Here are some of the cars at the A-C-D museum. I took these last month. The third picture, that Cord was special ordered with the Auburn headlights. The orange and yellow speedster was built for the 1931 New York Auto show.
Here is a picture of the Miller racecar which won the Indy 500 in 1932. (Also visited the Indy Hall of Fame museum the same weekend), and for comparison a L-29 Cord chassis (at the A-C-D museum). the front drive is pretty similar, Cord had studied the Miller's. The Cord is quite a bit beefier, since it was a much bigger car.
The third picture from the right in post 91 was specially built for Robert Stranahan of Champion Spark Plugs. The sign with the car at the museum reads; <table id="post5775944" class="tborder" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td class="alt1" id="td_post_5775944" style="border-right: 1px solid #e5e5e5">There were approximately 3000 1936 and 1937 Cords produced but only three of them were hardtop coupes and only one of them was built like this vehicle. Robert Stranahan Sr., President and Founder of Champion Sparkplugs commissioned this one of a kind Cord to be built for himself. There are many unique features in this car including chromed Auburn headlights, a padded leather top, an Auburn hood ornament and LaSalle ventiports on the sides of the hood. After having been used in Ohio and abused in California, the Cord was discovered in Montreal Canada in very decrepit condition by Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg enthusiast Dr. Faye Culbreth. After a multi year restoration, this one of a kind Cord was donated to the museum. </td> </tr> <tr><td class="alt2" style="border: 1px solid #e5e5e5; border-top: 0px"> </td></tr></tbody></table>
I looked at a project early 36 sedan about 40 years ago. The seller said it was one of the first 50 built for the auto shows, and all were a different custom color with different types of interior material/color. He also said the first 50 did not make it more valuable. he did show me some features in the upper cowl that were on the first 50...I recall. Any truth to any of that?^
Thanx Hnstray and Boldventure. I figuerd the "VW type" axles would be the ticket it just looked like the wheels are very "forward mounted" and couldnt see a trans fittin there, but lookin at the chassis picture below all makes sense. Mine are simple curiosisties as im real far away from this type of cars, and i rarely had the chance to look at early 1900s autosmobiles in person.
So it seems Cord was knee deep in the special order business! Lots of one off, single or double digit builds.
Quoting Josh Malks; The first 100 or so Cords were built over a period of several months. Only a small number were finished by the time of the auto shows in November 1935. The rest were completed thru February of 1936. They were assembled mostly from stampings provided by the suppliers of the dies, as part of the contract. Few parts were handmade or pounded out with power hammers as has been written in some places. But the jigs in which they were held for welding were temporary, and the dies had not been finally refined, and some mounting holes were still being cut on individual pieces, so parts sometimes had to be tweaked while each car was being assembled. That's why a fender for one "handbuilt" may not exactly fit another, or a production car. All Cords had more hand work in them than many other production cars. That's why I prefer the term "showcar" to describe those first pre-production cars, but "handbuilt" is pretty much the standard appellation now. http://forums.acdclub.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=597&highlight=handbuilt
The Coppertone Cord By Tom Strongman Gordon Buehrigs Cord is often said to be one of the of the most beautiful automobiles ever designed. It's gestation is a story of persistence. The famous Cord is based on a design that Buehrig first penned when he worked as a stylist in the art and color division of General Motors under the legendary Harley Earl. Buehrigs design done for a company contest was rejected. When Buehrig moved to Duesenberg, he was asked to design a lower cost Duesenberg and he worked up a design based on the one rejected by G.M. It had front wheel drive, outrigger radiators and an aerodynamic shape punctuated with art deco details. The little Duesenberg never happened, but when Buehrig was asked to design a new Cord, he resurrected his design once again. Five prototypes were built for 1935 New York auto show, and the car left showgoers in awe. Paul Bryant of Prairie Village Kansas is a retire physics professor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a Cord enthusiast of the highest order. He has restored three Cords including the Coppertone Cord. Coppertone, so named because of the copper plating on it's louvers , is one of the five prototypes, and it was shown at the '35 New York Show. Bryant found the car many years ago in Minden Mines Mo. Bryant knew his car was a very early model, or perhaps one of the prototypes, because many of it's elements seemed different then standard. He contacted Buehrig about the car and Buehrig asked Bryant to bring the glovebox door to the annual Cord celebration in Auburn Ind. There, Buehrig scratched through the paint on the back of the door and found a deep wine color. Buehrig later stopped in Prairie Village enroute to Michigan from his home in Arizona. Upon closer examination of the entire car, he verified that, it was indeed, one of the earliest prototypes, although it had been modified along the way. Bryant asked Buehrig how he should restore it. "Just as I designed it" Buehrig said. To that end Bryant worked to bring the car bring the car back to it's original configuration. He copper plated the louvers, made hubcaps without holes and restored the headlights to there side opening configuration. Today, Bryants work of many years is complete and on permanent display at he Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum in Auburn Ind.
"he did show me some features in the upper cowl that were on the first 50...I recall." On early Cords, you could fill the engine oil and water from an access panel on the cowl. A gauge on the dash gave the engine oil level. Too many people put water in the oil, so they discontinued that feature. You can see two black hoses in the engine photo in the post above about the prototype cord.
