Marty Roth Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 If Gordon Buehrig had been working (or contracted) with one of the then-major auto manufacturers, what might the end result have been? What if GM, Hudson, Chrysler, and Others Had Designed the Cord 810? - The Daily Drive | Consumer Guide® Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Marty, I think the Studebaker would come closest the Cord design. The front wheel drive of the Cord forced the company to set the hood line further back from the bumper. They stumbled on this design by accident? That design really makes a statement in my opinion. I noticed something else about the Cord in Hershey too. There were one or two (?) Cord coupes for sale. They definitely do not have the lines of the convertible model.Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleach Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 He actually worked for Ford in the 50's until 1965. One of his projects included the MKII Continental. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercer09 Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 The Cord wouldn't have been accepted by the "normal" public. As mentioned, Studebaker was ahead of it's time and was not embraced.... the Cord was all the more advanced in design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 That's true Mercer, a little like the Pontiac Aztec, then 80 years later we say..Wow!!!The Cord that is. I'm not sure we'll ever like an Aztec!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mellor NJ Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Gordon designed the hardtop roof first seen on the 51 Victoria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Marty, if I remember his bio correctly he did some work for GM and presented a design that was very simillar to what became the Cord 810/812 - it was rejected in a designer's contest. My guess is that at that time the design was likely seen as too unusual for companies making more or less very high volume mainstream vehicles. I could see where his design ended up in the right place - Buehrig did some great work and enjoyed a long career, and while in his bio he himself passes credit to others for his work on the Continental Mark II it certainly seems like his influence of a clean understated design. He successfully sued for patent infringement against GM when they brought out the T-top Corvette in 1968 - and I believe earned a royalty on every T-top produced afterwards, for a long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I noticed something else about the Cord in Hershey too. There were one or two (?) Cord coupes for sale. They definitely do not have the lines of the convertible model.Wayne??? Cord only built one coupe, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't at Hershey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 ??? Cord only built one coupe, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't at Hershey.The car I saw was in the car corral around the bottom side across from the show field. It was light grey or light brown in color. I just looked through my Hershey folder and evidently missed getting a picture of it. Maybe it was a Hupp, but the coupe lines stuck in my head as not striking my fancy.Anyone else see it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Maybe it was there. I didn't see it, but that's what color it is... kind of a light brown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynaflash8 Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 The major companies may have considered the design or a variation of it, but I sincerely doubt they would have accepted the mechanical features of a Cord. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R W Burgess Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 The major companies may have considered the design or a variation of it, but I sincerely doubt they would have accepted the mechanical features of a Cord.Amazingly Earl, neither the Hupp nor the Graham were able to capitalize on the same forward design even without the front drive. Missed opportunity? It's funny how today we go back and wonder what could have been. I miss my '67 Beetle! :eek: No, I don't. It would only run 70 mph wide open. My loaded trucks would blow it off the road nowadays, figuratively and "literally"!Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michel88 Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 There is an excellent book that was written by Gordon Buehrig with Willian S. Jackson that I hightly recommend to all who admire this great designer. It's titled "Rolling Sculpture" and it was published in 1975 and it remains timeless because it gives a rare glimpse into the drafting room from the perspective of America's most innovative designer, Gordon Buehrig. It tells the story of the 810/812 Cords, custom Duesenberg bodies, Auburn Speedsters, and Continenatal Mark II's. Buehrigs incredible masterpieces are not only described in words, but illustrated with many vintage black and white photographs. In the newly published volume the Auburn Cord Duesenbeg Musseum has also added color photographs. Before this new edition, used copies were selling in the $100-$200 range. If you would like to get this new edition they are available from the ACD museum (260)-925-1444 or go to www.acdmuseum.org to order a copy for $49.95 plus $5 shipping. I am not associated with the museum but I love this book and wanted to share with forum members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 Great info Woody - I have been looking for a nice copy for some time, and really do not care if it is an early edition - in fact I would prefer new. Will be ordering one as an early Christmas gift to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poci1957 Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 As others have said, strictly from an internal political standpoint I doubt the Cord could have been interpreted at the Big 3 the way it was at ACD even if Buehrig was there. Consider:Chrysler had just rolled out the Airflow bristling with design innovation and due to it's reception they would be unwilling to try anything new for a while. Ditto Ford, then working on the Zephyr with a Briggs body. As long as Briggs made the body they would try a slightly advanced-looking design, but they would not be able to do any serious innovation in mechanicals unless Henry took an interest. GM and Fisher Body were trendsetters in body design for large volume and capable of some technical innovation, but I bet Sloan and company would not have approved the expense of both front wheel drive and a body requiring extra handiwork beyond Fisher's usual methods (such as the multi-piece roof requiring welding and hand finishing). They just would not have been prepared to do it. Very interesting question though, and thanks Woody for the tip on the book, Todd C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithbrother Posted November 12, 2012 Share Posted November 12, 2012 I have to LAUGH. The Aztec was a big hit at the shows, but then when it hit the streets, well, we all know what happened then. Probably isn't the first car to receive concept clues that when produced, didn't make it. Love the Cord, really enjoyed a tour of the factory too. Dale in Indy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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