The Cord L-29 America's First Front Wheel Drive Car 

The Cord L-29 produced from 1929 to 1932 was America's first front wheel drive car offered for sale to the public. Designed by former Miller engineer Carl Van Ranst the L-29 utilized the same de Dion layout and inboard brakes which allowed to be a lot lower than competing cars. Interesting bit of information, due to the front wheel feature the L-29 Cord was a much lower and sleeker than most cars produced today. The L-29 had full instrumentation that featured, a speedometer on the left with a gas gauge, temperature gauge, oil level gauge, oil pressure gauge and on the right side of the steering wheel was a Ammeter.

The L-29 had an Auburn 301 ci L-head Lycoming inline 8 cylinder 125 hp engine with a 3 speed transmission, sadly the gearing in both the front axle and the transmission were inadequate. The heavy 4,700 car was slow with limited speeds just over 80 mph. The body of the car was a beautiful site to see. The L-29 was priced at about $3,000.00 (US) and was competitive with Lincoln, Marmon, Stutz, Franklin and Packard. Unfortunate timing with the great depression there were only 4,400 sold. The production of Cord's L-29 was stopped in 1932.

In 2015 a L-29 sold at RM Auctions for  $158,750.