1936 Cord 810 Westchester

Cord Automobile 1936 - 1937

The Cord is considered by many to be the one of the best-looking cars ever built. When the Cord 810 hit the automotive show scene in 1935, it caught the attention of the entire automotive world, and almost overnight every other car became obsolete when compared to the smooth and radical new design.

Eager to get the Cords displayed at the 1935 New York auto show, some “rules were bent” to get the car on display. Cars were supposed to be complete and road-worthy, and it was a requirement of the show was that 100 examples had to have been built to be eligible for display. Working under incredibly tight deadlines, the Connersville crew assembled the cars with wooden dummy transmissions in place of the real ones which were not ready in time. Only 11 cars were actually assembled by the time they went on display. E.L. Cord had some clout and called in a few favours to get his namesake cars displayed without the company having to produce the mandatory number of cars.
The Cord was built with technical innovations unavailable on any other car of its time. These included:

• A coffin-nosed hood with integrated wraparound grille assembly of horizontal louvers.
• A unibody construction with subframe, and front-wheel drive. (The frame rails extended forward from the firewall.)
• Independent front Suspension which used a transverse leaf spring attached to longitudinal arms.
• Huge flaired front fenders which incorporated the automotive industry's first mechanically operated disappearing headlights.
• A Bendix electrically operated "Finger-Tip Gear Control" unit was used to shift gears, using a small selector mounted on the steering column
• Center-hinged doors with concealed hinges
• A sharply-angled split-pane windshield
• An elegant, sloped rear end and a roomy interior.
• Flush-mounted tail lamps and fuel filler cap, and an illuminated number plate carrier on the trunk lid.


The Cord was also nearly a foot lower (300mm) than the average 1936 Sedan with no running boards. Chrome was limited to the bumpers, windshield frames, hubcaps and handles, and grille trim. Instruments were round “air plane-style” gauges, and the switches styled like airplane throttles.

The Cord was offered in the '36 model year in four body styles: the Westchester sedan, the Beverly sedan, the Cabriolet or convertible coupe, and the Phaeton or convertible sedan. Prices were as follows:

1936 Cord 810 Westchester Sedan priced at $1,995
1936 Cord 810 Beverly Sedan priced at $2,095
1936 Cord 810 Convertible Coupe priced at $2,145
1936 Cord 810 Convertible Sedan priced at $2,195

Only 1174 Cord 810's were built. In early 1937 the Model 810, was replaced by the Model 812.

With all its innovations and its outstanding design, the Cord was perhaps a bit too far ahead of its time in several ways....

The company received a surge of orders when the 1936 Cord 810 was released and short-cuts were taken in the production line. The huge demand for orders caught the production plant unprepared. Technical problems also became apparent as they do with almost any all-new car. The main ones were: chronic overheating, noisy transmission and noisy U-joints. The front-wheel-drive power-train also had problems with wearing in the joints that caused an annoying noise. Under the pressure other problems mounted resulting in sloppy paint jobs and many cars leaked badly whenever it rained. Due to these delays and problems, many orders were cancelled.

Eventually these and the other "bugs" were exterminated. In 1937 to try and boost sales, Cord offered a supercharger that added 45 more horse-power to the engine. The practical function of the stunning looking chrome pipes was to lower temperatures under the hood by getting the hot pipes "outdoors". Their real purpose was to serve as an identifying mark for the supercharged cars. They also offered a Custom Series called a Berline, built on a wheelbase of 132 inches.

Even with all the new offerings and improvements, it was too late to save the Marque. The lingering after-effects of the depression also had an influence - with the Cord being one of the most expensive cars in the market, sales remained low and many cheaper alternatives were bought instead. The Cord Corporation was also in the midst of hard times financially, and the company was finally sold to New York financiers.

Before Cord ceased production in 1937, a combined total of just under 3,000 810s and 812s were produced. Estimates of cars manufactured range from 2,972 to 2,999 units, of which approximately 300 Right hand drive cars were manufactured for export to Argentina, England and South Africa.

