Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Auburn Spring event,
May 11-13, 2017.
Chassis No.
8101580
Estimate:
$ 55,000 - $ 65,000 US
The 810 was E.L. Cord's second attempt at a front-wheel drive
automobile. Its engine was a V-8, also by Lycoming, but a
four-speed, electrically-shifted, pre-selector transmission was
used. The body, designed by Gordon Buehrig, was a thing of beauty.
Its blunt, louvered hood gave rise to the nickname "coffin nose,"
always a term of endearment, and such features as a "step-down"
floor, unitary construction, hidden door hinges, and a total lack
of running boards were all previously unheard-of.
The car's reception at the November 1935 New York Auto Show was
enthusiastic, with onlookers reportedly standing on the roofs of
other cars just to catch a glimpse, and the orders poured in. Alas,
production start-up for the advanced and complex design was slow,
and by the time supply caught up with demand, some customers had
changed their minds. Cord production wound down in 1937.
This stunning Cord Westchester wears an older, but very
high-quality restoration. It is one of only 1,174 built for the
1936 production year. The Cord has great provenance that includes
being owned, for many years, by the president of Standard Oil
Company; and for the last ten years it was owned by a very well
respected artist in Paradise Valley, Arizona. This cord was also
featured in John Malks book "Cord Complete." It was also featured
on a BBC show in 2015 called "Leading America."
The Cord is presented in what is believed to be its original color
of Cool Orchard Green. This unique and stunning factory color is
complimented by excellent brightwork and wide whitewall tires. The
interior is tailored with light tan upholstery and the dashboard is
completed with proper instrumentation. Under the hood of this
iconic Cord is a Lycoming V-8 engine that is connected to a
pre-selector semi-automatic transmission. Recently this automobile
has had $15,000 invested in it for work completed by the "Master
Cord Mechanic" John Craft.
