The Cord 810, which debuted at the New York Auto Show in November 1935, was one of the most advanced and striking American cars of the 1930s. Designed by Gordon Buehrig, it had front-wheel drive, hidden (retractable) headlights, no running boards and a distinctive wraparound louvered grille that earned it the nickname “coffin nose”. Its supercharged sibling, the 812, followed in 1937. The car was a sensation, but production problems and the collapse of E.L. Cord’s empire ended it in 1937. It is now celebrated as a design masterpiece.

At a glance
Debut November 1935, New York Auto Show
Designer Gordon Buehrig
Drive Front-wheel drive
Engine Lycoming V8; supercharged in the 812
Production 1936–1937, a few thousand

Radical design

At a time when most cars had separate fenders, running boards and upright grilles, the Cord 810 looked like it came from another decade:

  • Pop-up headlights, cranked open by hand from the dashboard — among the first on a production car.
  • No running boards, thanks to its low, front-wheel-drive layout.
  • A wraparound horizontal grille instead of a traditional radiator.
  • Hidden fuel filler and concealed door hinges.

Front-wheel drive

Front-wheel drive allowed a low floor and body, but its constant-velocity joints and electrically controlled pre-selector transmission were troublesome in early cars, hurting the Cord’s reputation.

E.L. Cord’s empire

Errett Lobban Cord controlled Auburn, Cord and Duesenberg, as well as other businesses. Financial and regulatory problems caused his empire to unravel in 1937, ending all three brands. Read the Duesenberg Model J.

Design legacy

In 1951, the Museum of Modern Art in New York included a Cord from this series in its landmark exhibition on automobile design, recognizing it as a work of art. Its body dies were later used by other companies, and its influence can be seen in many later cars.