Vehicle Description
ACD Certified Category 1. Serial number 2387F, Engine FC3131, Unit
1387, Body C92 131, Supercharger V 1283. Formerly owned by ACD
president Paul Bryant. Older restoration with brand new top and
radials. Rare Cord that's wonderful for touring. Yes, we know there
were no supercharged Cords in 1936-this one apparently had the
supercharger and attendant side pipes installed sometime in the
1950s. It did not stop it from being certified by the
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club, as it still has its original driveline
and bodywork. We don't believe it has ever been disassembled for a
full restoration, as the underside is pretty original and a bit
grungy. It was probably painted in the 1970s, the interior is quite
a bit newer, and the tan canvas top is brand new, installed at
significant expense by noted trimmer Ralph Farinacci (it's so new
we didn't want to risk folding it for photos). The paint is a
wonderful shade of burgundy that suits the sporting Sportsman just
fine, and even though it's probably 50 years old it still has a
nice shine to it. There's some checking and a few touch-ups, but
nothing that detracts from the spectacular look of the sleek Cord.
Doors fit well, the clamshell hood opens and closes properly, and
it has that intangible feeling of quality that only cars that have
never been disassembled can offer. There's not a lot of chrome on
an 810, but the brightwork that is in place remains in overall very
good condition with no notable issues. Even the side pipes are
correct pieces and really add to the sporty look of Cord's 2-seat
convertible. From any angle, this is a gorgeous car. We believe the
tan leather interior is more recent than the paint work, offering
extremely clean hides, correct brown carpets for contrast, and
pleated door panels that are authentically styled. A big 3-spoke
steering wheel with horn ring makes the front-wheel-drive Cord
surprisingly easy to handle and the engine-turned dash is probably
the most beautiful instrument panel of the 1930s. The critical
gauges are operational-speedo, tach, oil pressure, ammeter, fuel
gauge (although we don't trust its accuracy), with the
liquid-filled temperature gauge being offline. The radio head is
missing, sent out for rebuilding and misplaced by the rebuilder but
we are in search of a replacement, but the rest of the hardware is
in beautiful condition. Of course there's the delicate pre-selector
transmission lever on the side of the steering column and if you're
a first-time Cord driver it'll take some acclimation, but the
overall system is pretty easy to use. Twin cranks on the ends of
the dashboard operate the pop-up headlights and each seat is
adjustable independently so anyone can get comfortable in the Cord.
There's also a battery cut-off switch at the base of the driver's
seat (the battery is right underneath the seat), which is always a
good idea. There's a bit of storage behind the seat, including the
spare tire, as well as access to the nicely upholstered trunk,
which is big enough for all your overnight bags on a long tour.
Cord's 288 cubic inch V8 is not a finicky engine and this one
starts quickly and easily and idles nicely even when it's cold. The
Startix system has been disabled and there's a simply pushbutton
under the dash, making starting the engine a simple procedure-turn
the key, press the button, go. The supercharger was reportedly
installed in the 1950s and probably adds a few horsepower because
this Cord is pretty peppy on the road. There's nice low-end torque
to get it off the line and thanks to the well-chosen gears in the
transmission, it's a comfortable 65 MPH cruiser. Thanks to a recent
service, this one isn't finicky at all and drives quite well once
you've mastered the pre-select part of the transmission operation.
Like all Cords, there are a few quirks (like a fourth gear that
doesn't show up until everything is fully warmed up) but we have no
real complaints about how this one goes down the road. And like
many of its siblings, the more you use it, the better it will
get-keeping all those solenoids and relays and actuators limber and
moving is critical to keeping a Cord healthy. Drive it! Braking is
confident with 4-wheel drums, and as I mentioned, the steering is
quite light despite all the weight being over the front wheels. The
underside is a bit grungy but shows no rust or rot or other
structural issues, and if this were our car to keep, we'd leave it
alone-perfection means you won't drive it. Instead, this one is
always ready to hit the road and doesn't sweat the small stuff.
There's an electric fuel pump that's surely part of why this one is
so easy to start, and a newer muffler gives it a nice V8 burble
that we find very appealing. Finally, new 225/75/16 Diamondback
wide whitewall radials have just been installed and they look and
handle fantastic. Documentation includes certification booklets
from the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club documenting the car's status
across several decades of enjoyment. We just watched another
Sportsman sell at the ACD Labor Day Festival for nearly $400,000
and we're not surprised. It's easily the most dramatic car of the
1930s and the ground-breaking technology makes it a great choice
for the vintage tech fan. Add in the best road manners of any
pre-war American car and fantastic club support, and you have an
A-list celebrity that's probably worth every penny. This car has
lived its life with experienced collectors, including a former ACD
Club president, making it a nicely-sorted driver that's ready to
tour anywhere. Call today! Harwood Motors always recommends and
welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.
