What if....

One thought that has crossed my mind (from the beginning) is that ALL Cord parts are notoriously "one of a kind".

It would be refreshing to see "Off the Shelf" availability enter the picture in many places...

Such as "RADIATORS" (he says, gloomily)

If someone was foolish enough to try building one of these beasts, at least three have gambled and lost, it would have to be at least 30 years ahead of it's time so it would have to be 100% plastic and run on hydrogen.

It would have to have AC, gps and cell phone and heated seats and a vegtable chopper.

Harley has made a comeback, but the vintage bikes just have better craftsmanship. The old Cord will never be surpassed as it was almost perfect, who needs electronic ignition?

When you own "RETRO" you will always say " But it aint' an original" excuse. Never relish the commonplace.

yours very truly, balin'

I've thought about this a bit, enough I think to define the question a little better maybe...

The first considerations might be: What were the premises that Errett [u:3w3ou6gx]Lobban[/u:3w3ou6gx] had in mind built the Cord line with in the first place?

1) Aesthetics/Style. It should look good.

2) Advanced powertrain.

3) Aerodynamics - that the body (including the underside) should be very efficient.

4) COMFORT! It has one of the nicest interiors ever made

5) Ease of operation. The shift mechanism is an example...

6) A full guage complement.

7) The latest passenger goodies. I imagine radios were somewhat rare when the Cord arrived...

Today we also have fuel issues to consider, safety devices, and navigational means that have never before been so easy to use.

So then, if a Cord were built today it [i:3w3ou6gx]might[/i:3w3ou6gx] be purpose built to a retro look, but I would think it might be yet another leap forward in design.

And that is the thing that buzzes around in my head constantly whenever I look at one of the originals. Given the technology of today - Hmm....

Dutch Jacobs wrote: How would Errett Loban have approached the subject?

Interesting question .... I will see what my genes come up with ... FYI, small detail: It's Errett Lobban. 2 b's

The sixties saw a lot of radical things happening, least of all the national drug abuse problem. There were plans for a new kind of oven for sale in the classified sections of Popular Mechanics magazine, which used "RADAR Energy" (microwave!) to cook with. Oddly - it didn't catch on until some twenty years afterward.

In the late sixties, a smaller version of the CORD was available with a fiberglass body. But again - it never caught on.

Volkswagen owners began using fiberglass to build Dune Buggies out of stock Beatles, and various front ends became available as kits to change your basic "Peoples Car" into a pseudo-ROLLS, or a "WANNABEE WILLIES" coupe. You could even transform a Vee Dubb into something like a luxury version of the famed MG touring car (see "Gazelle" in your favorite search engine).

But nothing like the Cord was out there in kit form...

In more recent history there has been vast interest displayed in motorcycles, and while Harley Davidson Motor Cycles have been experiencing a huge comeback, another company thought to be gone forever has returned with wonderful success! INDIAN motorcycles is not only back in production but has dealerships nationwide.

And the Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth conglomerate has (among other manufacturers) enjoyed quite a bit of success with several 'retro' styled machines such as the "Prowler" and so on...

All of which to my peculiar way of thinking fairly begs the question:
Suppose in these modern times the Auburn Automobile Company were to return to production with a product that responded to the energy crisis scenario of today? What would such motorcars look like?

Can you imagine a fat fendered hybrid fuel machine with fold away lights to enhance efficiency? How would Errett Loban have approached the subject? Can solar panels be made that actually enhance an automobiles appearance?

Etcetera, etcetera...

Ladies and gentlemen, I declare the floor open for commentary!