EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THIS 1937 CORD 812 SUPERCHARGED 2 DOOR PHAETON VIN # 1469H!
ENGINE # FC2744; TRANS # T3094; BODY # C91-393; UNIT FRAME # 1667
POTENT SUPERCHARGED 2 DOOR 4 PASSENGER PHAETON CORD!
STUNNING AWARD WINNING RESTORATION & ACD (AUBURN CORD DUESENBERG) CLUB CERTIFIED CATEGORY
CCCA (CLASSIC CLUB OF AMERICA) FULL CLASSIC
ICONIC CLASSIC AMERICAN LUXURY CAR RENOWNED FOR ITS GROUNDBREAKING ENGINEERING & DISTICTIVE ART DECO DESIGN!
HIDDEN HEADLIGHTS
"COFFIN NOSE" HOOD
FWD & IND FRONT SUSPENSION - SUPERIOR HANDLING FOR ITS ERA
2 X PROMINENT EXTERNAL CHROME EXHAUST PIPES EACH SIDE
LYCOMING V8 ENGINE
E.L. Cord was one of the many talented and skilled automotive entrepreneurs whose aim was to establish an empire to rival Ford, GM & Chrysler. At one time Cord controlled the Checker & yellow cab companies, Duesenberg, Lycoming, Stinson Aircraft & American Airways amongst a portfolio of over 150 companies. A master salesman who worked his way through the automobile business, acquiring the 'Auburn Manufacturing Co' in 1924, 5 years later he took Auburn to the next step introducing the FWD Auburn derived Cord automobile, named after himself. Known as the L29 it boasted both distinctive and sporting appearance with wrapped radiator louvers, exposed pipes on the 812, turned metal dash and concealed headlamps along with impressive performance with revolutionary handling for an American car at the time.
Shortly after its launch the stock market was to crash and with it the market for another Cord project in the works, the Baby Duesenberg. Its distinctive styling provided the basis for the new FWD car from Cord, the 810 and its successor the 812. Gordon Buehrig's clean and unadorned coffin nosed, retractable headlight design would create a standard by which cars are still judged today. Powered by a Lycoming built V8 engine, it created an instant sensation at its November 1935 introduction at the New York Auto Show, so much so that Cord could not possibly meet the demand for the car.
The most attractive and desirable variant of the 810/812 series was the Phaeton, a unique 2 door four passenger convertible and one of the first production examples of this body style. Until Cord's Phaeton, two door four passenger convertibles were called convertible Victoria's. Cord's innovative Phaeton provided a stylish quarter window.
These sporty cars are even more collectible and desirable when equipped with the 812's optional supercharger, which came in partnership with a modified firing order, lowered compression ration, a more extreme camshaft grind and a unique larger Stromberg AA-25 carburetor. It exhaled through functional side exhaust, long a signature of the Cord Corporation's supercharged automobiles.
Given the numerous factory upgrades made in period to fit supercharged engines to Cords, please note therefore that it should not be considered a fact that this particular example was originally delivered as a supercharged Phaeton, and while the car presents as a high-performance supercharged model, its exact factory configuration is to be considered uncertain because of the numerous in-period factory upgrades to these 1937 Cords. Many naturally aspirated Cords were sent back to the factory, or independent shops, to have Schwitzer-Cummins superchargers installed shortly after purchase, making "originality" difficult to verify.
Factory-supercharged 1937 Cord 812 models, including the Phaeton, typically had a 5-digit serial number that begins with a "3". This "3" prefix is a primary indicator used by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg (ACD) Club to certify a vehicle as a genuine factory-supercharged example but the numbering system for these cars can be complex due to the company's financial struggles and the re-designation of unsold inventory.
Engine Codes: A true supercharged car should also feature an engine number starting with "FC" (standing for Lycoming, supercharged).
The "Renumbered" Exceptions:
Some 1937 Cord 812s were actually leftover 1936 810 models that were renumbered to be sold in the new model year. These renumbered cars may have 4-digit serial numbers (often between 1001 and 1525) and might have been upgraded with superchargers later in life rather than being "factory-born" supercharged units.
Body Suffixes: The letter at the end of the serial number indicates the body style. For a Phaeton, you will typically see an "H" (e.g., 32194H).
In summary, this original all-steel 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged 2 Door Phaeton must be one of the very finest examples of the marque available anywhere, that will please even the most discerning and critical Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg' enthusiast, with an impressive, correct look that makes it a standout even among the rarefied few.
SHOW CAR AWARDS
Auburn, Cord, Dusenberg Club
Primary Award ACD Reunion 2013, Auburn, IN
Senior Award ACD Spring Meet, 2014, Lehigh Valley, PA
Senior Emeritus, ACD Spring meet, 2015, New Hope, PA 5/25/2015
Repeat Senior Emeritus ACD Labor Day Reunion, Auburn, IN 9/1/2018
(SENIOR EMERITUS REQUIRES MINIMUM OF 900 OUT OF 1000 POINTS, REPEAT EMERITUS IT RECEIVED 953 OUT OF 1000)
Antique Auto Club of America
First junior Award, AACA National Meet, Cleveland, TN 9/21/2013
Senior Award. AACA Fall Meet, Hershey, PA 2013
AACA National Award presented by ACD Museum, AACA Annual Meeting presented February 2014
First Place Annual Grand National, Lebanon, TN 6/13/2014
Grand National Senior, AGN Meet, Williamsport, PA 6/4/2016
Repeat Grand National Senior AGN Meet, Auburn, IN 6/1/2019
Classic Car Club of America
First Primary Award, Indiana Region Grand Classic, 7/26/2014
Senior Award, #3146, Michigan Region Grand Classic, Dearborn INN 7/11/2015
Premier Award, Michigan Region Grand Classic, Novi MI with the CCCA 2016 Annual Meeting judged 100 points at this show!
Repeat Premier Award Florida Region Grand Classic, Hilton Head, SC 11/3/2018, judged 100 points at this show too!
Hilton Head Concours de Elegance 2013
Shown in class, American Classics, Open Cars 1932-39
Received a "Palmetto Award" (second in class) Best in Class was Peter Boyer's Steyr restored by D&D from Covinfron, OH which also took Best of Show at Ault Park in 2013 and was Second in Class at Pebble Beach 2012.
Amelia Island Concours de Elegance 2014
Shown in Class, American Classics, Open Cars 1932-39
Received an "Amelia Award" (Second in Class, Best in Class was a Packard from S. Dakota restored by Eric LaVine Restorations)
Cincinnati (Ault Park) Concours de Elegance 2017
Shown in Class, American Classics, Late 1936-40
Received "Award of Distinction" (Best in Class also won Best of Show)
Also received Sponsor's Award from Cincinnati Magazine for "Style & Design"
Dayton Concours de Elegance 2017 Carillon
Shown in Class, American Classics, Won 'Best of Class" 9/2017
