Cars
The Nostalgia of Forgotten Gods: Cord, USA, 1929-1937
Cord, founded by Errett Lobban Cord in 1929, introduced America’s first front-wheel-drive car, the L-29. Despite initial success, technical issues led to the brand's decline by 1937. Collectors now cherish Cord's futuristic designs.
The history of Cord, born due to Errett Lobban Cord's ambitions to innovate in terms of mechanics and style, can be described as short but intense. Founded in 1929 in Indiana by the man who had already owned Auburn, Duesenberg and Lycoming Engines, he immediately amazed with a model called L-29, the first American front-wheel drive car. The aim of this choice was better handling due to the lower centre of gravity. The design was innovative and unusual, elegant yet sporty. It was no coincidence that it was chosen as the Pace Car of the 1930 Indianapolis 500.
Sales went well and Cord developed a new model that would impress later on. With styling by Gordon Miller Buehrig, a famous American designer of the time, the 810, proposed a revolutionary style with the almost total absence of chrome, pop-up headlights and a centre of gravity so low that the installation of steps for access to the passenger compartment was avoided. Despite the great interest shown by the public at the 1936 New York Motor Show where the car was presented, orders did not take off. The problem was technical as reliability proved to be poor and the cars remained on the forecourts.
