1937 Cord 812 Convertible
edited by David Barth, 25 November 2008.
Courtesy "The Auto Collections" showroom at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino in Las, Vegas, Nevada, USA. Photos were
taken 5 November 2006.
Some of the information presented below is from "Imperial Palace Auto Collection" by Ralph Engelstad, owner of the
hotel/casino and the automobiles until his death in 2002.
Engine: V-8
Horsepower: 170
Original Cost: $4,585 ($2,000 was added to the price for the supercharged engine).
This is the actual car that movie cowboy star Tom Mix was driving when he lost control and was killed with the car
overturned.
At the time this photos was taken, this car was not for sale.
In 1924, thirty year old Errett Lobban Cord took over management of Auburn, an automoble company that was stagnating.
He instituted cosmetic changes which caused sales to increase significantly. By 1929, Cord had gained control over Auburn.
Duesenberg had fallen on hard times by 1929, and Cord acquired the company, gave it an infusion of cash, and brought out
the legendary Model J. With Duesenberg at the product high-end and Auburn at the low end, Cord needed an intermediate
line. He gave this product line his name, Cord, and front-wheel drive. He bought the patent rights to front wheel drive
in 1927 from Harry Miller, the developer of front-wheel drive Indianapolis racers. In 1928, he moved Miller's engineering
team from Los Angeles to Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.
The Cord was designed by Auburn designer, John Oswald. It had a low hood line, 50 inches from the street, and 10 inches
lower than competitive automobile hoods. The hood was very long to accomodate the straight-eight engine which had been
turned 180 degrees, with the transmission at the front of the engine to drive the front wheels. Even with the long hood,
The rear of the engine extended six inches into the passenger compartment.
The company went out of business in 1937 because of the high development costs of the Model 812. When the go-ahead for
the 812 was given in July 1935, the company had to hand-build a prototype and 100 models for introduction at the
November 2, 1935 New York Auto Show.
This is the car in which a 1930's western movie star, Tom Mix, was killed. In the fall of 1940, he was driving very fast
along the gravel road between Tucson and Phoenix when he came upon the site of a road crew. The Cord crashed through the
barriers, swerved violently, plowed into the ditch, and rolled, killing 60-year old Mix. Today a monument marks the
spot.
Design notes for the Cord L-29 which pre-dated the Model 812
- Designed in 1929 by John Oswald
- Engine manufacturer: Lycoming, the aircraft engine builder,
- Bore: 3.3 inches
- Stroke: 4.5 inches
- Displacement: 299 cubic inches (4.9 liters)
- Power: 115 hp at 3,300 rpm
- Transmission: three-speed, non-synchromesh operated by a dashboard-mounted handle
- Top speed:80 mph
- Weight: 4,620 lbs
- Wheel-base: 137.5 inches
- Original price: $3,295 for the Cabriolet, subsequently lowered to $2,495 due to the depression following
the crash of 1929
- Number built by 1932: 4,429 when the Cord line ceased
- Cord returned: In 1936 the Cord was resurrected with Model 810
Design notes for the Cord 812:
- Designed in 1933
- Designed as a "Baby Duesenberg" by Gordon Buehrig, designer of the Auburn Boattail Speedster
- Buehrig's sketches are dated November 7, 1933
- Car was to have a sealed engine
- Outrigger radiators
- Pontoon fenders
- Like its predecessor, the L-29, the 810 had front wheel drive
- 90 degree V-8 engine designed by Lycoming's Forest Baster
- Bore: 3.5 inches
- Stroke:3.8 inches
- Displacement: 289 cubic inches (4.7 liters)
- Power: 125 hp at 3,500 rpm
- Transmission: 4-speed, located ahead of the engine, operated by a lever on the steering column
- Wheelbase: 125 inches
- Weight: 3,650 pounds
- Top speed: 90 mph, increased to 110 mph with an optional supercharger
- Base price: $2,445
The wrecked car was purchased in October 3, 1942 by R. E. Nelson for $100. It was restored and at the time this photo
was taken, still had Tom Mix's gun holster.
