1937 Cord Beverly Sedan

E.L. Cord founded the Cord Company in 1929. E.L. Cord had purchased the Auburn Automobile Company and Duesenberg Motor Company in the mid-1920s, ultimately tying together all three companies. For the first three years, Cord models were manufactured by the Auburn Automobile Company in Connersville, Indiana. Under E.L. Cord’s ownership, the three companies achieved a high-value status. They successfully sold thousands of cars across the country until filing for bankruptcy in 1937, amidst the Great Depression.

Though Cord only produced cars from 1929 to 1937, their impact on the auto industry is impossible to ignore. The Cord Beverly was the first American-designed and built independent suspension, front wheel drive car. The next American front wheel drive car wouldn’t appear until 1966 with the Oldsmobile Toronado. Cord design elements such as the coffin-shaped nose, rear-hinged hood, low ride height, and hidden headlights contributed to its luxurious and modern aesthetic.

The 1937 Beverly Sedan is part of Cord’s 812 series. Its supercharged engine can be recognized from the outside by its chrome-plated exhaust pipes on each side of the hood. Supercharged 812s reach a horsepower of 170. This model would have sold for approximately $2,600 in 1937, or $58,350 adjusted for inflation in 2025.

On loan to the museum from Doug Rollert