July 20, 1894
Errett Lobban Cord, industrialist and trend-setting automobile manufacturer, was born in the city of Warrensburg, Missouri. Cord, knowing a profitable thing when he saw it, immersed himself in the ever-burgeoning world of automobile development and did much to help that mode of transportation come of age.
The Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles that he manufactured were widely sought after, and he became a strong advocate of front-wheel drive vehicles. His 1929 Cord L-29 Sedan, as a matter of fact, was the first front-drive production automobile to be built in the United States.
It is safe to say, however, that Cord’s interest and investments in transportation went way beyond just automobiles. His financial holdings, for example, also included the Stinson Aircraft Company, a New York shipyard, and at least one railroad.
Cord died in 1974 at the age of 79 in Reno, Nevada. Two years later, he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame.
Photo Credit: Public Domain
For more information on Errett Lobban Cord, please check out https://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/errett-l-cord/
Transportation History 