Gordon Buehrig’s clean and unadorned coffin-nosed, retractable headlight design would create a standard by which cars are still judged today. It created an instant sensation at its November 1935 introduction at the New York Auto Show, so much so that Cord could not meet demand.

One of the most attractive – and desirable – variants of the 810/812 series was the Phaeton, a unique four-passenger convertible – one of the first production examples of this body style. Until the Cord Phaeton, two-door four-passenger convertibles were called convertible victorias. Their blind quarter convertible tops were elegant, but made for poor visibility for rear seat passengers. Cord’s innovative Phaeton provided a stylish quarter window, making the car much more pleasant for those seated in the rear.

Powered by a 288-cid, 125-hp L-head V-8 engine, four-speed pre-selector transmission, trailing-arm independent front suspension, solid rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. This trend setting model used the proven formula of styling, performance and a reasonable price. The car being offered is painted correct Cigarette Cream with dark burgundy upholstery—a superb color combination. The car is well presented and as a Classic Car Club of America Full Classic, thus eligible for all CCCA activities. Historians site 810 and 812 Cord production at slightly more than 2,900 cars over an 18-month period. Of these, 612 were Convertible Phaetons.