Cord L-29 Brougham
The L-29 pulled from the front wheels, letting its designers build a long, low luxury car unlike the tall machines around it.
1929 Cord L-29 at the Tupelo Automobile Museum · CapCase · CC BY 2.0
More than a set of wheels.
Cord began regular L-29 production in the summer of 1929. The museum Brougham used for this profile was built in July, the first full production month, before many running changes. Its front-wheel-drive layout was a U.S. production-car first, but a $3,095 price and the approaching Depression made it a rare achievement rather than a mass-market revolution.
Look a little closer.
Its bonnet looked impossibly long partly because the gearbox and differential sat ahead of the engine—not because a giant engine filled every inch.
Photos show an example of the model or generation. The pictured vehicle’s year, equipment, or modifications can differ from the specification described here.
Front drive changed the silhouette
Cornelius Van Ranst and racing engineer Harry Miller helped translate front-drive competition ideas into a road car. Removing a rear propeller shaft and axle hump gave stylist Alan Leamy the proportions for a low roof, flat floor and dramatic bonnet.
Source: Louwman Museum · Cord L-29 Cabriolet ↗This is an early Brougham, not a generic L-29
Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum identifies its Brougham as a July 1929 car from the first full month. Later L-29s received changes such as different wheel spokes and a relocated battery, so this page keeps the museum car's initial-production identity visible.
Source: Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum · 1929 L-29 Brougham ↗Where these facts come from
Selected facts checked for this edition. Some source pages link to broader model families. Last reviewed September 30, 2026.