Legendary Pre-War American Sporting Cars Head to Amelia Island

Premier models from Cord, Cadillac and Stutz join Bonhams' March auction.

 

“It was a Cord, one of the few American cars with personality, and it cheered (James) Bond to climb into the low-hung saloon and to hear the solid bite of the gears and the masculine tone of the wide exhaust,” wrote Ian Fleming in Live and Let Die.Clearly, the author of the world’s foremost secret agent had an appreciation for these splendid American cars. 
 

At Amelia Island in March, Bonhams will have the pleasure of offering a 1929 Cord L29 Convertible Sedan, together with two other sporting standouts from pre-war America – a 1930 Cadillac 452 V16 Roadster, and the predecessor of them all, a 1913 Stutz Model A Bearcat.

 

The Cord L29 Convertible is rightly considered a hallmark model of the marque. The legendary racecar engineer Harry Miller was consulted in the design of the then revolutionary front-wheel drivetrain, and Cord automobiles, true to their origins, became prized for their performance capabilities, not to mention their rakish looks. Better still, the example to be offered comes from a well-known collection and is a CCCA-certified Classic.

 

Cadillac, the dominant player in American luxury cars, revealed the impressive 16-cylinder 452 in 1930. It was a masterpiece of a car and was meant to compete with and exceed the standards of the best automobiles in the world. And it did exactly that. However, at about ten times the cost of a similar Chevrolet, the model was a difficult sell during the Great Depression and, as a result, few were produced. The roadster heading to Amelia Island is not only wonderfully majestic but it’s also incredibly genuine, has been well documented from new, retains its original coachwork, chassis and driveline, and was a Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance entrant. It’s simply extraordinary.

 

Few early cars have more name recognition and wow factor that the Stutz Bearcat. Synonymous with speed, sport and performance, Stutz created what is arguably the first American production sportscar. And this excellent Model A Bearcat that will cross the auction block was restored by renowned Stutz expert Paul Freehill and, and ever, is ready for the road.

 

This trio is just a small selection of the exceptional automobiles consigned to Bonhams’ fifth annual Amelia Island Auction. Don’t forget, too, the Boulton Collection of two dozen Brass Era motorcars, widely considered one of the best collections of its kind in the world. 

 

Hosted on the Thursday preceding the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, Bonhams’ sale is a highlight on the international collector car calendar. Easily accessible and with ample parking, it’s a must attend event for connoisseurs and enthusiasts. For more information about this March 7th event, visit Bonhams.com/Amelia.