I have been in contact with some Cord scholars regarding the Cord with the Rumble Seat that started this thread. This is what I received in an email from one of them Yesterday; You have sent me a really messy tidbit for comment. There is much confusion and inaccurate information regarding Rumble Seat Cords and in connection with the Skater Sonya Hjenie regarding Cord vehicles. I will do my best to shed some light in this issue but disclaim any attempt at total accuracy because there are few facts to be had. Based on information which I have access to on Cord Cabriolets with the Rumble Seat option, NONE are known or claimed to be "factory installation". On this point, I spoke with Stan Gilliland this morning and he says that it is unlikely that any of the original factory installed Rumble Seat Cabriolets still exist. There was a Cord in a California junk yard years ago which was an original factory Rumble Seat car but it was scrapped out with only the Rumble Seat lid having been saved. I tend to agree with Stan. The following are existing cars with Rumble Seats not including the so called Sonya Hjenie car; 2306F ( Model 810 ) - This car owned by a Missouri collector and has non-factory cut down doors in the style of Darrin. Original engine has been replaced with a supercharged unit and Model 812 external exhaust equipment has been appended. 1113F ( Model 812 ) - Owner of this car is none other than Stan Gilliland of Wellington, Kansas. 1446F ( Model 812 ) - Owned in Michigan 2379F ( Model 812 ) - Owned in Colorado following purchase at May 2005 RM Auctions Meadow Brook event for $236,500. A high valued Cord. ------------------------------<wbr>------------------------------<wbr>-------------------- Here are links to are some pictures of a factory Cord Cabriolet with a Rumble Seat courtesy of the Jim Brockman Collection and the ACD Club website; http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA154.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA155.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA155.jpg
Seems to me that, about a year ago, Ryan Cochran put on a well-watched thread about the Cord Lycoming V-8, with lots of detailed pix. I'll see if I can find the header so that those interested can reference that, as well as the GREAT discussion on this thread right now.
Turns out, it was ScooterMcRad. The thread is headed, "The Lycoming V8." GREAT info and images of a rare engine, out of the car, so you can see more detail than usual! Awesome motors.
Here are links to pictures of the still existing Cord Phaeton with Factory Side Mount tires that I mentioned earlier in the thread. Pics are courtesy of the Jim Brockman Collection ACD Club website; These may be factory photos of two different Phaetons with Side Mount Tires; http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA338.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA339.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA337.jpg Not sure when or where these were taken; http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA340.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA763.jpg 1956 http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA761.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA759.jpg http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA760.jpg At ACD Reunion in Auburn sometime in the '70's; http://www.cordhaven.com/acd/brockman/cord 810-812/JBA1019.jpg
We have a boat tall Cord at the America On Wheels museum now. I'm going there on Wen. nght and will get some pictures to post.
That is a fine car you have.There was a show room I would visit on occasion located not far from my house.I would stop there on my way to pickup news papers I delivered on my paper route.They had changing Cords and Auburns displayed in the window.In 1957 the cars changed to Edsels. I'll be back with some million dollar hotrod pictures.You may like. When the going gets tough ,the tough get going ! Tnomoldw
Now that Cord is a true classic and worth every penny unlike those overpriced muscle cars of the 60s/70s
In 1943 it was valued at $200.00 .1944 in Atlanta was sold for $1000.00. It was on the way to Miami.in 2008 it sold for $1.78 million. 2009 the owner died.It was purchased by the family of the origional owner. Why doesn't someone build and drive rods like this? Tnomoldw When the going gets tough the tough get going!
Here's a few shots of the Tom Mix Cord supercharged engine. To see some pics of the body and paint restoration you can visit my website. Since the car had never been restored to concours condition it was pretty cool to uncover damage from the wreck back in 1940.
Well spotted.. I'm sayin' repopped plate, even if car's details are correct. It's a question of typographic details on the plate. Thanks for this thread, I like it..
If I could read the darn thing, I could find out pretty quick if it's a repop plate or not but I can't make out the numbers.
The one in three out of seven number wasn't referring to the supercharged motor, but to the rumble seat option. Most Cords came with trunks, not rumble-seats... I wish that I could find the photos that I took this fall of the "Tom Mix Cord" It has been restored to exactly the way he had it when he was killed in it, including a six shooter in the holster mounted to the steering column. This truly is a phenomenal car if you ever get a chance to see it, be sure to take it in. I don't know the stories well, but apparently there has been a string of strange deaths connected to the owners of this rare automobile.
I don't know how I missed this thread - I must have been on my travels. I had the honour of meeting, chatting with and listening to Dr. Paul Bryant for over an hour at the 2011 ACD Annual Reunion dinner as he explained in the greatest of depth the history of how he restored the 1929 E1 Cord and the Coppertone Cord. This was one of the most fascinating experiences as he recounted every detail, no matter how obscure about the restoration of the cars, their origins and history. He was a walking encyclopedia, a historian as sharp as a tack at 82 years old and a gentleman of immense intelligence, charm and charisma. This will always be remembered as one of the most amazing moments, listening to living history from a 'raconteur extraordinaire'. The whole experience of the ACD Museum is simply fabulous and if you have never been, do not miss this. Sadly Dr. Bryant passed on March 24th 2013. RIP Dr. Bryant....
The First time we went to Auburn in 1966, Dr. Paul Bryant had just barely finished the restoration of his 1936 Cord Cabriolet. His wife Martha climbed in the trunk to sleep and Paul and a friend took turns driving the Cord all night from Kansas to Auburn. Here is an article on Paul's Cabriolet; http://www.tomstrongman.com/ClassicCars/PaulBryant810/Index.htm Sadly, we are losing too many of the older ACD club members at too rapid of a rate. R.I.P. Paul. You gave us Cord guys a lot over the years. YOU will be missed.
The Jalopy Journal
