1936 Cord Experimental Limousine

The "Baby Duesenberg" Prototype Limousine isn't conventional, but neither is it an evolution of Gordon Buehrig's epic Cord 810/812. The long hood is emblematic of the long V-12 and V-16 engines that Packard, Cadillac, Auburn, Marmon and others brought into the nineteen-thirties, magnificent and sophisticated cars that sought a market devastated after the Crash of 1929.

The Cord Limousine's sleek fenders are subtly shaped but not exaggerated. The grille is a manifestation of Alex Tremulis' exercises to rework the 810/812 "Coffin Nose" hood that retrospect has shown to be a watershed moment in automobile design. Its superb construction, luxurious upholstery and sumptuous accommodations epitomize the ethic sought for a moderately-priced but still exclusive "Baby Duesenberg".

With coachwork fashioned by the peerless experts at LeBaron, finely shaped and refined at the hand of Ralph Roberts and rendered in steel by his associates at Briggs, the Cord Experimental Limousine was sui generis, a nearly unique design that conveyed its corporate captain, E.L. Cord, and his family in style. It was not the formal style of custom-bodied Cadillacs, Lincolns, Rolls-Royces or Packards but rather a more sporting, American, style that emphasized performance, not ostentation.

E.L. Cord was unique even among early 20th century industrial magnates. In 1936 when the "Baby Duesenbergs" were built he was only 42 years old, a prodigy as much as today's tech billionaires, just with a few less zeroes in his not-yet-inflation-adjusted net worth. His image was featured on the cover of Time magazine on January 18, 1932.

By 1936 Cord's industrial empire extended from automobiles (Cord, Auburn, Duesenberg and Lycoming engines) to aviation, shipbuilding and the Checker cab company. Cord's activities increasingly concentrated in Los Angeles and his real estate holdings helped to build Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills into the most valuable acreage in the world while his early radio and television station licenses in California and Nevada made him millions.

In his monumental book about Cord, Errett Lobban Cord, historian Griffith Borgeson notes that "He loved to drive, and he probably was the most important test driver that his companies had." At the family's home in Beverly Hills, "Cordhaven", there were eight garages and covered parking for another eight to ten vehicles.

Lavishly finished and equipped, this close-coupled limousine was used regularly in Los Angeles by the Cord family until about 1940 when it was retired.

Griff Borgeson notes in Errett Lobban Cord that after being retired it was ignored but ultimately saved by Charlie Cord, E.L.'s son, who felt it could be utilized for parts for other Cord family cars. Instead of being junked, Charlie had it quietly taken away to Eddie Meyer's speed shop where, eventually, its engine was used to restore the last Cord 812 built, a car thought to have been built in Auburn, Indiana specifically as a gift to E.L. Cord from spare parts left over after 810/812 production ended.

Fortunately, fellow Nevadan Bill Harrah was able to secure it, uniting the destinies of two car-loving entrepreneurial visionaries, both with significant connections to Nevada and particularly the Reno area. The car, however, was a mess.

It seems to have had one intermediate owner after Charlie Cord and Eddie Meyer. When Harrah's got it in 1964 (for $650) it was immediately sent to Harrah's restoration shop. A year later it was verified in a conversation between Harrah's Collection's Ralph Dunwoodie and E.L. Cord and later that year was confirmed by Charlie Cord as the family's car.

Now restored in the Harrah's shops to the highest standards in1970-it is resplendent in maroon paint and subtle beige cloth upholstery and interior trim. The engine is a correct supercharged FC-prefix Cord V-8. Important details of frequently lost items like interior handles and instruments are confirmed as original in Harrah's files.

Thoroughly documented in the files of the National Automobile Museum (The Harrah's Collection) and lovingly preserved for half a century, this is one of the most meaningful automobiles in existence.

It is a rare prototype of a respected and forward-thinking marque. It was the personal transportation of the company's founder and guiding light, E.L. Cord. It was preserved by his family, then restored by – at the time – the most renowned shop in North America. It is thoroughly documented in the Harrah's Automobile Collection tradition. Its coachwork is by one of the acknowledged masters of the period, Ralph Roberts at LeBaron.