The 810 was E.L. Cord’s second attempt at a front-wheel drive automobile. Its engine was a V-8, also by Lycoming, but a four-speed, electrically-shifted, pre-selector transmission was used. The body, designed by Gordon Buehrig, was a thing of beauty. Its blunt, louvered hood gave rise to the nickname “coffin nose,” always a term of endearment, and such features as a “step-down” floor, unitary construction, hidden door hinges, and a total lack of running boards were all previously unheard-of.

The car’s reception at the November 1935 New York Auto Show was enthusiastic, with onlookers reportedly standing on the roofs of other cars just to catch a glimpse, and the orders poured in. Alas, production start-up for the advanced and complex design was slow, and by the time supply caught up with demand, some customers had changed their minds. Cord production wound down in 1937.

This stunning Cord Westchester wears an older, but very high-quality restoration. It is one of only 1,174 built for the 1936 production year. The Cord has great provenance that includes being owned, for many years, by the president of Standard Oil Company; and for the last ten years it was owned by a very well respected artist in Paradise Valley, Arizona. This cord was also featured in John Malks book “Cord Complete.” It was also featured on a BBC show in 2015 called “Leading America.”

The Cord is presented in what is believed to be its original color of Cool Orchard Green. This unique and stunning factory color is complimented by excellent brightwork and wide whitewall tires. The interior is tailored with light tan upholstery and the dashboard is completed with proper instrumentation. Under the hood of this iconic Cord is a Lycoming V-8 engine that is connected to a pre-selector semi-automatic transmission. Recently this automobile has had $15,000 invested in it for work completed by the “Master Cord Mechanic” John Craft.