1931 Cord L-29 Sedan

The low-slung Cord L-29 featured styling courtesy of the legendary Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. This young Russian nobleman took up auto styling in the 1920s, winning five Grand Prix prizes at the Monte Carlo Concours d'Elegance. The L-29 Cord was his fifth win and the first for an American car. Its front-wheel-drive chassis enabled him to design a car that was 10 inches lower than competitive cars; the design he submitted was six inches lower still. In addition, the L-29 boasted a streamlined grille, the first to surround the radiator with sheet metal.

The Cord L-29 was priced at $3,295, but having been introduced coincidentally with the Stock Market Crash, only 5,010 were built when production ceased in 1932. L-29 referred to the prototypes D number and was adopted as the model's name.

Cornelius Van Ranst and Harry Miller (of Indy racing fame) were responsible for engineering the L-29, which featured a 137-inch wheelbase incorporating the industry's first X-braced frame and front brakes mounted inboard (by differential) to reduce unsprung weight. Mounting the transmission behind the front axle in combination with a 125 horsepower Lycoming 298.6 cubic-inch straight-eight made for excellent handling.

This L-29 Sedan was residing in an airplane hangar in Waxahachie, Texas, when the current owner purchased it. It was all original and complete. A four-year restoration was completed in 2007, and it won best in class at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club in 2007 and 2008.