The 1936 Cord 810 Cabriolet, now on display at the DFW Car & Toy Museum, represents a transformative moment in automotive design and engineering. This black beauty, designed by Gordon M. Buehrig, challenged traditional automotive conventions with its revolutionary features and forward-thinking approach.
The vehicle's most striking innovations include a front-wheel V-8 engine, a unique steering column gear shift mechanism, and a seamlessly integrated body structure. Its design eliminated the traditional grille, replacing it with seven elegant louvers encircling the car's nose. Hidden door hinges and retractable headlights further emphasized its advanced aesthetic.
Recognized for its artistic brilliance, the Cord 810 was featured in the Museum of Modern Art's 1951 exhibit of "Eight Automobiles," where it was praised for embodying the dynamic power of a fighter plane. The car's disappearing convertible top, which neatly tucked behind the seats, contributed to its sleek, streamlined appearance.
Museum owner Ron Sturgeon describes the vehicle as an "automotive legend" that not only represents the pinnacle of 1930s design but remains a thrilling testament to innovative engineering. The displayed model retains its original chassis stub frame and serves as a rare glimpse into automotive history.
This exhibition offers automotive enthusiasts and design aficionados an opportunity to experience a vehicle that fundamentally reimagined automotive design decades ahead of its time, showcasing how technological innovation and artistic vision can converge to create something truly extraordinary.
