History of the Cord Automobile

Cord was famous for taking simple car designs and making them look extraordinary.

The Cord Automobile was a short lived car that, for its time, was viewed as a masterpiece of automotive engineering. It was a car of great innovation and firsts and set standards for future car manufacturers.

Founders

In 1924, Errett L. Cord convinced the board of Auburn Automobile Company that he was the man they needed to revive their flagging business. Cord was right. His talents for sales and marketing helped AAC increase their sales 15 times over, within five years. In 1929, Cord conceived the first in a line of cars to bear his name: the Cord L-29.

Cord L-29

The L-29 was also a first in motoring history, as it was the first American production car to feature front wheel drive. This meant that the L-29 could be much lower to the ground than other cars. It also allowed for an elongated hood, making it an unique and striking vehicle for its time.

Cords Downfall

The big problem facing Cord Automobiles was timing. The cars were a huge attraction as they were new and bold. They should have sold massively, but in 1929 the stock market crashed. A new car was not on most people's to-buy list and by 1932 production of the L-29 was phased out.

Last Breaths

The brand almost made a comeback in 1934 when Cord partnered with designer, Gordon Buehrig. They co-designed the Cord 810 and 812 models, with the hope of launching the cars at the New York Auto show in 1935. The new cars made it to the show, but setbacks and funding issues lead to low quality vehicles. Cord and Buehrig had to go back to the drawing board before they could release the car for sale, but it took too long. The company folded in 1937.

References

• Henry Ford Museum: The Showroom of Automotive History