Facts about The Cord 810
- 12
Collector demand for Cord 810s skyrocketed after the 1966 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance featured the model prominently, transforming pre-Depression Auburn automobiles into highly sought investment pieces.
- 11
Vacuum-operated preselector transmissions in the Cord 810 allowed drivers to pre-select gears using a dashboard lever without depressing a clutch pedal during acceleration or deceleration.
- 10
In 1930, advertisements for the Cord 810 emphasized its 80 mile-per-hour top speed and ability to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in approximately 12 seconds, performance figures that rivaled contemporary European sports cars.
- 09
Potential buyers could option the Cord 810 with a supercharged engine producing 170 horsepower, increasing acceleration and top speed compared to the standard 125 horsepower V8 variant.
- 08
Mechanically identical Cord 810s and 812 models shared the same chassis and engine despite model year differences, with the 812 designation applied to 1935-1937 production after Auburn rebranded the line.
- 07
Cord 810 owners could shift gears using a vacuum-operated preselector transmission controlled by a dashboard lever, eliminating the need for a traditional clutch pedal during normal driving.
- 06
Auburn Automobile Company's financial collapse in 1937 meant that spare parts for the Cord 810 became nearly impossible to obtain, contributing to the deterioration of most surviving examples.
- 05
The Cord 810's $3,095 base price in 1929 positioned it as a luxury automobile costing roughly equivalent to three average American homes during the Great Depression era.
- 04
Only 4,510 Cord 810s were manufactured before financial difficulties forced Auburn Automobile Company to cease production, making it one of the rarest American luxury cars from the 1930s.
- 03
At approximately 190 inches long, the Cord 810 was one of the longest passenger automobiles of the early 1930s, requiring innovative engineering to manage its front-wheel drive system across such an extended wheelbase.
- 02
Harley Earl's streamlined design for the Cord 810 featured a hidden spare tire compartment and retractable headlights that disappeared into the hood, innovations that influenced automotive styling for decades.
- 01
Produced from 1929 to 1932, the Cord 810 featured a revolutionary front-wheel drive system and 125 horsepower V8 engine making it one of America's most advanced automobiles.