The 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton — a groundbreaking pre-war icon with hidden headlights, sleek Art Deco lines, and a V8 with a 4 speed electric shift selector and a top speed of 110 MPH that made it one of the most advanced cars of its time with features such as hidden headlights, door hinges, and convertible cover; and front wheel drive!
Overview
SBX Cars is proud to offer for sale this 1937 Cord 812 Convertible Phaeton Sedan showing 25,270 miles at the time of this cataloging. Finished in Cigarette Cream with a tan canvas retractable top over a dark tan leather interior, this Cord is offered with service records by a private seller.
In the early days of luxury motoring, Gordon Buehrig’s designs with Cord automobiles in the 1930s pushed boundaries to new levels. The Cord 812 was said to be, “The car that looked convention squarely in the eye and never blinked.” It was one of the first production cars to feature front-wheel drive. In addition, it had futuristic retractable headlights and a ride-enhancing independent front suspension.
This Phaeton sedan, manufactured at Cord’s Auburn, Indiana facility, rolled off the line as Serial Number 1887 H. It was reportedly owned for 25 years by a collector who drove it to festivals on a regular basis and maintained its mechanical roadworthiness. Since 2013, it was part of a private collection but continued regular use, even participating in the 1,500-mile Pebble Beach Motoring Classic.
The car’s complete restoration took place about 30 years ago with an emphasis on preserving its original specifications. It has since been recognized by the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg (ACD) club with a Category 1 certification – the highest certification that the club offers – signifying that it is an unrestored, original vehicle. In addition, this Phaeton has garnered accolades from the Classic Car Club of America.
Powering this vintage grand-tourer is a 289ci (4.7 liter) Lycoming V8 that received a recent complete overhaul at the hands of Hyman Ltd., a specialty facility in St. Louis, Missouri with expertise in repair and restoration of exceptional motor cars. Hyman brought the running gear to tip-top shape with work to the cooling system, fuel system, cylinder heads, hardware, connecting rods, fluids, and much more. The end result was a collector-car that can be confidently driven and enjoyed for years to come.
The 812 Cord is a sought-after icon for its blend of futuristic design elements with open-air freedom. Here’s your chance to own and drive the machine that brought it all together.
Specifications & Options
Exterior
- Cigarette Cream
- Full restoration
- Period-correct hardware and fittings
- Tan canvas retractable top
- Chrome brightwork
- Hideaway headlights
- Hand-cranked
- Fog lamps
- Wrap-around grille
- Driver side mirror
- Rear-hinged doors
- External exhaust pipes for the appearance of a Supercharged model
- Body-color steel wheels
- Chrome hubcaps
- 6.5-16 wide BFGoodrich Silvertown wide- whitewall tires
Interior
- Dark tan leather upholstery
- Body-color dash
- Engine-turned aluminum face trim
- Rear-view mirror
- “Electric hand” gear selector
- Manual-crank windows
- Radio
- Floor mats
- Trunk-mounted spare tire
- Gauges
- 120-mph speedometer
- 5,000-rpm tachometer
- Clock
- Coolant temperature
- Fuel level
- Oil pressure
- Voltage
Mechanical
- 289ci (4.7 liter) Lycoming V8 rated at 125 HP
- Triple main bearings
- Aluminum cylinder heads
- Side valves
- Single Stromberg downdraft carburetor
- Vacuum-operated four-speed preselector transaxle
- Auxiliary cooling fan
- Stainless-steel exhaust system
- Independent front suspension
- Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes
Service History
Hyman Ltd. of St. Louis, Missouri went through this Cord in March 2025 with attention to detail. Hyman’s history dates back to 1989 and entails a 67,000-square-foot facility dedicated to repair, restoration, and sales of collector automobiles. Included in the checklist during the $59,777.71 service were the following, in addition to other ancillary maintenance items:
- Body work and detailing
- Clean-up valve seals
- Coolant change
- Distributor work
- Engine block repaint
- Oil change
- Piston cleaning and installation
- Radiator repair
- Repair of thread damage in block
- Replacement cylinder head gaskets
- Replacement of fuel pump diaphragm and pump itself
- Replacement of gaskets and rings
- Resurfacing of cylinder heads
- Sleeve and deck of engine
- Whitewall refinishing
- Windshield wiper blade replacement
A data placard outlines the following vehicle specifications:
- Model: 812
- Serial Number: 1887 H
- Engine Number: FB 2396
- Design Patent Number 97,697 – December 3, 1935
- Design Patent Number 99,973 – June 9, 1936
Condition & Reports
The seller says, “The body is in excellent order. Exterior brightwork all presents very well, with even, consistent plating all around.” Regarding the interior, “The cabin is accurately restored with patterns and materials true to original specifications.” In addition to the photo gallery, a series of videos are included for review and further scrutiny.
There is some wear in the upholstery consistent with age and light use.
Included in the Sale
- Key
- Service records
Summary
This Cord 812 Phaeton is a piece of rolling art that was well ahead of its time. As its seller says, “The advanced underpinnings work in harmony to create a wholly unique motoring experience.” The recent service, coupled with the car’s painstaking original restoration, make it one of the best surviving examples on the road anywhere.
As part of the consignment process, SBX Cars requests a range of information from the seller pertaining to the subject of their offering. The auction listing description therefore is, to the best of the seller’s knowledge, accurate and not misleading. However, it is the responsibility of a potential buyer to satisfy themself as to the accuracy of the auction listing description. This includes conducting an in-person inspection, which may be arranged between the buyer and seller, as well as verifying the condition, authenticity, value, and title before committing to bid or buy. Please see our Terms of Service for full details.
Buyer's Premium
The Buyer’s Premium will be added to the final sale price and is payable directly to SBX Cars. Sales tax applicability will be determined by buyer's location.
- Buyer's premium: 5%
Bid History
1937Cord812 Phaeton Convertible - Certified Category 1 by ACD Club
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