・Top quality restoration from South Africa

・Ultra-rare right-hand-drive

・Chevrolet V8 engine conversion with power steering

・Now in the UK ready to register

Introduced in 1936 as America’s new luxury car, the Cord was produced by the Auburn Motor Company and was, at the time, one of the most technologically advanced cars ever made.

It was packed with detail, from holes drilled into the hubcaps to allow the brakes to cool to its hidden away pop-up headlights, the very first car in the world to have them, and operated via a crank handle in the cabin so they could be raised and lowered manually.

Everything about the Cord was different. It was beautifully styled and beautifully detailed, with fully independent suspension, and it looked like nothing else on the road. But despite its brilliance, the Cord was short lived as the cost of its development was too great to allow it to be sold at a profitable purchase price, whilst reliability problems with the car’s Lycoming V8 engines and troublesome semi-automatic transmission dented buyer confidence.

After less than three years, it was all over and Cord was no more, despite the car being voted one of the most beautiful ever made.

This example has freshly arrived into the UK and is one of only a handful of right-hand-drive Cords ever made. It was originally sold in South Africa and was restored there several years ago, at the same time being converted to rear-wheel-drive and fitted with a General Motors small-block V8 engine.

Delivered in 1936 to a diamond magnate in Kimberley, South Africa, this was one of a handful of Cords fitted with the option of pleated leather seats. 

It was found semi-dismantled (and with no engine) over 25 years ago and was lovingly restored by a well-known specialist under the ownership of two of South Africa’s keenest American car enthusiasts.

Over 5,000 hours went into its restoration, during which it was converted from front-wheel-drive to rear, allowing a ‘crate’ GM 350 small block V8 to be installed. 

Completed in the early 2000s, the car was one of the most well-known vintage cars on the South African Circuit, detailed in books and car publications, before it was acquired by the vendor and brought to the UK this summer.

The seller is a former South African resident who works with contacts in the motor trade and classic car scene out there in order to source some of the most remarkable cars and bring them to the UK.

This example is most certainly remarkable and it comes with all of its import paperwork, along with an original “Book of the Cord” owner’s manual and a hardback book in which it is featured.

The vendor is experienced in bringing vehicles to the UK and is happy to help the new owner with registration. However, the vehicle has not been registered with the DVLA yet in case the next buyer wishes to export it. It does, though, have a NOVA certificate and all UK duties have already been paid, so aside from a small first registration fee there are no additional duties to be paid.

This is a wonderfully presented car in remarkable condition throughout and the quality of the restoration work is fantastic.

Aside from just a couple of very minor scuffs and marks, the white paintwork is superb and looks absolutely fantastic from all angles. Then there's the size! Nothing quite prepares you for how big this car is - it's an absolute monster with a hugely imposing presence.

Swing open the front ‘suicide’ doors and you're greeted with brown pleated leather seats and a delicately detailed art deco dashboard, with smart black and cream dials and a huge Bakelite steering wheel.

The car was refurbished and retrimmed throughout during its restoration, so all of the fabrics and leather are in fantastic condition, as is the headlining. All of the dials and controls appear to work as they should including the intricate rotating handles that are used to operate the pop-up headlights.

There are details almost everywhere you look, each of which proves that this was one of the most expensive and lovingly built cars ever produced, and it's all in remarkable condition considering that it is 85 years old.

Here's where things get interesting. Originally, the Cord would have been fitted with a factory V8 and front-wheel-drive, the latter of which was very much one of the brand’s selling points.

However, neither the original V8 engine nor the semi-automatic gearbox were renowned for their longevity and in the case of this example, sourcing a replacement engine and transmission would have been extremely difficult given that it was in South Africa.

Instead, the owner opted for what was actually a fairly common conversion back in the day, using a 350 cubic inch Chevrolet small block V8 engine, known as the GM ‘crate’ engine as you could literally order one in a crate and have it delivered.

The conversion has been beautifully done and works really well, with the previous owner reporting that it actually drives far better than a factory standard Cord, and with far greater performance. It also has the added benefit of power steering, a recognised conversion that hugely improves the Cord’s driveability. 

The only visual clues to the engine swap are a slightly lower ride height and a floor-mounted gear shifter.

There isn’t a collector in the world who wouldn’t want to own a Cord, but the appeal of this car extends much further than that thanks to its simpler mechanics and greater usability.

It's a fabulous looking, bold and imposing car and one that is guaranteed to turn heads. It's also in amazing condition and like no other car on the market right now. Put simply, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own something really, really special.