Dave Henderson

Sorry, it's NO again. I wasn't able to get a picture, but here is what the data plate of a '37 Cord 812 says; CORD FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE Model 812 Serial no. 16308 Engine no. FB 1813 MFD by Auburn Automobile Co. Auburn, Ind. U S A While a concept car destined to be a "baby Duesenberg" had been designed by Gordon Buehrig, the project was dropped. Later the Cord 810 was designed and built based roughly on that "baby" design by the Auburn Automoblle Co. Duesenberg was not a parent company overarching the Cord car. There are many good reads on the Cord topic available for those who want to get the facts straight.

Cords were built by the Auburn Automobile Co. The unsupercharged one pictured could be a 1936 model 810 or a 1937 model 812.

Simple solution; get rid of the wife's car and put the Olds in YOUR garage! Seriously, a '37 Olds sedan like yours was my high school car, and I loved it. My folks made me get rid of it when I went off to college, and I still think of it. I got my first ticket driving it, and another time a cop stopped me for a sloppy turn, and was frustrated because there was no front bumper he could put his foot on while writing a ticket. Believe it or not, he changed his mind and let me go. Could I find room for it? Likely.

West, I don't know. Possibly because the Custom Beverlys had the bustle. (even there an exception existed, a prototype Custom Beverly was a stretched slantback). In the beginning, 1936, all sedans were flat backs, both Westchester and Beverly. That was the pure Gordon Buehrig original design. In August '36, after Buehrig left Auburn, Alex Tremulis conceived the bustle trunk, and both Westchester and Beverly , plus the Custom series, were available with it for '37. There were even several convertible phaetons produced with it! The contoversial trunk was deemed needed because of limited luggage space in the slantback's.

The majority of both '36 and '37 Cords had 7 louvers. Those with 8 louvers are '37 Cords of the "Custom" series, the Custom Beverly and the Custom Berline with roll up divider window, both with 132" wheelbase, 7" longer than other "standard" Cords, and 2" higher, reqiuring the 8th louver. There was also a stretched Custom Beverly with 135" wheelbase. The Custom series made up only about 20 percent of '37 models produced. In short, the Cords pictured could be either year, unless 8 louvers are present, which I can't detect but may be there. '37 Cords came both supercharged and unsupercharged. A more authoritative source for information about Cords is Josh Malk's 3 books on the subject.

It is a common misconception that only the Beverly had a bustle trunk. In determining Westchester versis Beverly, one is differentiated from the other by the interior trim, not by whether or not thee is a bustle trunk or a flat one.

Dave, It can be done on the cheap with good results. There are plenty of used kitchen cabinets around that remodelers have to PAY to get rid of. You could contact kitchen contractors as well as demolition companies, and also check for free stuff on Craigslist. Old house "teardowns" are frequent in the Fairfax and Arlington area as there isn't much vacant land here to build on. Last year I obtained a whole new kitchen for the taking, from a house that had been remodeled for re-sale but was bought just to get the lot and then torn down! I'm betting that you have the same kind of stuff to store that I have, and some of it tends to be heavy. Older cabinets often are sturdier, especially metal ones, and they often aren't put together with pressed board and staples like some of the new ones. They don't necessarily have to match. Painting them all one color somewhat solves the problem. Hope to see you at the Winchester show in May and compare Cord woes (and joys) with you. Dave

Probably '35 or '36 Chevy.

Thanks Stude8, that narrows it down. Based on the bore opening, I think it is for the 356 engine used in the Super 8 and other "super" and "Custom" models, but still would like to confirm.

This nos "metalbestos" headgasket is for a 6 cyl. ohv GMC. Marking is 2136675. Can anyone pin down the application? These and the preceeding 3 I posted may be what someone is looking for.

This nos copper 4 cylinder head gasket looks like "Hercules" to me, but what engine/application? It is marked Mc5800.

This Packard script gasket is for a straight 8 flathead. marked "Mccord 6251". Probably for a 120, can anyone confirm? I have 2, nos.

