Buy an 810 or 812 on documented Lycoming files and honest Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club paperwork first. Coffin-nose folklore still sells, but a soft pre-selector pack or vague Art Deco leftover claim rewrites the budget fast.
For this November 5, 2026 guide I read Car Collector International: Cord 810 / 812 guide and Hagerty: The Cord Capital. The mechanical cautions below come from those pages; the order of checks and the questions for the seller are my own practical recommendations. Any price figures in those sources are market snapshots, not a valuation of the car in front of you. So, compare it with recent sales of the same specification and condition. I also kept the advice to things you can see, hear or ask for on a viewing day. If a seller rushes you past a cold start or blocks a lift inspection, treat that as a signal and walk away before you spend report money.
Know 810 and 812 families carefully
CCI dates the 810 and 812 about 1936-1937. Pick a documented car before you travel.
Ask about Lycoming V8 and Bendix invoices
CCI wants continuous specialist files. Ask for the last invoice by shop and date.
Confirm supercharged 812 claims carefully
CCI treats supercharged 812 cars as meaningful premiums. Match Cord paperwork before you bid.
Inspect front-drive carefully
Soft gearbox or axle repairs rewrite the budget. Photograph undertrays.
Keep a dated note of the cold start
Write idle quality, pre-selector behaviour and any overheating. Our cold-start test guide helps you brief that first start.
Prefer continuous ACD Club files
CCI puts books and specialist invoices high on the list. Photos beat handshake stories.
Confirm 810 and 812 identity carefully
CCI dates the 810 and 812 about 1936-1937. Match Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club paperwork before any coffin-nose leftover claim.
Ask about Lycoming V8 and Bendix invoices
CCI wants continuous specialist files. Ask for the last invoice by shop and date.
Inspect front-drive and pre-selector carefully
Soft gearbox or axle repairs rewrite the budget. Photograph seams before the bay is cleaned.
Keep a dated note of the cold start
Write idle quality, pre-selector behaviour and any overheating. Honestly, heat-related V8 faults show up late in a short loop.
Photograph tyre date codes and brake wear
Fresh stickers on old rubber still fail a real ownership budget. Write the DOT week and drum condition.
Ask who can still support the car locally
Confirm an ACD Club specialist booking window before you send a deposit.
Budget for hidden-headlamp and cooling work
Period Cord electrics and cooling still need shops that know the car. Ask for a written estimate range before you lock a price.
Prove the identity before a deposit
Match the chassis number on the Cord 810 and 812 to the title, any import papers and the plate on the car before you order a history report. Our VIN verification guide walks through that match, and imported-car report coverage sets expectations for cars that spent years overseas. Older chassis numbers may sit outside modern report databases, so confirm coverage before paying. NMVTIS covers U.S. title history only; it cannot replace foreign records or a physical inspection.
Get the repair scope in writing first
If the Lycoming or Bendix story looks soft, get an ACD Club specialist written estimate before you go further. Look, a seller PDF or a folder of photos is a starting document, not independent proof of condition. Ask the inspector for written findings with local estimates, split into safety work and cosmetic wishes. The NYC consumer-agency used-car guidance tells buyers to have an independent mechanic check the car, and our pre-purchase inspection checklist helps you set the scope. Keep a dated note of the drive, the temperatures and any noises, because a seller who disputes your findings later will ask what you saw and when. Keep copies of texts and emails with the seller in the same folder as the PPI write-up so the timeline stays clear.
We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck or Experian. Guest reports have been about $5.50, member reports about $4.50 and a two-report bundle about $6.75; confirm the price at checkout because it can change. A report can miss unreported work, so keep the inspection appointment even when the history looks quiet.
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