For those who have ever been to the ACD Museum in Auburn, IN, here is an interesting factoid from automotive design history. The coffin-nose Cord was produced in 1936 and 37, named the 810 and 812.
Just before that on the other side of the pond, Alfa Romeo had a large racing success at the "Targa Abruzzo – 24 Ore di Pescara", the 24 hr race at Pescara, Italy, in 1934. Their new 6C 2300, designed by their famous engineer Vittorio Jano, came in 1-2-3. In honor of that victory, Alfa made a series (reportedly 60) of tuned-up 6C 2300s for the road. As was customary in those days, Carrozzeria Castagna, Milan, Italy, bodied one or two of these GT road cars... in a slightly derivative manner! The Castagna came out for the 1937 Milan Auto Show. Another source says the 1936 Milan show, which seems a bit early to have seen a Cord and reinterpreted it?
During the recent Chicago Shenanigans Tour of the Museum, the lunch speaker said that their international sales manager had great success - so i wonder if a 1936 Cord 810 ended up around Milan shortly after it was produced in Indiana? By 1931, the company had "100 international dealers and distributors in 93 different countries around the world."
The cream colored 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Pescara Castagna was recently acquired from eBay US of all places. (Thank you for the lead, Randy R!) Made 30-40 years ago in resin by Future of Italy. No other information is known about this Future company. (I guess their future was not too rosy!)
The orange unit is by Dugu, also Italy, but diecast from the 1960s. Marked a 1937 Cord on the detailed baseplate.
The Castagna is sadly no more so we can't get any measurements off it it - to determine if it was similarly sized to the Cord. But here are some actual Cord 810 or 812 convertibles I have seen over the years...
Fascinating information here. It's no surprise that a radically new and beautiful design would interest some across the pond. On the other hand, it IS surprising. As an aside, do you know the provenance of the black Cord with prominent exterior headlights?
@karl Yes the Cord was specially built for Albert Champion founder and President of Champion Spark Plug Company. A model of the car in 1/43 scale is in my collection.
Great info and excellent pictures ! It is a fascinating story involving some really stylish automobiles and very cool replicas. It's is astonishing how influence and developments happen.
For those who have ever been to the ACD Museum in Auburn, IN, here is an interesting factoid from automotive design history. The coffin-nose Cord was produced in 1936 and 37, named the 810 and 812.
Just before that on the other side of the pond, Alfa Romeo had a large racing success at the "Targa Abruzzo – 24 Ore di Pescara", the 24 hr race at Pescara, Italy, in 1934. Their new 6C 2300, designed by their famous engineer Vittorio Jano, came in 1-2-3. In honor of that victory, Alfa made a series (reportedly 60) of tuned-up 6C 2300s for the road. As was customary in those days, Carrozzeria Castagna, Milan, Italy, bodied one or two of these GT road cars... in a slightly derivative manner! The Castagna came out for the 1937 Milan Auto Show. Another source says the 1936 Milan show, which seems a bit early to have seen a Cord and reinterpreted it?
During the recent Chicago Shenanigans Tour of the Museum, the lunch speaker said that their international sales manager had great success - so i wonder if a 1936 Cord 810 ended up around Milan shortly after it was produced in Indiana? By 1931, the company had "100 international dealers and distributors in 93 different countries around the world."
The cream colored 1937 Alfa Romeo 6C2300 Pescara Castagna was recently acquired from eBay US of all places. (Thank you for the lead, Randy R!) Made 30-40 years ago in resin by Future of Italy. No other information is known about this Future company. (I guess their future was not too rosy!)
The orange unit is by Dugu, also Italy, but diecast from the 1960s. Marked a 1937 Cord on the detailed baseplate.
The Castagna is sadly no more so we can't get any measurements off it it - to determine if it was similarly sized to the Cord. But here are some actual Cord 810 or 812 convertibles I have seen over the years...
I have the production figures and serial numbers from the factory and none seem to have ever been exported to Italy. Most went to Canada, England, South Africa and India.
The Cord sedan body got a new life later as the Hupmobile but there were no Hupmobile convertibles as I recall. There was also a Graham Hollywood, both got different hoods and grills from the Cord. The Hupmobile is Brooklin, the Cord a Mikeansue built kit.
