Tag Archives: Cord

Car Shows

A Prohibition-tastic Cord L-29 at Amelia Island

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1931 Cord L-29 Speedster Amelia Island 8

1931 was an interesting time. People were still riding the wave of craziness from the roaring 20’s in many ways, but there were more and more symptoms of the Great Depression popping up all over. It was a trying time, to be sure, and people weren’t even allowed to drink to cope with it all. That wouldn’t do at all, especially not if you were wealthy and flamboyant.

This flashy orange and yellow Cord came with just the solution, a full cocktail bar hidden away in a secret compartment in the passenger door. I mean, laws are for the working class, they shouldn’t be drinking because they have to be working. But when you’re rich and set for life, you play by a different set of rules. You should be able to have a drink while you’re out driving your sports car.

This 1931 Cord L-29 is actually a replica of a show car that Cord featured during the era to promote their brand. Needless to say, it’s quite striking, and getting these photos took lots of patience because people were swarming the car.

Enjoy the gallery!

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Car Shows

2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance Gallery 1

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Amelia Island Concours Hans-Joachim Stuck Porsche 962

Here is our first round of highlights from the 2016 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. There were so many incredible cars, of various eras, present that it’ll take a few of these galleries and numerous individual features to cover them all.

Racing legend, Hans-Joachim Stuck (pictured above), was the guest of honor. He rolled up during the award ceremony at the wheel of the Porsche 962 in which he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It was epic!

Best in show awards went to a 1930 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Town Car with some fancy coachwork (see below), and also to a 1952 Pegaso Z-102 Cupula Coupe, which was my personal favorite car at the show, as well. The Pegaso had a unique color scheme of bright yellow with red-wall tires and a pea green interior, and it’s striking curves and crafted details definitely made it the sight to be seen.

Enjoy this first highlight reel, and stay tuned for much more to come!

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Car Shows, SHOWCASE

1937 Cord 812 at the Radnor Hunt Concours, 2013

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It’s pretty clear that I hold anything with the Cord name in a good amount of regard.  They were innovators in the 1930s and were tragically out of business by 1938.  The 812 was one of the most advanced cars they’d ever made, right before the demise of the company.  The 812 included a supercharged straight-8 by Lycoming hooked up to a semi-automatic transmission, as well as a fully independent front suspension with front-wheel-drive–a first for anything built in America.  This was also the very first car from the States to utilize concealed headlights, which could be raised by a set of interior knobs.  Many other features, including a set of variable speed wipers and a concealed fuel filler, were also either not seen previously on other cars, or had not been a common feature at the time.  Unfortunately, Cord did not produce many and was not able to sell them well during the Depression, despite intense initial interest.  This butter-yellow convertible looked striking against the rolling hills and leafy trees of Malvern, Pennsylvania.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading 1937 Cord 812 at the Radnor Hunt Concours, 2013 →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

Cord L-29 at St Michael’s Concours d’Elegance

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Those of you who have been following the site for a while should know by now that I’m a sucker for the Cord L-29.  It’s an ahead-of-its-time, FWD luxury car that looks expensive and has a late-Twenties look that is timeless in my opinion.  Of course, I always love seeing them at Concours events, and at the St. Michael’s Concours last September, I saw another great-looking example, this time courtesy of the Hershey Museum, who brought theirs out to the Chesapeake Bay that weekend.  This one had its roof up for most of the show but the black-and-gray paintjob made the car look like a proper late-Twenties time capsule.  Enjoy the photos. Continue reading Cord L-29 at St Michael’s Concours d’Elegance →

Auto Idolatry, Car Shows, SHOWCASE

2013 Greenwich Concours D’Elegance: 1932 Cord L-29

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The Cord L-29 was a revolutionary automobile for its time.  It’s one of the first cars to ever be assembled with front-wheel-drive, but uses a longitudinal engine layout, unlike every FWD car sold in America today.  The car had a 137.5″ wheelbase and the steering took 4 turns from lock-to-lock, but reports came in at the time that it was actually a very good handler.  It had inboard brakes, De Dion drive system, and and full instrumentation (including an ammeter).  In its day, it was a shock to the system.
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