Cord 810/812 autos were built in Connersville Indiana from 1936 through 1937 producing about 1500 cars per year. This car is tagged as the 53rd of the first 100 hand built units produced in Sept-Nov of 1935 on a frantic schedule to meet the requirements for the 1936 AMA Auto shows that were moved from the Spring to the Fall of the previous year by FDR to inspire more sales during the great depression. Production began in Feb of 1936 and ended in Sept of 1937. Most all of these first hand-builts had no transmissions and they were returned to the factory after the AMA Auto shows and used for spare parts and

pieces as needed by the production line, there is thought to be 8 of these cars remaining. The Cord Corporation was one of America's largest companies in 1929, owning or controlling some 150 companies including nation wide Checker and Yellow cab, Central Airlines (American), Spencer Heater, Central Manufacturing, Lycoming Engines, Stinson Aircraft, Warner Gear and of course Auburn Automobile Company which made Auburn, Cord, and Dusenberg cars. Cord Corp also purchased interest in the Miller-Drake-Offenhauser company which was running away with the Indy 500 races (front wheel drive) and used that technology to develope America's first front wheel drive Cord L29 in 1929. Cord Automobiles were all front wheel drive, because of that they were lower than all other cars of the 30's by some 8 inches, had no running boards, hidden head lamps and radiator, integrated tail lights, and the Bendix pre-select was indeed a 'shift by wire' system in that the engine and transmission were backwards installed so the transmission was remote from the selector. Cords were indeed ahead of their time, were quite expensive and unfortunately the depression put them out of business late in 1937.