1937 Cord 812

In 1937, the Cord 812 was introduced with an optional long 132-inch wheelbase chassis called the Custom. With an extra 7 inches in length and 1.5 inches in interior headroom, the rear sear became much more accessible. Gordon Buehrig stated the larger Cord “was a result of criticism that the car in the price class it was in didn’t have enough room in it for some people’s taste.” You will notice there are eight hood louvers, instead of seven. This is a visual cue of the Custom’s added dimensions. The sheet metal panels for the Custom were not only fabricated but also modified from a standard Sedan body. This required more body solder, or lead, which meant greater hand finishing. But the low cost of skilled labor ruled out the expense of creating large dies to press large single panels.

The wheelbase is 132 inches. Weighs 3,950 lbs.