Cord History Comes Alive May 24 at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum

AUBURN, IN - May 9, 2007: Dr. Paul Bryant, Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club Certification Supervisor and Cord L-29 Historian, will present "The Story of the Coppertone Cord" during a Curatorial Spotlight at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. This free educational program is open to the public Thursday, May 24, at 7 p.m. in Willennar Hall. The Coppertone Cord will be on exhibit during the presentation. FedEx Custom Critical donated transportation of the Coppertone Cord to the museum. As always, the museum galleries will be open during the event.

The Curatorial Spotlight will focus on the development of the Cord 810 and the history of the Coppertone Cord. The Cord, referred to as the Coppertone Cord due to its color, is one of the original hand-built prototype Cords produced by Auburn Automobile Company. The Cord has been restored to show car appearance with copper accents.

The Auburn Automobile Company made plans to exhibit the new Cord 810 at the 1936 auto shows in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Production requirements for cars allowed to be exhibited at the auto shows were established by The Automobile Manufacturing Association. To qualify to exhibit at these shows, at least 100 cars had to be produced.

Auburn built the 100 Cords necessary to meet the minimum production requirements to participate in the shows in 116 days; just in time for the first show in New York. The car was the star of the show. Historians note that people stood on the tops and running boards of other show cars to get a glimpse of the striking new Cord.

The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum exhibits 120 classic, antique, vintage and special interest cars in eight galleries of the restored 1930 art deco national headquarters of the former Auburn Automobile Company. The museum, accredited by the American Association of Museums, is a National Historic Landmark. It is open to visitors seven days a week from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For additional information visit www.acdmuseum.org