To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The
Elkhart Collection event, 23 - 24 October 2020.
Estimate:
$325,000 - $425,000
- A genuine factory supercharged 'Sportsman'
- One of only 64 examples built; approximately only 30
extant
- Formerly the personal car of Cord expert Lee Richardson
- An excellent example with numerous accepted, reversible
improvements
- Auburn Cord Duesenberg (ACD) Club Certified Category 1
(C-268)
- Ideal for classic touring events and CARavans
The most desirable Cord is the 812 'Sportsman' cabriolet with the
optional supercharged engine; only 64 examples were built, and
roughly 30 remain extant.
According to its ACD Club Certification documents, this cabriolet
was first registered in the state of Illinois; the certification
paperwork contains rubbings of the original serial-number plate,
confirming this to have been born a supercharged car. History is
known back to 1950. The most prominent owner was Lee Richardson of
Carefree, Arizona, who purchased the Cord in 1969 and would own it
for 37 years. A highly skilled and talented engineer who was an
early Imagineer for Disney, Mr. Richardson had been a Cord
enthusiast since his boyhood. He went to work developing "fixes"
for some of the Cord's well-known eccentricities, including the now
widely accepted "Richardson joint" conversion for the fault-prone
front-wheel CV joints.
During Mr. Richardson's long ownership of the cabriolet, he
modified it with his namesake front axle joints, as well as a
12-volt electrical system, discreetly fitted electric fuel pump and
electric cutoff switch, and an electric radiator fan-as well as,
amusingly, power operation for the headlights. All of these are
easily reversible modifications. At some point the original engine
was replaced with another correct supercharged engine, FC 3232,
which is still installed today.
The car was sold in 1997 to another well-known ACD Club member, the
late Hal Bjorklund of Colorado, who had it refinished in the
factory color of Rich Maroon with a tan leather interior and tan
cloth top, as it is presented today.
Well maintained and enjoyed for decades, this authentic, original
supercharged cabriolet would be a highlight addition for any ACD
fan and an excellent example for reliable touring and CCCA
CARavans.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/el20.
