OK, sleuths, this is not a 1937 Ford Mustang! The listing title is obviously a bit confusing, but what we do have here is a genuine 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton project. It is considered to be 80% finished (I’m not sure how the completion math is calculated), but as is usually the case, there’s a story here. Awaiting completion in Gardnerville, Nevada, this ’30s classic is available here on eBay for an opening bid of $85,000.
When I hear the esteemed automotive moniker known as a Cord mentioned, my mind usually drifts to the “Coffin Nose” 810 model such as our subject car. Cord, a division of Auburn, was short-lived. Formed in 1929, it closed its doors in 1937 – and that includes a period of inactivity between 1932 and 1935. The 810, introduced in ’36, was noteworthy for its sleek styling, front-wheel drive, and hidden headlights. Morphing into the 812 for 1937, the total 810/812 production was less than 3,000 copies.
Some 1936 810s were carried over into ’37 and rebadged as 812s – don’t know if that’s the case here. As for the backstory, the seller of this Cord consigned it to a restoration shop for a complete redo. The shop went under so the seller has undertaken his own resurrection project and has been at it for the last eight years. He adds, “New paint…all new chrome except front bumped, complete new glass original convertible back glass frame…the left front still needs much repair, right front fender needs major repair, the fenders were damaged in a major garage fire, there was no rust damage.” Wow, the shop goes under and then a fire ensues, this poor guy can’t catch a break!
These 810/812s were powered by a 4.7 liter “Lycoming” V8 engine, good for 125 HP, and connected to a four-speed semi-automatic transaxle – pretty heady stuff for 1937! The seller claims “new engine and transmission” but it’s not clear if he means completely new, non-original components or newly rebuilt. Also stated is, “suspension complete(ly) rebuilt…new tires, new fuel and brake lines.”
Regarding the interior, the listing states, “Complete rebuilt, dash panel and instrument restored as original… upholstery is completed except for the seats.” The machine-turned instrument panel truly is a work of art!
As with yesterday’s post of a 1969 MGC, this one will require assembly though, at this point, it’s further along than the MG. If you have an interest in this Cord, be certain to review all of the images – there are none that take in this car in its entirety but there are many that detail some of the finer points (and read the listing detail carefully – it’s peripatetic and hops all around). Anyway, these are fabulous automobiles, born in a time when regulations and nay-saying didn’t dictate car design and styling. Even with the high opening bid, and despite the waning interest in cars from this era, I imagine someone will step into the void here and take this project on, perhaps at a lower price point. And that little matter leads me to ask, what’s your thought, priced right or not quite?
I’ve been through this process, but it was a 65 Plymouth Belvedere. That’s nothing like a Cord, but there were a few parts that were in the “you probably can’t find, or if you do find it you can’t afford it.” I was the one who took it apart, so I had the local Mopar expert telling me what to be really careful of. I spent a bunch of money on baggies and pictures.
I hope that that this car, having gone through a strip by a closed restoration shop and a garage fire still has all the parts, but anything missing isn’t going to be bought at the local NAPA store. Good luck with that.
Sure ain’t the model kit from Monogram, and it doesn’t come with
instructions either. But seriously, the
last time I saw one in the flesh was the summer of ’68. A friend of my father’s was not only the mayor of
Bloomington, but an avid car collector
long before the hobby was fashionable. It wasn’t unusual to see him driving around in one of the cars
that he had restored himself. Dad said that he’d owned the Cord since
’49 or ’50 when asked Dad to go with
him to help load the car and bring it
home. Dad would do this several more times before joining the Army to
fight in Korea in ’51. I got to meet Mr.
Bittner and see his whole collection of the strange antique cars as they were known back then. His stable
included the Cord, a 1902 Cadillac, a
’27 Pierce Arrow, a Huppmonile, a ’39
Mercedes 540 K 4-door, and a 29 Lincoln sedan to name a few. The last time I saw him in ’77, he was puffing around town in his Stanley Steamer.
I would imagine that the odds are good that most potential buyers would be Cord enthusiasts with prior experience, knowledge , and connections in the Cord world . At that price , very few people would tackle this car without that confidence.
Broken Arrow Oklahoma is the place to go to for Cord and Duesenberg parts.This place was even featured on an episode of American Pickers.Probably would have everything this car needs….
very nice project.
This falls in my deff of ‘classic (for merica –
mid/late ‘30s – very early 50s) car’. Probably
a personal deff as I see it used for 60s/70s muscle &
occasionally family/luxo models. Does the deff change
w/each generation of enthusasits? may be BUT my father
(born ’25, the “WWII” or “Great Gen”) used the ‘50s dwn szed ford
T-Bird (we saw in movie “American Graffiti”) as something “classic”
for him.
Too high a price for the condition it is in. I restored a 36 Cord phaeton several years ago and sold it in 2011. This car is going to take a lot of work and a lot of money to bring it back to at least a 90 point car. If I could see it would consider offering about half their asking price. Richard Orr
I’m not sure that I agree with that. You may be right, but according to Hagerty, one in average condition is worth $180,000, and I don’t see this one being more than $50,000 from being done.
This thing is beyond cool. When was a youngun’ in a small town in Oregon, there was a ’41 Hollywood Graham sitting beside a house not too far from my parents house. As an up and coming car guy, I was enamored by it. In my quest to find out what it was, I found out that they resembled a ’37 Cord and I was sold on both the Graham and the Cord. While I have never owned either one, I still believe that they are the coolest cars on the planet. I hope that someone gets this that will treat it right. Unfortunately, at 75 I am too old to take it on but I sure as heck wish I could.
The exhaust pipes indicate that this is the supercharged version.
In early 70′ I helped a friend of mine (L D Mckinney) completely restore a 36 Cord. It was a very interesting project as parts were hard to come by even back then, some pieces we had to make. The trans was sent out west and leather interior were only things we did not do. The design and engineering were ahead of its time. Odd car to drive but fun. Car sold a couple of years ago after LD died.
Finally made it to the ACD museum a couple years ago. A truly wonderful display of some of the most magnificent autos ever. Hope someone puts this back together.
Auburn Cord Duesenberg all carry “Senior Classic” designation by CCCA. As such there are only a few shops capable of restoring this to Pebble Beach Concourse winning status. If the work already performed isn’t to world class standards it’s all for naught. Elegant car for sure and deserves to be finished properly and enjoyed.