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.

The breathtaking design, attributed to Gordon Buehrig, emphasized the forward-looking nature of the car’s underlying technology with a blunt, louvered nose, “step-down” floor, unitary construction, hidden door hinges, and a total lack of running boards.

The 810 Phaeton offered here has had its ownership history traced back to the 1940s, when it was owned by one Jack Smith.

Recorded by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club as owned in 1962 by James Gallup of Ohio, it next passed to a Garth Stemple, in 1975 to a Tob Wood, in 1976 to one Robert Groff, and finally in 1988 to Edwin “Ned” Wright.

Mr. Wright undertook a complete restoration of the car in the mid-1990s, reportedly while fitting Allison Engineering...