Engineers Harry Miller and Cornelius Van Ranst, who had previously been closely involved with front-wheel drive Indianapolis race cars, were recruited by Erret Lobban Cord as advisors in the development of his all-new front-wheel drive passenger car, the Cord L-29 in 1929. The deserved success of that model was thwarted by the Wall Street Crash of 1929, however, undaunted, Cord returned in 1935 with a new and radically-designed, front wheel drive car styled by Gordon Buehrig and powered by a Lycoming 125hp V8 engine. The new model was designated the 810 and in 1937 the same power unit was used for the new 812 model. A supercharger was offered as an option that year increasing the power output of the Lycoming engine to a purposeful 170bhp. Buehrig’s coffin-nosed design was exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art and was instantly recognisable with its concealed headlights and flowing, external, flexible, chromium-plated exhaust pipes. The Phaeton was the most expensive standard model at $2,645 new although the supercharged models were still more expensive. Only 3,000 or so 810/812’s were built before the Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg empire finally closed in 1937.
This supercharged car was acquired by the Lips Collection from a well-known Belgian collector in 1984. It would appear to be to original specification in all major respects and the coachwork is finished in gunmetal grey livery and the car retains its original leather upholstery which is worthy of careful conservation. At the time of cataloguing one instrument and a hub cap were missing, however it is possible that these may be located prior to the sale. The car has not been started or run for some time and will require careful recommissioning. The Cord 812 remains one of the most instantly recognisable American motoring icons and, with potentially 170hp to hand, one of the quickest amongst its contemporary American production models.