The 1936-37 Cords were the first U.S-built, mass-produced cars that employed front-wheel-drive. They used the 810 name for the first year and 812 for the second (and last) and the 4-door sedan version was called the Westchester. A lack of finances led to these automobiles never getting any serious traction. This edition is said to have been in the same family for the last 70 years (1953?) and hasn’t run since the mid-1960s. Located near San Antonio, Texas, this rare vehicle is available here on craigslist for $17,000 OBO.
These Cords were ahead of their time and the concept wasn’t repeated until the Oldsmobile Toronado appeared in 1966. The business plan called for producing up to 1,000 of the 810s a month, but they never came close to that figure and the car was gone by 1939. As a departure from the norm of the day, these cars had no running boards because FWD enabled them to build these automobiles lower to the ground. From a styling perspective, these machines are noted for their coffin-like hoods, concealed door hinges and headlights, and teardrop-shaped fenders.
Records are sketchy, but 3,000 seems to be the magic number of Cords built in their two-year run. And most of those likely came about in 1936 when the seller’s 810 Westchester was produced. We assume this car has the 289 cubic inch V8 that all Cords used, but it was only good for about 125 hp. They were heavy/bulky machines, so speed was not something that Cords were noted for.
We assume that the family attachment to this car has finally come to a close after 70 years. Sometime before 1964, the motor was taken apart to repair some bad rod bearings, but the work stalled out. We assume the parts and pieces of the engine come with the car as do new CV joint axles, timing chain, and some other pieces. The odometer reading is 53,000 miles and that hasn’t likely budged in seven decades. For some more pics and videos, check things out here. And, BTW, thanks for the cool tip, T.J.!
Other than the rear end treatment, these cars just never looked attractive to me, the pillars were too thick, the windshield divider was too thick, the lack of running boards didn’t look right on a car from this era, same with the hidden headlights. And nobody back then was interested in front wheel drive. It’s like they were trying to create something that was decades away. Just my opinion. But it’s definitely a collectors item.
The writer needs to do better some research. cords are quite fast, particularly compared to their contemporaries. They are anything but heavy bulky cars.
I’ve always liked them. They’re super cool with a design ahead of its time. The V-8 and the transmission placement corrected the issues with the L-29. Too bad Cord ran out of money
I’ve liked this body style since I was a kid.This would be a great restoration project .It does look funny w/o running boards as someone noted.Probably a money pit but if I had the $ and it was disposable I’d buy it. Really cool rare car.I think it’s priced right as long as it’s solid which it looks to be and all the parts are there.He’s probably looking for 15 k.glwts.
I’ve always like the Cord, mainly it had its own style and made its own statement. The Cord was a fast car, by the way. I’d own one if I had the money and the garage space, lol, even at my age.
Icon !
a fav here, not for the advanced engineering (an extra) but for the looks. Among the 1st of what I call ‘classic’ (late 30s to very early 50s if usa). Never saw such detail for interior pic.
Can any 1 tell me what the circular object is on the ‘ceiling’ (interior) at the windshield ‘divider’? If having a ‘moon roff’ it would look like a crank (circular, silver) to open…
Thnx,
– -Chad
I’m gonna guess a fan and my 2nd guess would be a speaker? Those are just guesses I know nothing about these cars other than they look cool and are front wd.
I believe it’s a radio speaker, similar to a high-end Studebaker.
I believe it’s a radio speaker, similar to a high-end Studebaker.
believe it enuff to enter answ twice, ok, I’ll go w/that.
Thnx to Randy Randy and maggy, ‘priciate it.
– -Chad
AND
– -chrlsful
Well the price is fair body looks sound might work for a hands on guy to save money to restore around 50k.
Own a 1936 . Drive it a couple thousand miles a year. Can cruse at 70 .
Very comfortable on long drives.
IRT the disc on the overhead, possibly a drive for the windshield wipers?
Ever since I heard the front looking like a coffin, I get the creeps when I see one.
This Cord is a Westchester, as evidenced by the fastback rear, but there was also a Beverly 4 door sedan which had a humped trunk.
both R grrr-eat.
I like this 1 a lill better as to style
and
that lill trunk adds lill in way of utility, no?
Love all Cords but partial to the 36-37 convertible. The Westchester and Beverly were a beautiful design for a 4 door sedan, but the convertible stole my heart a long, long time ago. Had a short ride in a convertible (812?) back around 1958 or 59. Friend of my dads’, who also had a 53 Corvette he bought new when he got out of the Marines at or near the end of the Korean war.
I thought they were supercharged with the pipes on the side of the hood?
That was optional in ’37
This Cord may be a good entry level project for anyone who has wanted one. Its stylish even as a 4 door. Can’t even imagine putting that front wheel drive and engine back together.
“…supercharged with the pipes on the side…”
yes:
https://www.topspeed.com/cars/zzz-others/1937-cord-812-supercharged-phaeton/
again, lub me da “Classics”
(2 me mid-’30s/very early 50s)
Cords were a great looking car.
At an Illinois AACA meet some decades ago, a fullscale Cord convertible turned out to be a quality reproduction. Nothing seems to be known about its builder and searches always point to the 8/10 of 1964. Anyone?
Lou,
Glen Prey did the 8/10, based on a Corvair engine mounted in the front. Road & Track did a cover piece on it back in 1965, with an original parked alongside.
The new version was “8/10ths” the size of the original, hence giving a nod to the originals name and a tongue-in-cheek way to state it.
I’ve driven two of the original Cords. The FWD pulls like freight train. The pre-selector for the gear change was very cool. The starter/generator drove both the owners a bit nuts…kind of “not-ready-for-prime-time” technology of the time. I do remember almost catching one on fire. The “restoration expert” had installed the wrong battery, they were under the drivers seat, and he failed to account for the weight of the photographer, (me) causing the metal seat springs coming into contact with the battery terminals, essentially closing the circuit and turning the seat bottom into a toaster grid…. Caught just in time though.
Thanks, but the Cord replica I saw that day was a fullsize convertible, and very well done. Only the dashboard gave away that it was a copy. Auburn Speedster replicas are well-known and fairly common but no one I’ve asked seems to know anything about the fullsize Cord copies.
I remember reading about 2 yrs ago, on this site about the pre selector trans unit on these Cords. The Cord listed then had the pre selector rebuilt I think but needed to be installed. One would have to spend some bucks on an original shop manual to tackle that job.