Debuting at the New York International Auto Show in 1935, the Gordon M. Buehrig-penned Cord 810 is unquestionably a statement of its time. Noted for its distinctive Art Deco looks and streamlined exterior, the 810 boasted a Lycoming V-8 engine paired with a four-speed electric Bendix preselector transmission.

Fulfilling a longtime ambition to restore a Cord 810, the current owner selected this example for its matching-numbers engine and documented history from new. According to ownership history notes on file, chassis 2037H was purchased new by Mr. Roberto of Los Angeles, who had the local factory outfit the car with aesthetically pleasing supercharged trim and external side pipes.

Mr. Roberto cherished the Cord, for it remained with him until 1950. It was then purchased by Wallace King of Oakland, California, who kept it for seven years.

Briefly owned by T.M. Smith of Detroit, Michigan, the Cord 810 was then retained by Carl Loy, also a Detroit resident, until 1963. Two custodians followed in quick succession: the General Forrest Museum of Decatur, Alabama, late in 1963, and Bob McRaney of West Point, Mississippi, in January 1964, before Donald R. Vesley, M.D. of Oakdale, Louisiana, became its custodian for many years. It then migrated East, where noted enthusiast Gerald Lettieri recalls purchasing the car on Cape Cod in 2002. Mr. Lettieri later sold the Cord at public auction where it was purchased by Robert C. Stempel, the one-time President and CEO of General Motors. Stempel was famed for being one of only two people to rise through the ranks of GM from engineer all the way to the top.

The current owner acquired chassis 2037H in 2012 and, for the next four years, Prueitt Automotive Restoration of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania worked extensively, rebuilding its mechanicals and returning the car to its original aesthetic splendor. The supercharged trim, removed at some point in its life, was faithfully replicated and installed. It was repainted in a rich navy blue to provide a striking contrast to the car’s extensive chrome, while the interior was finished in a lustrous red hue chosen to correctly match the painted dash.

Since its concours debut in 2016, this superbly restored Cord has garnered numerous accolades, including honors at St. Michael’s, Pinehurst, Misselwood – where it received Best in Show – and Amelia Island. Chassis 2037H has also earned Premier Senior Award status with the Classic Car Club of America and received the National First Prize with the Antique Automobile Club of America.

An exceptional example with a proven show record, this Cord 810 Convertible Phaeton remains ready for future show appearances, touring events, or display as an archetypal representative of its model in any discerning collection.