$231,000 2013 RM Auctions - St John's | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet Chassis#: 2929758 Sold for USD$407,000 2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
Cord L-29s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1931 Cord L-29's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
| Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 Cord L29 Phaeton | fda2308 | 2025 Mecum : Indy | $130,000 | $180,000 | $220,000 |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet | 4117 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | $300,000 | $350,000 | |
| 1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet | FDA4201 | 2018 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale | $325,000 | $375,000 |
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1931 Cord L-29
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