The L-29 was introduced in August 1929 as the first model to carry the Cord name and was the first American-built front-wheel-drive production car. Four factory body styles were offered, including four- and two-door convertibles that were styled by Alan Leamy and built by the Limousine Body Company, a Cord subsidiary. The absence of rearward driveline components allowed the L-29’s body to be mounted lower on its X-brace frame, with flat floors accommodating expanded passenger space.
This example…
The L-29 was introduced in August 1929 as the first model to carry the Cord name and was the first American-built front-wheel-drive production car. Four factory body styles were offered, including four- and two-door convertibles that were styled by Alan Leamy and built by the Limousine Body Company, a Cord subsidiary. The absence of rearward driveline components allowed the L-29’s body to be mounted lower on its X-brace frame, with flat floors accommodating expanded passenger space.
This example wears two-door cabriolet bodywork that was repainted in its current livery of red with maroon accents in the early 1980s. Closeups of the finish and trim are presented in the photo gallery below and include areas where chips and swirl marks are present. The painted trim along the beltline is noted to exhibit a rough area in the welded portion near its upper surfaces. The black convertible top was re-dyed in April 2021, and tears in the fabric are present at the corners where the top meets the side window. A black fabric boot covers the top when retracted.
Chrome-finished wire wheels are secured by two-eared knock-offs and wear 7.00-18 Firestone whitewall tires that were mounted in 2010. Dual side-mount spares carry figurine-stemmed side mirrors and are wrapped in matching tires that show wear and are said to be for display purposes only. A period central Pilot-Ray driving light that swivels in accordance with steering linkage motion has been added. Additional features include cowl-mounted spotlights, chrome-finished bumpers, cowl vents, dual vacuum-operated windshield wipers, and a body-color trunk mounted overtop a matching painted fuel tank.
The cabin features a bench seat and door panels trimmed in red leather that are complemented by color-keyed carpeting, with matching materials over the rumble seat and its compartment. A locking door located in the passenger-side rear quarter panel facilitates the storage of golf clubs. The seller notes that the upholstery pattern on both seats is not factory correct, and the drip rail around the rumble seat compartment is missing.
The four-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a black dash panel, through which the gearshift passes and allows manipulation of shifter linkage that runs through the firewall and over the engine. Instrumentation on the left side of the dash includes a rotating-drum speedometer and gauges monitoring coolant temperature and oil pressure, while gauges to the right monitor fuel level, amperage, and oil level. The fuel and oil level gauges do not work. The five-digit odometer shows 69k miles, approximately 4k of which were added by the seller. A clock is integrated into the rearview mirror mounted at the top of the windshield.
The 298ci Lycoming L-head inline-eight is mounted longitudinally with its flywheel facing the front of the car and features a single Schebler updraft carburetor to produce a factory-rated 125 horsepower. The head gasket was replaced in January 2021, at which time an oil change was performed. A period Buell air compressor and dual air horns have been added.
The three-speed manual transaxle unit is mounted forward of the engine and transmits power to the front wheels via constant-velocity joints, the latter of which were a first for production cars. The differential has been fitted with 3.90:1 ring-and-pinion gears in place of the shorter factory gearing. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes feature inboard-mounted front units. The suspension incorporates a de Dion front setup and a rear beam axle, with leaf springs and Houdaille shock absorbers all around. A Bijur automatic chassis lubrication system is actuated from inside the cabin via a lever underneath the dash, while a floor-mounted lever operates an exhaust cutout.
The Verification of Origins certificate from the ACD Club identifies the car as a certified Cord with club number CL-123 and lists the component numbers. An ACD certification decal listing the car’s club identification number is affixed to the windshield. The engine tag is pictured in the gallery below showing number FD3426, which is also stamped on the chassis tag. Body tag number F-599 is also shown in the gallery below. Also included and shown in the gallery are a set of reproduction manuals, a jack, a knock-off tool, various spare parts and trim, and a hand-written note from the previous owner describing the car’s history.