1930 Cord L-29 Sedan Phaeton - Chassis no. 2927039Sold for $209,000125 bhp, 298.6 cu. in. inline L-head eight-cylinder engine, three-speed front-drive manual transmission, live front axle with dual quarter-elliptic leaf springs, tubular beam rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Wheelbase: 137.5"
- From the Estate of John M. O’Quinn
- Pioneering front-wheel drive American car
- CCCA Premier Award winner
Errett Lobban Cord was the savior of the Auburn Automobile Company and the patron of Duesenberg. Were those the totality of his accomplishments, we’d probably remember him, but he was not one to be content with saving other people’s bacon. His long-standing ambition was a car to bear his own name. In August 1929, he realized his dream with the announcement of the Cord L-29.
Taking the job of General Manager at Auburn in 1923, Cord obtained an agreement that if sales improved sufficiently he could buy into the firm. He then spruced up the accumulated inventory of unsold Auburns with bright paint jobs and nickel trim and quickly sold them all. By 1926, Cord was President of the company and held a controlling interest. He readied new models and positioned Auburn as a performance car at a low price, which further enhanced sales. That year, he acquired the foundering Duesenberg operation to serve as flagship of his growing empire.
With the top and the bottom of his automotive catalogs complete, Cord set out to define the middle, and define it he did. There was nothing ordinary about the Cord automobile. For architecture he chose an x-braced frame, and for propulsion he selected front-wheel drive. Chief Engineer on the project was Cornelius Van Ranst, who had built a front-drive racecar for the 1927 Indy 500 with driver Tommy Milton. Van Ranst was assisted by Auburn Chief Engineer Herb Snow, with consultation from racecar engineer Harry Miller and driver Leon Duray.
The engine was a straight-eight from Lycoming, another of Cord’s companies, turned around in the chassis so the transmission was at the extreme front. For simplicity, the drum brakes were mounted to the inboard ends of the drive axles, and a long shift rod went up and over the engine, through the firewall and into the dashboard. The car was long and low, and production body styles included a five-passenger brougham, a sedan, a cabriolet and the very handsome body on this car, the Phaeton Sedan.
Stunning in two shades of red with cream and orange pinstriping, this Cord L-29 Phaeton Sedan is a well-preserved older restoration. The paint is very good and the brightwork nearly so, exhibiting just a few scratches and minor flaws. Panel fit is excellent, and the doors shut very well. It has a tan canvas top with maroon piping and matching canvas covers for the dual side-mount spares, which have chrome mirrors mounted. The interior, upholstered in deep red leather, is excellent. A steel trunk that matches the body colors is mounted at the rear.
The engine compartment is very clean and correctly detailed. The car is equipped with chrome wire wheels and caps and wide whitewall tires. The wheels and caps show just a few blemishes, which do not detract from the overall presentation. The car received CCCA Senior honors many years ago and a Premier Award in 1989. As handsome as an L-29 can be, this car will be a treat to own.
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@2cv:Op maandag 28 juni 2010 17:17 schreef Paladijn het volgende:Met de hoeveelheid onzin die je verkondigd is het geen wonder dat je geen PTA-mod meer bent
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