The Cord 810 is undoubtedly one of the most influential automobiles of its era—and indeed, of all time.

Its front-wheel-drive powertrain, with a Lycoming V-8 mated to a four-speed, electrically shifted pre-selector transmission, placed it decades ahead of the mainstream mechanically; its breathtaking design, attributed to Gordon Buehrig, emphasized the forward-looking nature of the car’s underlying technology with its blunt, louvered nose, “step-down” floor, unitary construction, hidden door hinges, and a total lack of running boards.

Despite an overwhelmingly enthusiastic reception at the November 1935 New York Auto Show, production start-up for the advanced and complex design was slow.

By the time supply caught up with demand, some customers had changed their minds.

Cord production wound down in 1937.

The 810 Phaeton offered here was originally delivered in Pennsylvania, where it was first registered on 11 June 1936.

An interesting notation in its Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club pa...