1929 Cord L-29 Town Car

In those early days, car companies came and went; only the strong survived. In 1924 the Auburn Motor Company found itself in dire straits and recruited a young Erret Lobban Cord to make things right. Cord was a former race car driver, mechanic, car salesman, and a very astute businessman.

By 1928 he controlled Auburn. He created the Cord Corporation as a holding company for what eventually became 150 companies, including Duesenberg, Lycoming Engines, Checker Cab, as well as aircraft manufacturers, airlines, and shipbuilders. In 1929 he launched the Cord line and positioned it between Auburn and Duesenberg as a middle-class, higher-volume model.

This car has had only four owners. It was originally purchased by Henry McVickar, a well-to-do friend and sometime business acquaintance of E.L. Cord, who always owned several fine coach-built cars at any one time. He transferred the D'Leteren Freres Town Car body from his 1927 Minerva to the Cord rolling chassis. The skilled craftsmen of Buffalo coachbuilder Brunn did the conversion, including changing it to left-hand drive. Interestingly, the original front seat leather shows evidence of being patched to cover the speaking tube that was moved from right to left.

It stayed in the McVickar family until 1940. It has been meticulously maintained and makes for an outstanding driver. It features rare appointments such as smaller spoke wheels, unvented front brake covers, and a four-blade fan. It is unrestored and is an outstanding window into a time long past.