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Equipment
Radio, no heater, hubcaps, wide whitewalls, Richardson axle (Toronado) joints, 12 volt electrics, electric fuel pump, power headlights.
Condition
A-C-D Category 1 certified original chassis and body. Replacement engine. Owned for 27 years by Lee Richardson who developed many solutions to the Cord 810/812's problems. Very good older repaint with some edge chips and minor flaws. Very good lightly surface creased upholstery and interior trim. The chrome is excellent except for blisters in the right windshield post. Chassis has been restored then driven and is lightly dirty. Overspray in the door window pockets. Touched up chip on the right front fender.
Market commentary
E.L. Cord didn't waste a lot of time testing his companies' cars, leaving that up to the owners who soon discovered a few rather essential things (like the front wheel drive universals and electrical shift mechanism) were prone to frequent failure. Subsequent owners addressed these issues and today, thanks in part to Imagineers like Lee Richardson, are issues of the past. Concours cars retain the old Rzeppa joints and clunky shift linkage. Drivers who appreciate the Cord's style and advanced design resolve them, as is evident on this rare Sportsman. The bidders at Hershey Lodge were drivers and paid well for this milestone, developed and largely perfected 812 Sportsman. The new owner (and the underbidder) had their heads on.