The Cord name has faded from history, unknown to all but the most discerning collectors. While names such as Lincoln, Caddilac, Rolls Royce and Packard have come down through the years as symbols of luxury, each of these makes pales in comparison to the unique combination of engineering prowess wedded to stunning design that was the hallmark of the Cord Phaeton. At a time when even luxury manufacturers like Packard were introducing cheaper, more basic models, Cord perversely bet the farm on the 812, a car that would've been a brash statement even in better economic times.
The design for the Cord 812, in only slightly different form, came from the drafting table of Gordon M. Buehrig. It was originally submitted to GM's legendary head of design Harley Earl, who rejected the car as too radical. Errett Lobban Cord, who'd revived the fortunes of the ailing Auburn Automobile Company with the thought that more was better, thought it was just the thing -- to the degree that the car, when it was put into production, bore his name. At the November, 1935 New York Auto Show, the Cord name was on everyone's lips, and orders for the car poured in faster than Cord could fill them, to the extent that many frustrated customers cancelled their orders. In the car's two-year production run, only 2,320 would be produced.
This Cord has an option package that would make many current luxury manufacturers hang their heads in shame. The exterior is a gorgeous beige. The interior features roomy red leather seats and gray carpeting. There's a convertible top, whitewall tires, aircraft-inspired dash (with factory-installed radio, nearly 20 years ahead of its time), and gleaming chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood and grill.
Cord's unwillingness to make even the smallest sacrifices on style and substance did the company in at the end of 1937, but it was a glorious ride while it lasted. The 812's feature technology that put them decades ahead of their time. For example, they were among the first cars anywhere to feature front-wheel drive, contributing to a lower-slung design and handling that would've been the envy of many another carmaker. And the car's rakish Art Deco lines were further enhanced by then-innovative hidden door hinges, rear hinged hood, variable speed wipers (at a time when the few cars that had wipers usually required them to be hand-cranked), and pontoon fenders with retractable headlights, which wouldn't appear again on production cars stateside 'til the 1960's. Fittingly, the sleek car was powered by a supercharged 125hp 4,739 cc (289 cu in) V8 engine built by Lycoming, who would later become known for their aircraft engines. The transmission is a semi-automatic four speed (three plus overdrive).
A full restoration of this car was completed by Hibernia Auto Restoration. Since then the car has been kept in a climate-controlled garage, and maintained in exceptional condition. The current owner has a wealth of documentation pertaining to the car's history and its restoration. The clean appearance of the engine bay and undercarriage . are a testimony to the car's limited road use.
Just how desirable is the Cord? Here's a hint: if you own a Hot Wheels Cord from the 1960's, still in its original packaging, it's worth a whopping $800. Now imagine, if you will, the genuine article, which still looks nearly as radical now as when it was first introduced to the world in 1936. This Cord won't fit in your pocket, but on the plus side, it's been lovingly restored by Hibernia Auto Restoration to a condition that's practically better than it was when it rolled off the Auburn lines. The Cord turned heads in its heyday; in its time, there was nothing else like it on the road. Now, with even fewer Cords in existence, and with Hibernia's restorative touch, it'll turn even more heads, whether at your next auto show, or on a leisurely drive. You can get an impression from the photos, or you can see this car in person and have your breath taken away.
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This Car is Located in Rockaway, NJ 07866
Please understand I don't own this Cord 812 Phaeton personally I am a full time broker selling for a customer My goal is to bring the buyer and seller together I do my very best to tell you what I know I encourage and very much support a pre-buy inspection Do You Need Help Marketing Your Equipment, Boat, Plane, Car or Truck?
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