Talented engineer Harold Allsop spent 66 years under the hood and behind the wheel of this Cord, the only two-passenger cabriolet delivered new in Ontario. He purchased the

Cord in 1947, only 10 years after Toronto dealer O’Donnell-Mackie delivered it to its original owner, Brights Winery heir John Bright, of Queenston. Following years at the Brights’ estate, which was known as Willowbank, Bright sold the Cord to a garage in Toronto, where Allsop found and purchased it.

With the Cord’s well-known proclivity for mechanical stubbornness, Allsop set about improving the factory’s work over the years. It is important to note that early on he resolved not to damage or modify any original part and to retain every part removed from the car so that it would be possible to reverse all of his changes and return the car to stock. A 12-volt electrical system was installed, and he replaced the Cord’s trouble-prone control for the vacuum shift with a manual control lever of his own design.

Allsop was incredibly proud that this Cord was never on a trailer. Everywhere it went, it went under its own power. That included several ACD Club Can-Am Meets in Ontario, with the first Canadian ACD meet having been held in the Allsop house, as well as trips “south of the border” to the ACD Festival in Auburn, Indiana. His last journey from Willowdale, Ontario, to Auburn was made in 2005, at the age of 85. He last drove the Cord in 2011 and passed away two years later, after a lifetime of joyous enthusiasm for all things mechanical, which is best displayed in his Cord.

The cabriolet is still in solid condition, as its owner left it, and has been Certified Category One by the ACD Club. Its decades-old black repaint has worn down in places to the original Rich Maroon beneath, and the maroon interior, which was a gift from Marion to Harold, is well worn from the use of many happy passengers.

Mr. Allsop replaced the original engine block with another block that was machined to accept a Cord supercharger, as his long-term plan was to supercharge the car. That never happened. The car is still running and driving with that block under the hood; the original matching-numbers block, FB 2243, is in good condition and accompanies the car, along with 13 crates of new and used parts accumulated by the Allsops for the Cord over the years, and numerous mementos. Please contact an RM specialist for a complete roster of what accompanies this marvelous Cord.

Today marks a new owner’s chance to continue a grand tradition.