Vehicle Description
The highly advanced Cord 810/812 was born during troubled economic
times of the mid-1930s. As many prestigious automakers saw their
sales figures plummet, some turned to mid-priced companion lines
they hoped would bolster lagging sales of their extravagant,
high-end offerings. Cadillac, in particular, found success with the
LaSalle range, and even Packard offered entry-level models at
various times through the 1930s. As the Great Depression wore on,
many of the few remaining buyers with the means to purchase
extravagant cars were reluctant to flaunt their wealth. Even the
once-mighty Duesenberg was not immune from the effects, as ever
fewer orders filled the books. Eager to attract new clients and
cash in on the prestige of the Duesenberg name, company boss E.L.
Cord suggested a "baby Duesenberg" could compete in the
increasingly busy mid-priced luxury car market. As development was
underway, the board balked and abandoned the project out of fear
that it would cheapen the illustrious Duesenberg name. Despite the
objections from Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg management, E.L. Cord saw
great potential in the preliminary design of the baby Duesenberg.
He determined it would be the perfect basis for a dramatic
resurgence of Cord Automobiles. Since the demise of the L-29, Cord
wished for another car that bore his name, and he now found the
ideal opportunity. Cord revitalized the development of the car,
charging his engineers to push the technical envelope. Engineers
and designers drew inspiration from multiple sources, including
Citroen's revolutionary front-drive Traction Avant. The new Cord
car was constructed using a semi-monocoque chassis, front-wheel
drive, a pre-selector gearbox, and independent front suspension. In
place of the traditional radiator grille, the great Gordon Buehrig
and his team of designers drew a series of wrap-around louvers
flanked by rounded fenders with retractable headlamps - the first
automobile so equipped. The squared-off hood resembled that of a
coffin, earning the car its ubiquitous nicknamecoffin-nose Cord. A
lesson learned from the Cord L-29 was that the front-drive layout
allowed the body to be set much lower than traditional
front-engine/rear-drive cars, allowing a rakish, sleek appearance.
In a stroke of genius, Buehrig eliminated external running boards
and brought the door lines fully down the body. Combined with the
grill-less front end, the sleek styling was breathtakingly
futuristic and considered a masterpiece of automobile styling.
Eight decades later, the Cord 810 and 812 stands among the most
celebrated American industrial designs and a necessity for any
serious collection of Classic Era motorcars. This 1937 Cord 812 is
a beautiful, fully restored example with the highly desirable
Convertible Phaeton Sedan body. This lovely 812 was once part of
the famous collection of William A.C. Pettit III, a former car
dealer and founder of the Museum of Motoring Memories in Natural
Bridge, Virginia. As acquired by Mr. Pettit in the early 1990s,
this Cord was due for a full restoration, so he turned it over to
his friend and fellow collector, Harry Van Iderstine. Mr. Van
Iderstine was a well-known and respected authority in the
Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg community, with several award-winning
restorations under his belt. He performed a well-researched,
thoroughly detailed restoration on Mr. Pettit's Cord, finishing it
in the most appropriate shade of cigarette cream over an oxblood
red leather interior. The color itself is the correct light cream
shade as used by the factory in the 1930s, and not the brighter
yellow that is often represented as cigarette cream on other
restorations. After nearly 30 years, this Cord 812 still looks
crisp and attractive, with the paintwork mellowed to a warm luster,
beautiful chrome wheels, and ribbed Goodyear whitewall tires. Under
scrutiny, some bodywork is visible beneath the paint, although the
minor imperfections do little to detract from what is a very
high-level restoration. With its grill-less front end and hideaway
headlamps, the Cord 812 was shockingly modern in its day, and the
lack of excessive chrome trim accentuated its futuristic
appearance. Only the bumpers, wheel covers, and a few minor
fittings are in chrome, which on this car are in excellent
condition all around. Elegant deep red leather upholstery features
inside, with the body-color dash and steering column finished to
original specification. The quality of the restoration is evident
in the properly trimmed seats and door panels, high-quality
materials, and gorgeous, fully-detailed instrument panel. The seats
display just the slightest signs of use in the leather, which has
taken on a charming character in the 30 years since the
restoration. Restored instruments and controls are in excellent
order, including the door handles, window winders, and delicate
miniature H-pattern gear selector. Raising the signature "coffin
nose" hood reveals a tidy and well-detailed 289 cubic-inch Lycoming
V8 engine. Period-correct hardware and fittings are consistent with
this car's superb, well-researched restoration and long history of
attentive care. Power from the V8 goes through the correct style
electromagnetic pre-selector 4-speed transaxle, which drives the
front wheels. It should be noted that while the chassis, body, and
engine numbers (1339H, C-91 368, and FB2454 respectively) do not
appear in Josh Malks's reference,The Cord Complete, the serial
number is consistent with the series of unsold 1936 810s that were
renumbered by both the factory and dealers of the period to be sold
as 812s. With its futuristic styling and iconic details, the
"coffin nose" Cords are seminal American collector cars. As one of
a select few automobiles worthy of inclusion in the Museum of
Modern Art in New York, the Cord 812 is a masterpiece of American
industrial design. This handsome example benefits from many years
of cherished treatment in the hands of enthusiastic owners. The
well-preserved restoration is now lightly matured, making this an
excellent choice for ACD Club or CCCA shows and touring events.
Collector can easily sell classic cars form their collection
through our classic car consignment program. The consignment
program is a seamless service designed for collectors to leverage
our global network and broker a private sale. Offers welcome and
trades considered For additional details please view this listing
directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6534-1937-cord-812-phaeton/