1936 Cord 810 Phaeton - VIN: FB1630 - ACD Club Certified | Fresh mechanical restoration by ACD Club expert Jim O’Brien | All new belts, hoses, wiring harness, convertible top, and whitewall tires | Elegant Geneva Blue paint with stunning red leather interior | Industry first front-wheel drive, hidden headlights, and unibody construction | Timeless elegance, brilliant design, and exceptional power - Eight-cylinder engine, 125 HP, four-speed manual transmission, front-wheel drive; wheelbase: 125”


Errett Lobban Cord is credited with producing some of the most technologically advanced automobiles of his time. His historic automotive manufacturing career started in 1924 when he purchased the failing Auburn Automobile Company in Auburn, Indiana. Cord was able to bring the company back to life and turn its automobiles into some of the most recognizable vehicles to this day. This great success wasn’t accomplished alone, as Cord brought many great minds into his factory to help. One of those great minds was Gordon Buehrig, and between the two, the Cord 810 Phaeton was created. The 810 was unlike anything of its kind, and its many automotive first technologies would pave the way for most modern cars today. The elegant coffin-nose designed car featured an industry first front-wheel drive differential, hidden headlights, unibody construction, and a first step down floor design. Frank Lloyd Wright, a master of American architecture said, “The proportion and lines of the Cord come nearer to expressing the beauty of both science and logic than any car I have ever seen.” In lack of better terms, the Cord was ahead of its time and way ahead of its competitors.

The 1936 Cord 810 Phaeton offered here features all those industry firsts and has been sympathetically recommissioned to its current attractive appearance. The current owner purchased this 810 in 2018 from a gentleman in Dallas, Texas who had previously owned it for 40 years. The Cord was his prized possession, but it spent most of those 40 years stored in a climate-controlled garage, as he only put a mere 300 miles on it during his ownership. When the current owner purchased it, he decided to have the vehicle undergo a fresh mechanical restoration and commissioned ACD Club expert Jim O’Brien to do so. During the mechanical restoration it was given all new belts, hoses, wiring harness, and the rare fully functioning Startex system that came from the factory was also given a freshening. For the outside, the car was repainted in an elegant Geneva Blue and all the chrome work was polished. The exterior also features a brand-new convertible top, rear window, and five new whitewall tires. Like the rest of the car, the undercarriage was also recently detailed.

The interior is presented in new stunning red leather that complements the elegant new Geneva Blue exterior, especially when the top is down. New carpet was installed throughout and all the instruments on the dashboard were restored to working order. The eight-cylinder engine and unique four-speed manual transmission are both mechanically sound, making this Cord an ideal choice for touring.

Recently it received its ACD Club Certification, verifying its originality, and stands ready to partake in many enjoyable car events including the annual Auburn, Cord, Duesenberg Club annual reunion held in Auburn, Indiana. This iconic example of the historic Auburn Automobile Company is ready to leave a lasting impression on everyone it passes by.