Thanks Layden. I have 2 of them, nos. Someone may need them. Will post 3 more, Packard, Hercules (I think) and GMC that I haven't been able to pin down.

Steve, if that's how he "messes" with you, I hope he keeps on keep'in on! His work is a high accomplishment.

Please identify; Victor 1751 S Headgasket, also marked 89445-HB, with IHC logo. What year/model? From obsoleted stock about 40 years ago. They don't show up in my '40 Victor catalog. Have 2, nos, someone may need these. Thanks.

Sorting through some of my stuff I came across 2 n.o.s. straight 8 Packard script head gaskets, Mccord 6231. I presume they are for 120's. Were from the stock of long defunct "Sam Spurrier Packard", a dealer in Arlington Virginia. They have been knocked around and bent up some. No sharp bends that would cause damage to the asbestos, and can't see any sign that bends extended into any of the holes. I have straightened them as best I can, and think they are useable, but they are offered as is, with no guarantee whatsoever. They are $35 for the pair, if you want to venture there. Located in Vienna, Va.

P. S. Look at the trunk on the posting on this same forum entitled "ID this '30 Chrysler Body"!

To me, your trunk looks larger and more rounded than ones for DeSotos or Plymouths, and suitable for a larger, more close-coupled car. If someone will post for you the picture on p.66 of Langworth and Norbye's book "The Complete Histroy of Chrysler" you will see what appears to be a "factory" photo of a '33 DeSoto from a 3/4 rear angle, showing a trunk on it with flat sides and chrome outlining them at the corners. Sorry I can't post the pic, tech troubles today. Anyway, if I am correct, your trunk would probably be of higher value.

Couple of observations; Could the body originally have been a "close-coupled" closed 2 door body, such as the '31-'34 Auburn body style known as a "brougham"? (I'm not implying that it is an Auburn body) The added piece of the windshield could have been needed to convert to a sloping open car one. If originally a closed car, there may be some signs of removal of the window posts visible from underneath the door tops. The trunk looks a lot like the one being discussed elsewhere on this forum.

If your trunk IS a Potter, maybe this will be of some help; The 2 Potter Mfg. Co. trunks that I have owned both had attractive decals centered under the lid. The decal on the one I still have is oval shaped, 2 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch high. If you don't see one look closely, mine had been painted over but the outline was visible. By carefully rubbing a Q tip with lacquer thinner it came out and was even in fairly good condition. As an aside, I believe that the real Bonnie and Clyde '34 Ford sedan death car had a Potter trunk. I'd like to know more about my trunk too, does anyone have a Potter Mfg. Co. catalog?

Both of these were "best"; wrecked, complete '37 Cord, $45, Harman Collins flathead early V8 magneto, $8

Condoms hidden in a hole in the headliner of a '35 Dodge coupe I once bought.

My ones that got away.... As a school boy in the late '40's, I was driving a '37 Olds sedan that I had cobbled together from a sad 2 1/2-fendered heap. (I bought the missing parts for it from a character running a small junk business who would always say "that's the onliest one I got"). I aspired to something better, and along came a nice '39 Lasalle convertible. Its owner needed a family car and liked the Olds. A deal made in heaven? The LaSalle appraised out at around $450, while the Olds was $300. Ugh, no dough, no deal. Some years later, a friend was caring for a '37 Lincoln LeBaron Convertible sedan belonging to a guy who was off in the army. The front stuck out of the garage about 5 feet because it was so long, but it hadn't suffered much deterioration. When he returned home from the service he decided to go to law school, and not keep the Lincoln, so it was to be put up for sale. I had the inside track, it hadn't been advertized and no one else knew about it! However, I was living in an apartment and despite all efforts, I couldn't find a place to keep it. Reluctantly I passed on it. Price; $250.

A body style it is not for is the '30-'31 coupe. As pictured, it is shown upside down, or with the bottom up. Embossed in the bottom you should be able to locate the "A-????" part number. It may not show through the paint. With that, identity can be determined.

Is the hood from the same vehicle? If so, a picture of it migfht help. The hood's doors point to a '31-'33 something.