Engine - 289 cubic-inch Lycoming L-Head V8
Transmission - 4-Speed Bendix Electric vacuum Servo Preselector Transmission
Horsepower - 170 at 4,200RPM
Production - One of 64 originally supercharged Cabriolet 812 models

“A Champion never pushes people around”

The Cord Automobile was initially introduced in mid 1929 as the first automobile to bear E.L. Cord’s name, a long-overdue honor after Cord's many successful ventures. These included Auburn, Duesenberg, Lycoming Engines, and Stinson Aircraft to name a few. Cord is often credited as the first commercially available front-wheel driven American automobile, a close race with the lesser known Ruxton Automobile of New York City.
The first generation of the Cord received praise for its handling, but experienced difficulty with the front wheel drive system, complicated shifting, and traction due to the placement of the engine behind the drive wheels. Timing was a burden on the L29 Cord, with only 500 units made prior to the halt of production in December 1931 due to decreased sales caused by the Great Depression.

The second generation of the Cord Automobile, seen here, was a drastic departure from original styling and approach. Cord had convinced designer Gordon Buhrig to return to E.L.’s roster after a stint at General Motors, which followed his time as Chief Designer of Duesenberg from 1929-1933. First planned as a “baby Duesenberg”, the design ultimately went on to become the 810/812 Cord for 1936 and 1937. Roughly 3,000 units were built during the two year run, with few receiving Cabriolet coachwork, and even fewer being supercharged, a mere 64 examples. Aircraft-inspired, the 812 Cord is often considered Buhrigs masterpiece work, incorporating a disappearing top, streamlined panels, iconic ‘coffin-nose’ hood, hidden headlights, and no running boards. The Cord 812 kept with the company’s front-wheel drive reputation, but opted to utilize a 289 cubic-inch V8 with a supercharger among many other mechanical advancements compared to the first generation Cord. The supercharged 812’s are capable of speeds in excess of 100 MPH, a strong aspect of Cord’s marketing.

This particular 812 Cabriolet S/C is finished in Cadet Gray, a factory Cord Color. Chassis 31867F was purchased in 1937 by Bruce Isherwood of Chicago, Illinois. It seldom changed hands, eventually entering into the realm of collector cars decades later. It received a concours quality restoration in 1994 by Mosier Restorations. In 1995 it placed in class at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.