Vehicle Description
After reinventing Auburn as a leader in stylish and high-quality
automobiles, E.L. Cord decided to build a car worthy of his own
name - priced to compete with the likes of Packard, Cadillac and
Stutz. Typical for the daring Mr. Cord, he eschewed tradition and
specified a car that was both innovative and beautiful. Designed by
an ex-Miller engineer, the L29 was a sleek and dramatically styled
machine that featured front-wheel drive. Cord shared its 301ci
Lycoming Straight-8 with Auburn, but turned 180 degrees in the
chassis with a forward-mounted transmission, which meant no tunnel
was needed and the body could be mounted low on the chassis. This
also allowed for a flat floor for additional passenger comfort
giving the L29 its signature rakish and low-slung look. Performance
was quite good, and thanks to the low center of gravity, handling
was impressive. Many of the great American coachbuilders of the day
took full advantage of the low body height, gracing the L29 with an
array of sleek and stylish bodies. Only 4,400 L29s were sold
between 1929 and 1932, and it remains a highly collectible icon of
the Classic Era. This 1930 Cord L29 wears sleek and beautiful Sport
Touring Phaeton coachwork built in the style of Rollston of New
York. This exclusive coachbuilder bodied a just a few hundred cars
in its brief existence, but quickly gained a reputation their
exquisite construction, impeccable design and high quality. The
Sport Phaeton body on this L29 reflects that philosophy, with
equally high-quality construction, wonderfully stylish lines and a
beautifully finished restoration in dramatic colors. The car is
nicely adorned with plenty of high-quality brightwork that includes
a radiator stone guard, six chrome wire wheels, chrome headlights
and the signature L29 curved bumpers. A rare and beautiful Lalique
crystal goddess mascot tops the body-colored radiator shell. Finely
crafted blue leather complements the body colors, and a full top is
trimmed in tan canvas. Whether the top is up or down, this stylish
L29 Sport Phaeton is a real stunner, without a bad angle to be
found. Like the body, the chassis and Lycoming engine are
well-detailed and the car runs quite well, returning strong
performance from the 301ci Straight-8. This car is a multiple
concours award-winner at events such as Amelia Island Concours
d'Elegance and the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance.
