Description
The Cord 810/812 was introduced in late 1935 and was produced for two years before the Auburn Automobile Company ceased manufacture of the Cord marque. Gordon Buehrig-penned styling includes a “coffin-nose” front profile with a louvered wraparound grille, a rear-hinged hood, hideaway headlights raised via dash-mounted hand cranks, concealed door hinges, and a split windshield. This example is configured as a Westchester sedan with centrally hinged doors and a flat-back trunk, and it is finished in black. An…
The Cord 810/812 was introduced in late 1935 and was produced for two years before the Auburn Automobile Company ceased manufacture of the Cord marque. Gordon Buehrig-penned styling includes a “coffin-nose” front profile with a louvered wraparound grille, a rear-hinged hood, hideaway headlights raised via dash-mounted hand cranks, concealed door hinges, and a split windshield. This example is configured as a Westchester sedan with centrally hinged doors and a flat-back trunk, and it is finished in black. An area of cracking ahead of the right front wheel is shown in the photo gallery below along with other imperfections in the finish.
Chromed steel wheels wear domed hubcaps and are wrapped in older whitewall tires that the seller states have been on the car since prior to his father’s acquisition. A matching spare is secured in the trunk. The hydraulic drum brakes are said to have been bled after the removal of the car from storage last year, and the seller notes that the wheel and master cylinder rubber cups should be replaced.
The cabin features two bench seats trimmed in black, and the front seat is said to have been reupholstered in leather under the seller’s father’s ownership. Black cloth and leather covers the rear seat and door panels, which are complemented by a color-matched headliner and carpeting. Wear is present on the driver-side door-mounted armrest, and crazing is exhibited on the black painted surfaces of the dash and glovebox doors. A rotary-dial radio is present but is missing its internals.
The black three-spoke steering wheel features a bright horn ring and shares its column with a Bendix “electric hand” gear selector at the driver’s right. An engine-turned dash fascia houses instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer, a 5k-rpm tachometer, a clock, and gauges monitoring coolant temperature, fuel level, oil pressure, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 55k miles. According to the seller, the car has been driven approximately five miles since removal from showroom storage.
The 289ci Lycoming V8 features three main bearings, aluminum cylinder heads, and side valves angled at a near-horizontal position. Naturally aspirated induction is through a single downdraft carburetor, and PerTronix electronic ignition was added under the seller’s father’s ownership. Output was factory rated at 125 horsepower.
Power is transferred to the front wheels by a Detroit Gear four-speed manual transaxle mounted ahead of the engine. Gear changes are preselected via the column-mounted electrical switch and are set into action when the depression of the clutch pedal completes the electrical circuit that actuates vacuum cylinders on the transaxle unit. Suspension incorporates a trailing-arm independent front setup with a transverse leaf spring and a solid rear axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs. Weeping is noted at the half shaft outer felt seals and at the transaxle.
A 1984 letter to the seller’s father from ACD Club historian Ron Irwin outlines the known history of the car, including initial ownership by Joseph Schildkraut and three subsequent owners in California.
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