The 810 was not E.L.

Cord’s first attempt at producing a front-wheel drive automobile, but compared to the L-29 that preceded it, it was a true revolution on all fronts: With its blunt, louvered nose, “step-down” floor, unitary construction, hidden door hinges, and a total lack of running boards, Gordon Buehrig’s design emphasized the forward-looking nature of the car’s underlying technology.

Power was supplied by a Lycoming V-8 mated to a four-speed, electrically shifted pre-selector transmission—mounted, naturally, in front of the engine and operated by a “key” off the steering column (essentially, an H-pattern gearshift in miniature).

The car’s reception at the November 1935 New York Auto Show was enthusiastic, with onlookers reportedly standing on the roofs of other cars just to catch a glimpse, and the orders poured in.

Alas, production start-up for the advanced and complex design was slow, and by the time supply caught up with demand, some customers had changed their minds.

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