Heard the one about the used - cable car salesman from Los Angeles ? We ’re not talk about " Madman " Muntz but rather Errett Loban Cord , remembered today for three Classic - era greats : the Auburn Speedster , Model J Duesenberg , and the first car bearing his own name , the front - drive 1929 - 1931 Cord L-29 .
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Intended to make full the terms gap between the Auburn Eight and the mighty J in Cord ’s mini motorcar conglomerate , the L-29 was engineer by Cornelius Van Ranst along principle patented by famed race - car designer Harry Miller . Front drive was still in its infancy , but Cord require it to achieve a low , rakish appearance .
The 298.6 - three-dimensional - in Lycoming square eight was plucked from the largest Auburns and turn back to front for the Cord , with the hold , three - speed slip - pinion gear box , and differential gear strung out forward . This layout dictated a international mile - long cap , to which stylist Al Leamy added a Duesenberg - like radiator .
As a result , the 137.5 - in - wheelbase L-29 was sensationally long and low-pitched . organic structure style comprised four - door sedan , brougham , and convertible , and a rumble - buttocks cab .
But the L-29 was seriously flawed . The near 21/2 - ton curb bit weight and only 125 horsepower made execution borderline , and the locomotive placement ’s result rearward weight unit prejudice left the front wheels grope for for traction on slippery uphill degree . Handling was twitchy , and the constant - speed U - joints in the front halfshafts wore out with merciless frequence .
But the literal problem was price . At $ 3,095 or $ 3,295 bet on model , the L-29 be more than its quicker , more refined challenger , and the button-down vendee in this market place were wary of new ideas like front drive . An $ 800 toll cold shoulder failed to spark interest , and the railroad car disappeared in early 1932 . A mere 4,429 had been built since mid-1929 .
The Cord L-29 have is a premier example of the near - match brougham sedan , owned by Ken and Jan Findiesen . Like most such classic , it ’s nearly priceless .
