1929 Cord L-29 Cabriolet

In 1929 there were two front-wheel-drive American production cars announced. Errett Loban Cord was first to market in June of that year with his L-29 Cord. Archie Andrews followed with his short-lived Ruxton. Cord needed a car to fill the gap between his reasonably priced Auburn and his top-of-the-line Duesenberg Model J, and this was it. Referred to as 'Cord Front Drive' in company literature, the car was never given a model name, so the prototype's I.D. number, 'L-29,' was selected. Four factory body styles were offered: sedan, brougham, cabriolet, and phaeton (convertible sedan). The cost of closed cars started at $3,095, while convertibles started at $3,295.

Cord built 5,010 units, including approximately 1,200 cabriolets, between the 1929 introduction and the close of production on December 31, 1931. The car was to be followed by a new and improved L-30, but the Depression saw that it never happened.