Vehicle Description
Serial No. 32474F
Chassis No. 1474
Engine No. FC 3241
Body No. C 92 306
Transmission No. T 2334
The Cord 810 and its successor the 812, introduced in the wake of
the Great Depression, were offered in two convertible styles: the
four-passenger Phaeton and the two-passenger Cabriolet. When the
810 debuted at the 1935 New York Auto Show, it caused a sensation
with Gordon Buehrig's revolutionary design. Highlights included a
streamlined, louvered "coffin nose" hood, hidden door hinges,
pop-up headlamps, a step-down floor, and the absence of traditional
running boards-all wrapped in a unitary body construction that was
well ahead of its time. The cars were powered by a Lycoming V8
paired with a four-speed, electrically shifted pre-selector
transmission. However, the complexity of the design led to
significant production delays, and the Cord was ultimately
manufactured only in 1936 as the 810 and 1937 as the 812. Today,
they remain the most iconic offerings from the Cord company's
meteoric rise. Widely admired for their style and innovation, these
cars are often referred to as "rolling sculptures" due to their
unique and artistic design and have earned their place in both car
collections and art museums alike.
Retained by James P. Corbin of Elgin, Illinois, the car was
purchased in the early 1980s by John Staver of Virginia, Minnesota.
Beginning with a solid example, the car was restored in the late
1990s under Staver's direction to its current black over a black
leather interior. In 2001, the car was purchased by a
California-based Cord enthusiast who continued to refine the
details of the restoration, elevating the car's presentation to a
higher level. This included having the car serviced by the experts
at Odyssey Restorations in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota. As a result
of this detailed work, the car earned its second CCCA First in
Primary Class award and the prestigious Tom Mix Award, as the best
810/812 Cord on display at the 56th Annual ACD West Coast Meet in
October 2012, shortly after the current owner purchased it.
Today, this stunning black-over-black Supercharged Sportsman
represents the ultimate Cord experience-an ideal blend of rarity,
timeless design, and supercharged performance. Equally suited to
Concours show fields, CCCA CARavans, and ACD Club events as one of
the most attractive and desirable models. This car stands as a
brilliant testament to American innovation and elegance, just as
captivating today as it was in 1937.
