1969 Samco Cord Royale Roadster

For most hardcore car enthusiasts out there and others less intense in their passion, the name Gordon Buehrig speaks volumes.  The car designer has been one of the major figures of the first decades of last century and, even if history hasn't been kind with most of the models he drew, his legacy still endures, as seen in the car we're now here to talk about.  Buehrig was associated during his long career with products wearing the logos of Duesenberg, Auburn, or Studebaker, but it was at Auburn though where he found his calling, one that materialized in the form of the Cord 810/812.  These insanely beautiful machines were made a long time ago, and they brought with them a number of innovative firsts, including enclosed headlights and the front-wheel-drive with an independent front suspension.  These innovations, along with the beautiful design of the Cord, were not enough to save the company from going under and making a mess of things.  Not even a later attempt by Buehrig to save the Cord nameplate wasn't destined to succeed.  Back in the 1960s, Buehrig, aided by a bunch of others, set up the Sports Automobile Manufacturing Company, or SAMCO, with the goal of taking the Cord and turning it into two distinct models, Warrior and Royale.  Set apart by the different lengths of the wheelbase, both would have been powered by Ford or Chrysler V8s.  Despite the big plans, the Cord failed once more, and we are only left with the cars made by SAMCO from 1968 to 1970. -Thx To Autoevolution.com

The replica business has always been an interesting part of the classic car world as various individuals attempt to morph one car into another.  Offered for consignment, this SAMCO Cord Royale is slightly different, as it is a replica of a Cord that has been built on a custom frame.  With only around 400 of these built by SAMCO, they offer a budget alternative for anyone who loves the look of a classic Cord but doesn't have the six-figure bank account to buy one.  Sporting a powerful big block engine from the Mopar camp, striking Art Deco looks, and a spacious interior along with modern amenities such as air conditioning, power steering and an automatic transmission its easy to see why this is a viable alternative to the real deal.

NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY

Exterior
The Model 810/812 are probably the best-known of the Cord products and while this isn't an original, it has all the looks, charm and styling of one.  The car's design is known for its flat front nose with a horizontal louvered grille design with fog lamps installed below instead of the common radiator-style grille, that made its nose resemble a coffin, earning it the nickname of "Coffin Nose" and this writer can spot that look instantly.  This combined with a change from hidden lamps to headlights mounted within the pontoon like front fenders and long flat area beneath the nose and fenders, it is a very unusual design but nonetheless striking.  A split windscreen which is swept rearward grows from the cowling and on the sides of the hood cowling we see faux exhaust vent pipes, reminiscent of the Cords of yore.   The rear fenders, also pontoon inspired, meet up with the downward sloping trunk deck and end up on top of the rear bumper.  A chrome luggage rack with tan canvas covered spare tire graces the swooping rear lines flanked to the sides by stand-off tail lights and a tarnished and rusted bumper below.  14-inch chromed steel wheels with a peppering of surface rust are rolled and wrapped with deeply treaded blackwall tires.  The condition of the exterior surfaces is rough with blistering of the pale yellow paint on nearly every panel, but thankfully due to the fiberglass body construction rust isn't a concern at all.  We note the bows for the manually actuated convertible top are included, but not top material is installed.

Interior
Swinging open the doors allows us a view of the inside panels and carpeted thresholds.  Saddle vinyl covers the panels and mixes a smooth and tuck and roll pattern for some visual eye candy.  The doors are suicide doors with the latch in the front of the door, and these doors have hidden hinges something that is a carryover of the original Cord cars.  Shiny door actuators along with a painted taupe frame gives an expensive look.   Inside, like new yellow tinted beige leather covers the low back bomber style buckets with nice tuck and roll inserts and smooth bolsters.  In the back is an expansive bench seat with a new lower cushion and wrap around upper.  Brown deep pile carpet with light soiling and overall wear floods the floors and covers the central hump.  A consolette with a nice wood applique inlay surrounds the chrome T-handle shifter as well as the ashtray and chrome power window toggles.  This meets up with a padded lower panel with chrome heater and AC slides that flows up to meet up with the flat faced undulating mustard brown padded dash.  A central chrome trimmed and wood applique backed central instrument cluster pattern panel to house the black face round Jaeger instruments, chrome knobs and pulls.  An AM/FM/8 Track radio hovers in this area with the output vents for the heat and AC just below.

Drivetrain
Under the “Coffin Hood” is the correct 440ci Magnum Chrysler V8 churning out a whopping 350hp.  It has a single Holley 4-barrel carburetor under a beehive Edelbrock air cleaner and an A727 3-speed automatic transmission bolted to the back.  The rear axle is a hefty Mopar 8 3/4" unit. This engine presents in good condition and appears to be an earlier restoration with nice orange paint and gold Moroso valve covers.

Undercarriage
Plenty of road dirt, some earlier rustproofing which is wearing off and surface rust are noted underneath.  A square tube frame supports the fiberglass flooring and shows with surface rust as well.  Power drum brakes are on for the front and rear along with leaf spring suspension at both ends.  Dual exhaust with glasspack mufflers is on for the exhale and maintains the surface rusted theme.

Drive-Ability
She started right up and off to the test track I went.  This car is interesting to drive, and frankly I felt like a million bucks behind the wheel.  Once settled into a warmed up idle the engine did exhibit a bit of a rough idle, this is most likely due to old fuel, and my sense of smell backed this assumption up rightly.  On the test track things were a different story with smooth shifting, blisteringly fast acceleration and solid bias free braking.  Aside from the earlier mentioned stale fuel in the tank, I noted the AC blew warm and the power windows, while working, were a bit sluggish.  

A very interesting car of which not too many were sold, 400 to be exact.  Plenty of stars of the Art Deco era had a Cord, mostly the ones that had the side pipes emanating from the side hood cowl just like this example.  Some TLC on the body and paint, and a few mechanical brush ups and you're in business, moving picture star style!

NO TITLE-SOLD ON A BILL OF SALE ONLY

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.