This 1936 Cord 810 Sportsman Convertible is a beautifully restored, concours award-winning example with southern history. Established in 1929, the Cord Corporation, was the namesake holding company for Errett Lobban "E.L." Cord's automotive ventures, including his shares in the Auburn Automobile Co. and Dusenberg, Inc., and the Lycoming Mfg. Co. among others. Shortly after the establishment of the Cord Corporation, the company began producing its first automobile in June 1929 with .....
the Cord nameplate, the Cord L-29. The L-29 famously beat out Ruxton to be "America's First Front-Drive Car" when in actuality, several automakers at the turn of the century experimented with and even attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, with front wheel drive vehicles. The purpose of Cord's L-29 was that the car could serve as a somewhat intermediate model sitting above the more affordably priced Auburn and below the top-of-the-line Duesenberg. While the Cord L-29 was and continues to be lauded for its gorgeous stance and appearance, the timing for its release could not have been worse. With the onset of the Great Depression starting in late 1929 and then continuing into 1930 and beyond, Cord production ceased in the end of 1931 and the remaining 157 models in stock were sold off at 1932 models. By the mid-1930s the economy began to recover and Cord reintroduced its novel front-wheel-drive automobiles, only this time sporting a new, distinctive "Coffin Nose" design. Styled by Gordon Buehrig, the new "Coffin Nose" Cord 810 models were essentially designed to be the "Baby Duesenberg." Not only did the 1936 Cord 810s feature famous new styling, they are also renowned for a number of revolutionary updates automobile design including front wheel drive, "semi-automatic" transmissions, hide-away convertible tops, and "roll up headlights." Touted in advertising materials as a car that "always 'goes where it is pointed,'" the front wheel drive design of the 810 Cord also allowed for a lower ride height, which eliminated the need for running boards. Another innovation for Cord in 1936 was the introduction of a "semi-automatic" transmission that utilized a "remote-controlled" pre-selector shifter that is set into the desired gear on the dash and then when the clutch is depressed the transmission shifts into the selected gear. Not only did this unique transmission design make for a roomier driver's compartment, it also paved the way for the true automatic transmissions that rose in popularity in the 50s and now dominate in automobiles today. The next innovation for the '36 Cord 810 Sportsmans was the introduction of the hide-a-way convertible top where the convertible top, when in the down position, tucked into a hidden compartment and gave the Cord Convertibles a gorgeous open look. The final innovation was the addition of the roll-up hidden headlights which made the Cords more aerodynamic and again were another precursor for automobile designs in the future. Despite their ingenuity, financial issues finally put a halt on Cord's production in August 1937, with the company producing a mere 2,992 810 and 812 models during its short run from 1936-1937. Due to their unique design, their mechanical innovations, and overall rarity, the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) has designated all Cord automobiles as Full Classics which means this '36 Cord 810 Sportman is eligible to participate in CCCA events and CARavans. This particular example spent its most recent years in several prominent collections and was awarded Best in Class and Best in Show awards at a concours event several years ago. Powering this '36 Cord Sportsman is a 288.64 Cubic Inch Lycoming V8 engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said to have created 125 horsepower when new. The 289 Lycoming V8 is mated to a 4 speed manual transaxle that is shifted via a novel for 1936 dash-mounted remote control shifter where the driver selects their desired gear, then depresses the clutch pedal and the car shifts into that gear. Exhaust exits this Cord's impressive powerplant via a single chrome-tipped exhaust port. Driving power is sent from the Lycoming V8 and transaxle to the front wheels making this Cord Convertible a front wheel drive vehicle. This 1936 Cord 810 rides on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires mounted on steel wheels and they are accented with a set of full wheelcovers, which together give this convertible a truly upscale look. The exterior chrome and brightwork on this 1936 Sportsman is gorgeous and helps an already stand-out car further stand out in a crowd. The black cloth convertible top is in wonderful condition as well and, like virtually every car of the pre-war era, is manually operated. Another novelty of this 1936 Cord Convertible are the retractable headlights that can be raised for nighttime driving or lowered flush into the fenders during the day. The exterior on this '36 Cord 810 has been refinished in a beautiful Rich Maroon paint that completes the fantastic exterior appearance of the CCCA Full Classic. The interior on this 1936 Cord 810 Sportsman is absolutely stunning! The bench seat has been reupholstered in beautiful black leather that provides a nice contrast with the rest of the car. The matching upholstered door panels and armrests, black carpeting, color-matched painted dash with its engine-turned instrument panel, and steering wheel are all in fantastic condition as well and appear to be in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster features an impressive collection of important instrumentation including a 150 MPH speedometer, 5,000 RPM tachometer, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, amp gauge, and fuel gauge, along with an AM radio and full-size clock. The dash is finished with a pair of locking gloveboxes that straddle the instrument panel. Whether you're buying your first full classic car or you're an established ACD or CCCA collector, this 1936 Cord 810 Sportsman Convertible would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!
*288.64 Cu. In. Lycoming V8
*Single 2 Barrel Carburetor
*Remote Controlled 4 Speed Manual Transmission
*Front Wheel Drive
*1 of 2,992 "Coffin Nose" Cords Produced
*Southern History
*Concours Best In Class & Best In Show Awards
*Rich Maroon Exterior
*Black Leather Bench Seat Interior
*Black Cloth Convertible Top
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 12,667 Miles