Truly ahead of its time, the Cord enjoys an enthusiastic following today with the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Club and its impressive museum in Auburn, IN. Many of the innovations featured on the 810 can still be seen on today's cars. The 810 even experienced racing success, taking first place in the 24-hour Stevens Trophy Challenge at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

1969 MG MGC -   Click the image to open the gallery__>>

The MGC was a 2912 cc, straight-6 version of the MGB sold in the late 1960s from 1967 through to 1969 with some sales running on into 1970. and given the code ADO52. It was intended as a replacement for the Austin-Healey 3000 which would have been ADO51 but this never got beyond the design proposal stage. The first engine to be considered was an Australian-designed six cylinder version of the BMC B-Series but the production versions used a 7 main bearing development of the Morris Engines designed C-Series that was also to be used for the new Austin 3-Litre 4-Door saloon. In the twin SU carburettor form used in the MGC the engine produced 145 bhp at 5250 rpm. The bodyshell needed considerable revision around the engine bay and to the floor pan, but externally the only differences were a distinctive bonnet bulge to accommodate the relocated radiator and a teardrop for carburettor clearance. It had different brakes from the MGB, 15 inch wheels, a lower geared rack and pinion and special torsion bar suspension with telescopic dampers. Like the MGB, it was available as a coupé (GT) and roadster. A three-speed automatic gearbox was available as an option. The car was capable of 120 mph (193 km/h).

The heavy engine (209 pounds heavier than the 1798 cc MGB engine) and new suspension changed the vehicle's handling, and it received a very mixed response in the automotive press. The MGC was cancelled in 1969 after less than two years of production. Today the car is considered very collectable and the main causes of the poor reputation relating to handling have in the main been overcome by better tires and subtle modification of suspension settings.

1922 PACKARD TWIN SIX -   Click the image to open the gallery__>>

The fourth series Packard Twin Six was produced from 1920 through 1923 and just 8750 car were built when production ceased due to the high cost of producing this mammoth automobile. The fourth series motorcar incorporated all of the changes and refinements that were made since the cars inception in 1916. The Twin Six is a 12 cylinder 60 degrees L- head using 2 cast iron blocks producing 424.1 cubic inches. The car sits on a 136 inch wheelbase and was a solid performer said to be capable of 80 MPH in 1922 ! This is an exquisite car that has been fully restored from the ground up by its prior owner who, upon the cars completion, showed the car at major concours events in the US. A large and impressive car, it sits on 35 by 5 tires and while its roadster body gives it a sleek look. Standing by the car gives reference to its size. Finished in maroon with black accent and black fenders, the interior is upholstered in black leather and the artillery wheels are yellow with a red pin stripe. The Packard 12 cylinder power plant moves this early roadster easily at speed making it a great early car to drive and to show. It is a fresh crisp restoration equipped with wide white tires, black conv top and top boot, side curtains and a rumble seat.

1937 Packard Super 8 Sedan

The perfect tour car, this 1937 Packard Super 8 sedan is a wonderful original car that has received cosmetic and mechanical restoration over the years to keep it good looking and reliable. This is a great car. It can be driven across the country comfortably without worry. Finished in dark blue with an original grey interior. Equipped with a big 8 cylinder engine, 3 speed transmission, factory radio and heater, directional signals, fog lamps, wide white tires and a trunk rack.

1937 was Packard's best year for sales with 122,592 total cars sold. Most of these were the smaller series cars, the 110 6 cylinders and 120 small 8 cylinders, with 5793 Super 8s and 1300 12s built. Major changes for the 1937 Packard Super 8 included a 320 cu in 9 main bearing Straight 8 engine, which, when equipped with the iron head, produced 135 hp. The frame was the Safe-T-fleX type that had been introduced in 1935 on the 120 Packard. This was one of the strongest and best designs ever built, but proved too costly and was dropped after 1942. New too were hydraulic brakes and independent front suspension. The front doors were now front-hinrear-hinged doors used on the 1936 Super 8. The wire wheels were dropped in favor of a new all-steel disc with a tire size of 7:50x16.

1938 Buick Century Woody
Wood bodied wagons are among the most desirable collector cars and this 1938 Century woody stands out as one of the rarest. It is commonly accepted as the only Century Woody with coachwork by Joseph Wildanger of Red Bank New Jersey. A car with a fabulous presence and restored from the ground up. finished in maroon with a brown leather interior, the car is equipped with a straight 8 engine, 3 speed transmission twin side mount spare tires with metal tire covers, factory radio and clock, wide white tires and chrome trim rings. This is a rare and important car with a great restoration.