10 Of The Fastest Pre-War Cars, Ranked

E.L. Cord established an American auto company holding Auburn and Duesenberg in its portfolio of vehicles. Although he already had two exclusive marques under his control, Cord chose to add one bearing his name and introduced a highly innovative model in 1929 called the Cord L-29, which, as most may recall, was not the most fortuitous time in American history for big business. Despite launching a car just before the start of the Great Depression, Cord survived, at least, for a time.

The L-29 introduced Americans to front-wheel-drive, and that continued into later models, including the 812. Additionally, the 810 introduced the world to one of the most loved car features ever, the pop-up headlight. Innovation was a hallmark of the Cord 810/812 and the forward-thinking elements include the wrap-around front grille, rear-hinged hood, variable speed wipers, hidden door hinges, and a concealed fuel filler cap. Problems with brakes overheating led engineers to drill a series of holes in the wheel, which solved the issue and inadvertently created wheels with a striking appearance. Inside the car, drivers were greeted by a dashboard that looked more like that of an airplane, with full instrumentation complemented by a radio, a feature not standard in cars for many years after.

Also, the Cord was placed below the Duesenberg in price, but it was still a very expensive car. For the money spent on one, the 170 hp supercharged V8 propelled an 812S to a top speed of 102.3 mph, making it one of the fastest cars produced in its day.