1937 Cord 812 Cabriolet

113roadUnited States

Colour: Ganges Green

An early surviving example of the Cord 812 two-passenger cabriolet, styled by Gordon Buehrig, this car carries documented ownership traceable through Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club rosters from 1971 and 1984. It was later held by noted Cord restorer Stan Gilliland of Wellington, Kansas. Restored in rare factory Ganges Green with green leather, the car features rebuilt engine, side exhausts, and a rumble seat, retaining original serial number and body tags.

Ownership

—Auction sale
Sold US$137,500
RM Sotheby's catalogue lot →
Date unknown
Dick Spencer
partial documentation
Early enthusiast from New Jersey; one of the first known owners of this cabriolet.
Date unknown
Paul Marut
full documentation
New Jersey owner who held the car for an extended period; his ownership is documented in ACD Club membership rosters from 1971 and 1984.
Date unknown
Stan Gilliland
partial documentation
Noted Cord restoration specialist based in Wellington, Kansas, who included this car in his personal collection and oversaw its restoration to factory-correct specification.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

—
Restoration
Full restoration to factory-correct specification, finished in Ganges Green with matching green leather interior. Work included fitting the car with heavy-duty steel wheels and whitewall radial tires, adding period side exhausts, and fitting a rumble seat. Original brass windshield frame, top bows, and latches were retained.
Restoration carried out while the car was in Stan Gilliland's ownership; exact date not stated.
—
Engine rebuild
The installed engine, described as a correct 1937 replacement unit, was overhauled with insert bearings fitted to both rod and main journals, along with the installation of new aluminum cylinder heads.
Reported as part of the broader restoration; the engine is noted as a period-correct replacement rather than the original unit.

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