In 1936 the Cord 810 Convertible was definitely a radical car. It posed a sharp break from the previous notions of how an automobile should look and run.
The Sensational Made for the Future
A work of art, the Cord 810 was a sensation from its first unveiling in 1935. Erret Lobban Cord, head of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg (ACD) Corporation, got the best designers to create a car for the future. Designed by Gordon Buehrig, the car looked unique. Instead of a traditional grille and high bonnet, it had a low-slung engine cover, with horizontal slats to admit cooling air. It had no running-boards, no visible door hinges. The petrol filler lived under a little hatch on the rear flank and headlamps were concealed. The Cord family crest was the only means of identification. It also had front wheel drive and a preselector gearbox. It was however expensive – almost double the price of a Cadillac – and attracted too few customers. When the first Cord 810’s became available, the financial situation at ACD was dire. By 1937 it was all over, the manufacturer of the most exciting cars to come out of the 1930’s, was no more.
Specifications Year 1936 Country of Origin America Engine Capacity 4729 cm³ No. of Cylinders V8 Lycoming, side valves Power Output 125HP/93kW @ 3500 r/min Drive Type Front wheel drive Aspiration Naturally aspirated No. of Gears 4-speed with electric preselector Braking System Hydraulic brakes all round
