Stumbled upon a 1937 Cord (Auburn Duesenberg) - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Graplr · #1 03-09-2010, 11:43 AM

What can you guys tell me about this car?

My wife and I have been looking for a house. Last night I went to one that has been on the market for 180 days (that I really liked BTW). It is owned by a widower that her and her husband custom built in the 1980s. She doesn't appear to be living there anymore. I checked out the detached garage and pole barn first as it was getting dark and wanted to make sure I could see them in the light. Then I went and checked out the home. The last thing I went to check on was the attached garage. I open the door and I see a car under a cover. Of course my curiosity was aroused. I could see the tires only and they were in great shape and knew the car had to be pre-1950s. I peeled back the front and saw the sticker shown in the picture #2 below. "Auburn Cord Duesenberg" I know zero about this car so I took some pics and looked some info up today. The license plate says "37CORD". So I guess I can safely assume it is a 1937 Cord.

I did some investigating this morning and saw a rusted junker sell for 22.5k. I couldn't find any values of complete models. This one is in great shape. He had a bunch of trophies on the wall from car shows.

Maybe I'll make an offer on the house and ask for the two cars in the garage as well. (The other was an S10 with a plow on the front for the long driveway).

It does seem to be some sort of estate as it appears the widower has moved out. Perhaps she would be willing to sell everything as is? I wonder if there are any kids involved. If so you would think they would have the car out of the garage by now.

My wife couldn't come with as she got stuck at work so we are probably going to do a second showing this weekend.

kerry · #2 03-09-2010, 11:54 AM

You should have had the offer on the agent's desk by now. go for it.

Txjake · #3 03-09-2010, 11:57 AM

hurry...those are so cool: FWD, Franklin engine, supercharged, I think I recall....rare car...I have only seen one.

Graplr · #4 03-09-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

You should have had the offer on the agent's desk by now. go for it.

The thing is I may be able to get the house cheaply if I go in with no contingencies/don't ask for anything since she has been sitting on it so long and may not have a mortgage on the place or at a minimum a very low mortgage. Also, I don't even know if she would consider selling the car, but only one way to find out! So a thought is start out REALLY low and wait for a counter. Then come up and ask for the cars, the wood shop tools (in the detached garage), pontoon boat (in the pole barn), etc., etc. Pretend like I'm just throwing those things in to make it easier on her.

The house does need some TLC. It has good bones, but is covered in UGLY 1980s wallpaper. Has nice buy gaudy built-ins, bad carpet and window treatments, etc. etc. So I don't feel the house itself is worth the asking price. The lot and buildings are great, but so are a lot in the area it is. We'll see what the wife thinks after we check it out together. Probably Saturday morning.

Here is a pic of the car under the cover and the S10 with a plow.

75Sv1 · #5 03-09-2010, 12:21 PM

I am going from memory. I think it was probably late 90's early 2000's, I saw one priced a bit over $100K. I think the market, and I'm not an expert, went up in value on most cars from then. I don't know how much it has gone down due to the economic situtation. I think truly collectable or rare cars kept their value or didn't loos much. I'd place a Cord in that category.
Tom

Skid Row Joe · #6 03-09-2010, 12:28 PM

Nice find!

Skid Row Joe · #7 03-09-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 75Sv1

I am going from memory. I think it was probably late 90's early 2000's, I saw one priced a bit over $100K. I think the market, and I'm not an expert, went up in value on most cars from then. I don't know how much it has gone down due to the economic situtation. I think truly collectable or rare cars kept their value or didn't loos much. I'd place a Cord in that category.
Tom

Pefect-perfect low-mileage automotive collectables are still getting the top, pre-2006 recession dollars - there are just fewer buyers, and the buyers are extremely circumspect. That one is definitely not perfect-perfect. The lights are jury-rigged and there's rust on the front bumper - and that's just for starters. Fender-kicking is alive and well in the collectables field. It might still be worth the big bucks though, not saying it isn't.

Chris W. · #8 03-09-2010, 12:38 PM

Be aware that there are many Cord replicars out there!

http://www.stutzbearcat.com/cordhistory.htm

You won't know until you can check the car out thoroughly, but I have to say that there is a bolt head on your second picture which looks rather modern and pretty crude for a real antique!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 308K

Graplr · #9 03-09-2010, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

Nice find!

Funny, I'm looking for a house and I find an incredibly rare classic car!

I don't even know if it is for sale. I only would buy it as part of the deal for the home on the PA.

I just found this-

This is exactly what the car looks like. It appears to be a 1937 Cord 812.

Graplr · #10 03-09-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris W.

Be aware that there are many Cord replicars out there!

http://www.stutzbearcat.com/cordhistory.htm

You won't know until you can check the car out thoroughly, but I have to say that there is a bolt head on your second picture which looks rather modern and pretty crude for a real antique!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 308K

Thanks for the tip. The thought crossed my mind when I saw an ad for a 'replica' car. This may very well be one, but the replica car was being sold for 25k.

Txjake · #11 03-09-2010, 01:10 PM

oops, Lycoming engine, not Franklin....looks to be an 812, if she is real. Should be supercharged.

http://www.automaven.com/FAQs/faqs.html

t walgamuth · #12 03-09-2010, 01:17 PM

The beverly sedans are worth a lot less than the roadsers. They have great lines though and the front and back doors are interchangible, IIRC. I don't know what they are worth. they have some chronic problems related to the very early front wheel drive mechanism and the preselector gearshift IIRC.

It doesn't hurt to offer.

Graplr · #13 03-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

oops, Lycoming engine, not Franklin....looks to be an 812, if she is real. Should be supercharged.

http://www.automaven.com/FAQs/faqs.html

It appears from the reading that the exhaust pipes out the side indicate that it is indeed supercharged (of course assuming that it is real).

daveuz · #14 03-09-2010, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The beverly sedans are worth a lot less than the roadsers. They have great lines though and the front and back doors are interchangible, IIRC. I don't know what they are worth. they have some chronic problems related to the very early front wheel drive mechanism and the preselector gearshift IIRC.

It doesn't hurt to offer.

Correct. Gear shift was vacuum operated. Hudson used the same thing in the late 30's as an option but you still had the floor shift if it failed (UNLIKE the Cord). The Body is the same as a Hupp or Graham used in 1940 41.

Graplr · #15 03-09-2010, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

The beverly sedans are worth a lot less than the roadsers. They have great lines though and the front and back doors are interchangible, IIRC. I don't know what they are worth. they have some chronic problems related to the very early front wheel drive mechanism and the preselector gearshift IIRC.

It doesn't hurt to offer.

Yes, I may just come up with my number that I want to pay for the house itself and then include the cars and tools on top of that and see what she says. Worst case scenario we find out what she is willing to part with as a part of the deal and I come back with an offer for just the house.