1937 Cord 812 Super-Charged Westchester
The Cord Automobile division of the Auburn Automobile Company produced in 1936 and 1937. It was the work of designer Gordon M. Buehrig (with Vince Gardner and Alex Tremulis on the team).
More than just beautiful, it was a very innovative car: It was first American-designed automobile with front wheel drive car, independent front suspension, cuts in hubcaps (to cool the brakes), enclosed headlights, gas cap hidden under a door, hidden door hinges, and rear-hinged hood, and “suicide doors.”
This 1937 Cord 812 Westchester is a factory supercharged example that resided in California from 1956 to 2006. The 288ci Lycoming flathead V8 was machined and assembled by Steve Fekete of Hollywood Machine Shop in Pasadena, California. Fekete modified a replacement, naturally-aspirated block to accept a factory supercharger. A new camshaft was installed along with modern pistons and Porsche-style rocker arm adjusters for the horizontal valves. Jim Higman provided new cylinder heads, and the correct AA25 carburetor was rebuilt by Carburetor Engineering in Pasadena, California. The supercharger was rebuilt with new internals and features a stainless steel external oiler.
The blue broadcloth upholstery with white piping was produced in a pleated fashion. Dynamat insulates the cabin, and a ribbed cloth headliner lines the interior of the roof. The door and window mechanisms were rebuilt and cadmium plated. Arroyo Hardwoods of Pasadena, California recreated the wood interior components that facilitate attachment of the upholstery, using mahogany from Honduras.
The design also incorporated hidden door hinges, pontoon fenders with pop-up headlights and a rear-hinged hood that allowed for the unusual shape of the front end and the louvered wraparound grille. Pop-up lights were still several decades away from being commonplace, and the 812 was built before anyone had the idea to put electric motors in them. So the lights were raised and lowered by a pair of cranks on either side of the dashboard.
It may be blunt to say so, but the truth is this – find another. You won’t, not here in the UK. And even if you do, will it be as good, or as well-restored as this one? The chances are, probably not. This 1937 Cord has been restored and maintained in such a way that unlike other surviving examples, this one can be used. It’s a design icon, a poster child for what American car designers could do when let off the leash. It is, in the world of the motorcar, hugely significant. But more than that, it’s truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. 
