Cord 812 Classic Cars for Sale
The Cord 812 is an automobile that was produced in 1936 and 1937 by Auburn Automobile Company. This was the first car in American history to feature front wheel drive and an independent front suspension. Additionally, it also offered hidden headlights, a feature that was only available in the Citroen Traction Avant. The car came with a reasonably powered V8 engine and was built on the FF layout. It weighed 4,110 Ib (1,860 kg) and was 195.5 inches long. The Cord 812 used a 12 in (305) drum braking system.
History of the Cord 812
The Cord 812 was styled by Gordon M. Buehrig, a popular designer, with his professional team of designers, who included Alex Tremulis and Vince Garder. While the Cord 812 would be the first car in the American market to come with front wheel drive and an independent front suspension, it was designed with an archaic rear axle. The axle was made with semi-elliptic springs. One of the most notable elements that made the Cord 812 adorable is the highly powered 4, 739 cc Lycoming V8 engine, which would produce 125 horsepower. With a semi-automatic four-speed transmission, the Cord 812 dispensed sufficient pull that added power necessary for difficult terrain. The running of the Cord 812 was aided by the wide wheelbase of 125 in (3,175), which was ideal for use on rough terrain. To add onto the beauty, the Cord 812 was designed with hidden door hinges and hinged rear hood, different from the side-opening type that was usually available at that time.
It also came with pontoon fenders and hidden lamps, making it the first car and among few that ever included this feature. The fuel filler door was also concealed and the windshield wipers were designed with a variable configuration (In that era, few cars included wipers, in fact this was a rare addition that would only come with high-end models. Most wipers, if any, were operated manually). Its dashboard was tuned to offer information about various elements like a standard radio (this was offered as a standard addition in the industry until 1950s when the trend shifted), a tachometer and other instrumentation. During the New York Auto Show of 1935, the Cord 812 caused a sensation and many people admired its appearance as well as features. The initial models for the market were manufactured and released in April 1936 (only 1,174 cars were released for this batch). Later versions of the Cord 812 produced from 1937 included supercharging for some cars.
Revival of the Cord 812
The Cord 812, owing to its presence in previous years, was re-introduced in the market in 1940. This was during an attempt by the automaker to save money while they also tried to revive the company using the same body configuration and technology.