1937 CORD 812 SUPERCHARGED PHAETON

290ci Supercharged Flathead V-8 Engine
Single Stromberg Carburetor
170bhp at 4,250rpm
4-Speed Pre-Selector Transmission
Independent Front Suspension – Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Drum Brakes

*Iconic American Classic Era design
*Well-restored and maintained; desirable supercharged drivetrain
*Auburn Cord Duesenberg (ACD) Club Certified Category 1
*Restoration work by renowned ACD experts Paul and Joe Kaufmann

THE SUPERCHARGED CORD

One of the few automobiles deemed worthy of inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and arguably the most easily recognized American car of all time, the Cord 810 debuted in November 1935, where it received a rapturous reception at US automobile shows. Originally conceived as a baby Duesenberg, this amazing design was the work of a team headed by Gordon Buehrig, who had previously designed the famous Duesenberg Beverly style and the stupendous Duesenberg "Twenty Grand" for the 1933 Chicago World's Fair.

The 810 body style with its louvered "coffin" nose, streamlined wings, concealed gas filler under a modern flap, headlamps that opened by means of hand-cranks on either side of the airplane-style engine-turned aluminum dash and the absence of running boards would prove immensely influential. The following model year, cars all over the world suddenly had horizontal chrome strips along the hood, squared-off grilles and more shapely side treatments. None however, could aspire to the clean, simple and timeless beauty of the original. A front-wheel-drive car like the L-29, the 810 differed from its predecessor by virtue of its more compact Lycoming V-8 engine and 4-speed, pre-selector electric gearbox, modeled on the French Cotal.

The Cord was re-designated 812 for 1937 when custom sedans on a longer wheelbase joined the range, although it is doubtful whether any independent offering ever matched Buehrig's original Beverly fastback sedan for sheer style. Supercharging was made available on the 1937 812 model, and these can be distinguished from the normally aspirated 812s by the chrome-plated external exhaust pipes mounted on each side of the hood and grille. Priced competitively in the USD 2,000 - 3,000 range, the 810/812 should have been a huge success, but this was not to be. The Cord Corporation was in deep financial trouble, and when Mr. Cord sold up in August 1937, it spelled the end not just for Cord, but for Auburn and Duesenberg as well. At the close, a little fewer than 3,000 810/812s had been made.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

This particular Cord phaeton, the four-passenger convertible model with a "disappearing" top, is recorded by ACD Club historian Ron Irwin as having been a 1936 810 model, which remained unsold at the end of the year and was returned to the factory for renumbering and sale as a 1937 812. At a later point it was upgraded as the most desirable supercharged model, with a correct "FC" engine and front sub frame donated from a Custom Beverly Sedan, and in this form was noted by Mr. Irwin as being owned by longtime Cord collector Dr. Fay Culbreth of North Carolina, in 1971. Subsequent owners were Henry Delmar Clayton and the late Cord expert, Doug Johnson of New Jersey, highly respected for his dedication to the history and maintenance of his favorite automobile.

The car was then purchased by Ralph Helm of Scottsdale, Arizona, who decided to return the Cord to beautiful original condition. In this spirit he undertook its restoration in the early 1990s at the hands of second-generation Cord mechanic, Paul Kaufmann, under the watchful eyes of legendary Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg master restorer Merlyn "Joe" Kaufmann of Manitowoc, Wisconsin. They collectively decided the car to be finished in the beautiful factory-correct color of Geneva Blue, with accessory front and rear bumper guards and a tan top. Mr. Helm and Paul Kaufmann painstakingly found original parts and the engine was meticulously reconstructed to original specifications, which turned out to be a two year long process. Mr. Helm researched the Cord's history carefully; with the original serial number unknown, he corresponded with Mr. Irwin regarding a correct identity, eventually settling upon 812 31415 H as an appropriate, unclaimed number. In this form and with the restoration completed, the car was awarded ACD Club Certification as a Category 1 Original Car. This important designation verified and documented the history of the car for future generations.

Mr. Helms estate has had the mechanical integrity of the car highly scrutinized by PDH Automotive of Glendale, Arizona, including having the transmission sorted to function properly, as well as select cosmetic improvements. The late Lee Richardson, a well-respected ACD enthusiast, was well known for his electrical work on the L-29 and 810/812 transmissions and pre-selector system also assisted in the restoration process. Accompanying the car is its complete ACD Club Certification paperwork, detailing the research into its history and specification, as well as rare Cord specification sheets and extensive receipts and invoices from its restoration, showing the level of workmanship involved.

A high-quality, mechanically sound driver, this Cord should be a joy for ACD Club tours, CCCA CARavans, and other events for which these exceptionally modern Classics are well-suited.