1931 Cord L-29 Cabriolet (more photos 👇)
Most grand classics of the Depression period followed conventional rear-drive layouts with tall proportions dictated by lengthy driveshafts. The L-29 took a radically different approach, employing a front-wheel-drive system inspired by Harry Miller’s pioneering Indianapolis race cars.
This innovative drivetrain eliminated the need for a driveshaft tunnel, allowing designer Alan Leamy to create remarkably low, rakish coachwork without sacrificing interior space or passenger comfort. The result was distinctive proportions unmatched by contemporary luxury automobiles.
Power came from a 298-cubic-inch Lycoming L-head inline-eight engine mounted behind the front axle, driving the front wheels through a three-speed manual transmission.
The unconventional mechanical layout required significant engineering development and ultimately limited outright performance due to the car’s substantial 4,700-pound curb weight, but it delivered the visual drama that helped define Cord’s identity during its brief production run from 1929 to 1932.
The Cabriolet body style showcased the chassis’s low-slung profile to particular advantage, with flowing lines and elegant details that exemplified early 1930s American coachwork at its finest.
Source
