Spotlight on a Classic

1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Westchester Sedan

One of the two groups of “Full Classic Cars” to be exhibited in this year’s Concours will include American cars from the late 1930′s.  A “Full Classic^TM” is defined by the Classic Car Club of America as a “Fine” or “Distinctive” automobile, American or foreign-built, produced between 1925 and 1948, although certain automobiles built prior to 1925 are accepted.  Generally, a Classic^TM was high-priced when new and was built in limited quantities.  

The Cord 810/812 is an iconic automobile as any produced in the last century.  With less than 3,000 produced, an astonishing amount of attention has been lavished on this timeless classic. The front drive Cord turned heads when it was revealed at the auto shows in 1936, and continues to do so today.

American Heritage magazine’s theme for November, 1998 was “100 Years of the American Car”.  Art Director Peter Morance selected the Cord 810/812 as “The Single Most Beautiful American Car.” Quoting from the article:  “Look at the car in the context of when it was built,” says Peter.  “It was revolutionary.  There’s no other word.  It broke all the rules.  Everything was simple, everything was integrated. The hood with the grill, the headlights that retracted into the fenders —and the proportions are perfect.  In 1951, just sixteen years after it appeared, the Museum of Modern Art named it one of the eight greatest car designs of all time.  And it still is…The Cord is clearly an object of the 1930s, but it also looks absolutely modern.  It is truly timeless.” 

All Cords are special given the limited production, however this Cord has some very interesting features.  Only 51 supercharged Westchester Sedans were produced; this car is among the last eight supercharged sedans manufactured, and among the last eighty Cords produced before operations ceased in 1937.  It has a dove gray leather interior with folding armrests front and rear, and unusual exterior-mounted trunk hinges.  The gray leather contrasts strikingly with the Geneva Blue paint.  One of the first cars certified by the ACD Club in 1982, it was re-certified in 2000 and won first place in the 2001 Pacific Northwest Grand Classic^TM.  The car has been known as “Old Blue” for more than forty years, but while she might be old, she is a luxurious and comfortable ride at highway speeds.