1937 Cord 812 SC Phaeton

Chassis No. 31545H
Engine No. FB2843
Body No. C91 422

Recent award-winning restoration
Supercharged V-8 engine
Iconic Art Deco design
Full CCCA classic

The Duesenberg Model J had become available with a supercharger in 1932. Three years later, the eight-cylinder Auburn could also be had with a blower. All that was left was to fit the engine to the new Cord of 1936. A year later, as the 810 evolved into the 812 with production fully underway, the Auburn Automobile Company’s most flamboyant line received supercharged power as a popular $415 option on all models.
Lycoming began with the 810’s stock V-8 engine, revising the design with a modified firing order, lowered compression ratio, more extreme camshaft grind, and a unique, larger Stromberg AA-25 carburetor. The engine exhaled through a functional chrome side exhaust, an identifying mark of all supercharged Auburn products that was believed to have been added to the Cord by stylist Alex Tremulis, later of Tucker fame, and was engineered into being by none other than August Duesenberg.
The supercharged Cord had a factory-quoted power output of 170 hp, although Lycoming employees later recounted numbers as high as 195. The factory sent two properly equipped Beverly Sedans to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where, driven by Ab Jenkins and Billy Winn, they recorded the highest average speed over a 24-hour period ever achieved at the Brickyard—over 80 mph—and captured the famous Stevens Trophy. That record would stand until 1954. Make no mistake, these were fast cars, with power and flexibility that was as much ahead of its time as the Cord’s famous Gordon Buehrig styling.
This Cord 812 was acquired in 1960 Walter F. Johnston of Burbank, CA, then passed through two more Southern California collector’s hands before being acquired by its current owner in 1987. A comprehensive restoration was recently commissioned, which included the addition of a factory-specification supercharger, painstakingly done using all factory parts to make it indistinguishable from a factory equipped supercharged Cord. The Supercharger and engine machine work was performed by a well-respected member of, and Chief Technician for, the ACD (Cord-Auburn-Duesenberg) Club specializing in Cord 810 and 812 models to assure accuracy and authenticity. This four-passenger phaeton is finished in stunningly in Geneva Blue, a correct factory color, with the interior a coordinating medium blue leather in the proper pattern and a canvas top overhead.
Attention to detail and correctness is evident in every aspect of this classic Cord, resulting in recent show winning achievements, including a prestigious First Place at the 2019 AACA Western Fall Nationals in Fallbrook, CA, a California Grand Classic Primary 1 in March of 2020, a Senior First Place and Bill Plunkett Memorial award at the San Marino, CA, Motor Classic California Grand Classic, in 2021, and a Best of Show at Coronado Motor Cars on Main Street in May of 2022.