Vehicle Description
The iconic Cord 810/812 started life as a "baby Duesenberg"
envisioned by designer Gordon Buehrig to support E.L. Cord's
flagship brand into the late 1930s. But as the faltering economy
led to Duesenberg's untimely demise, E.L. Cord recycled the concept
to revive his eponymous car company, which had not produced a car
since the L-29 of 1932. The Cord 810 and 812 pushed the boundaries
of automotive design, employing semi-monocoque construction,
front-wheel drive, an electro-magnetic pre-select gearbox, and
later, an optional supercharged engine. Yet, with all that
technical wizardry, the styling made the most significant impact.
The unconventional yet striking shape eschewed contemporary norms
such as running boards and flashy upright chrome radiator shells.
Buehrig's advanced streamline form featured curvaceous aerodynamic
fenders with hideaway headlights, slab-sided bodywork, full-length
doors that concealed the running boards, and a distinct
coffin-shaped hood with wraparound air intake slats in place of the
traditional radiator grille. It is widely recognized as one of the
most significant works in industrial design history, a piece of
automotive art treasured by car collectors and design aficionados
worldwide. Cord offered several body styles to suit the individual
buyer's wishes. Four-door models consisted of the Beverly and
Westchester sedans, and long-wheelbase options followed later in
1937. Two open two-door models were also offered - the four-seat
Convertible Phaeton Sedan and the two-seat Cabriolet, both
featuring sophisticated disappearing top designs. The Convertible
Phaeton Sedan is one of the most popular models with collectors, as
it blends the sporty open-cockpit design with the four-passenger
practicality and comfort. This 812 Convertible Phaeton Sedan is an
ACD Category 1 certified example that is the recipient of ACD
Primary and Senior Awards as well as a CCCA Senior Award winner.
Presented in an attractive livery of Cigarette Cream over dark tan
leather upholstery, it features a well-maintained older restoration
that has mellowed nicely over the years. There are two kinds of
Cord 810/812 owners, those who cherish them as important objects of
mid-century design and engineering and those who take them out on
the road, drive them and appreciate their driving characteristics
and the effect that seeing them has on onlookers. This 1937Cord
812Phaeton is one of the latter, having had just two owners in the
last 35 years. It was owned for 25 years by a collector in Indiana
who drove it to Auburn, Indiana for years to participate in the ACD
Festival, and maintained the car consistently in excellent running,
driving, and shifting condition.Since 2013 the Cord Phaeton has
been maintained as part of a private collection of important
classic-era automobiles in Washington state and has participated in
the Pebble Beach Motoring Classic, a 1500-mile tour along the coast
of the Pacific Northwest on its way to the ultimate auto
destination-the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The attractive
Cigarette Cream paintwork is correct for the period and 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. The body is in excellent
order, and the car has been updated with external exhaust pipes to
mirror the sporty look of the S/C models. Accessories and upgrades
include Cord branded fog lights, radio, a stainless-steel exhaust,
turn signals for modern driving safety with the switch
unobtrusively tucked under the dashboard and an auxiliary cooling
fan, while rolling stock consists of body-color steel wheels
wearing correct chrome wheel covers and wide whitewall tires.
Exterior brightwork all presents very well, with even, consistent
plating all around. Inside, dark tan leather upholstery covers the
seats and door panels, accented by attractive brown carpets. The
cabin is accurately restored with patterns and materials that are
true to original specs. 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. Occupants are kept dry by a tan
canvas convertible top, which disappears beneath body-color panels
when stowed. Like all 812s, a particular highlight is the
aircraft-inspired dash panel, with its full array of instruments
set into an engine-turned alloy panel. Controls and switches
continue the aviation-like theme, with major controls falling
quickly to the driver's hand, including the delightfully tactile
transmission 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 detailed 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.
Cord's 810/812 is a legendary, groundbreaking automobile and one of
the defining landmarks of the Classic Era. This fine example lives
up to the legend, with exquisite styling and advanced underpinnings
working in harmony to create a wholly unique motoring experience,
best enjoyed on CCCA CARavans or similar touring events. Offers
welcome and trades considered For additional details please view
this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7652-1937-cord-812-phaeton/
