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Selling on Saturday Evening

1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton

  • ACD Club Certified on three different occasions
  • Concours level restoration
  • Mechanical restoration performed by marque expert Phil Allison of Auburn, Indiana
  • Ready for exhibition at events and the Annual ACD Club Reunion

VIN: 32194H

Register To Bid Auction Info

Transmission No: T-3332

The pages of automotive history are filled with great names that literally pioneered transportation as we know it today. Great men like Henry Ford, who put America on wheels and William Crapo Durant, who created General Motors, certainly made their mark. Among these great names is Errett Loban Cord, who was never one to shy away from style. The cars of Errett Loban Cord carried an aura of prestige that led the way in the Golden Age of the motorcar. Whether it was the famous Duesenberg Model J or an Auburn Boattail Speedster, Cord's cars carried a look and style like no other car on the road. In 1936, Cord shocked the automotive landscape with the introduction of the 810. Styling for the 810 was by the great Gordon M. Buehrig. Innovation does not begin to describe the 810 as it was unlike anything else on the road at the time. Front-wheel drive, a powerful Lycoming V-8 engine, an ultra-low profile, and the elimination of running boards were just a few of the styling cues that set it apart from all the rest. Just a year later the 812 was introduced and further elevated its status with the sporty chrome supercharged exhaust pipes fanning from the engine.

Known history of this elegant Rich Maroon 812 Supercharged Cord picks up in 1948 under the ownership of Bill B. Hopson of San Antonio, Texas. On the second of March 1949, this Cord was acquired by Captain Harry Himebaugh in San Antonio. Later that year, this example was acquired by Arnold Becker of Monroe, Louisiana, who would store it for three decades. By 1980, Terry Reed would rescue this Cord from storage and sell it to Steve Hamilton, who would commence the first phase of its restoration, during which it was certified for the first time by the ACD Club. The restoration was carried out by Cole's Classic and Antique Autos of Nederland, Colorado. The mechanical components were performed by marque expert Phil Allison of Allison Restoration Shop in Auburn, Indiana. After completion, this Cord was ACD Club certified once again with the late Paul Bryant's signature. After the restoration was completed, this example would sell for a then world record price of $324,000 at auction in 2004.

Listed on page 261 of Josh Malks book "Cord - The Timeless Classic" and receiving its third ACD Club Category One Certification in 2017, this example retains the original 170 horsepower 289 Lycoming engine and powerful Schwitzer-Cummins supercharger. The Rich Maroon paint pairs perfectly with the chrome and canvas convertible top. The interior is also very well-presented, sporting rich tan leather that's soft to the touch. The stable engine turned dash, which is a focal point of many ACD cars, is in fine order and elevates the elegance of the cabin.

Accompanying the sale is 75 years of titles, bills of sales, registrations, and letters. Three-time ACD Club Certified Category One original Cord, with only 220 miles added since its outstanding restoration, this 812 Supercharged Phaeton would make a welcomed addition to Concours events, ACD Club gatherings, like the Annual Reunion in Auburn, Indiana, or one's collection of pre- and post-war automobiles.

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