Cord 810 Cabriolet 1936 - World Of Classic Cars -

Cord 810 Cabriolet 1936

The debut of the “New Cord” at the November 1935 New York Auto Show is the stuff of legend. Surviving photographs record the joyful madness of crowds piling several people deep, with some onlookers reportedly standing on the roofs of other cars, just to catch a glimpse. In an industry where “totally new” is a worn-out catchphrase, the Cord 810 really was. It was designed by Gordon Buehrig and boasted such previously unheard-of advancements as unitary construction, a “step-down” floor, hidden door hinges, a total lack of running boards, and a “coffin nose” without the traditional upright radiator. Underneath, front-wheel drive returned, with the driver shifting a four-speed transmission by pressing a European-style pre-selector switch on the steering column.

Cord 810 Cabriolet 1936

Cord ads sang the praises of the new car’s power and handling prowess, as well as its graceful beauty. Buyers responded in droves, but it was all for naught, as production delays and the Depression doomed the Cord after only two short years. Of the four original body styles, the most treasured and sought-after is the two-passenger cabriolet, known to many enthusiasts as the “Sportsman.”
The Cabriolet presented here was acquired in 1971 by its present owner, an Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club member of several decades, and it held the honor of being his first antique car. The car was found behind an old gas station in North Portland, and it was restored over a period of several years with the assistance of several Cord specialists in the Pacific Northwest, including, most prominently, the late Wayne Weihermiller, who was known for his particular skill with the Cord’s notoriously finicky transmission. Mr. Weihermiller rebuilt this transmission, along with the car’s instrumentation, to a high standard. In addition, the car was fitted with the improved front axle U-joints that were developed by LeeRoy Richardson, allowing it to be comfortably and reliably driven for long distances. The Richardson conversion is accepted by Cord enthusiasts as a welcome improvement upon a weak point of the original design and as a desirable feature.

Cord 810 Cabriolet 1936

The car’s authentic details throughout are excellent, particularly given the age of the restoration, and include an original bronze windshield frame, which is highly preferable to later re-castings; a correct accessory ashtray; and a rebuilt original radio.