Jim Motavalli

Consider the fate of the Cord 810/812. Here was a truly revolutionary Art Deco design by Gordon Buehrig, offering Depression-era America something very different—and ultra-cool. The Cord 810 boasted disappearing headlights, front-wheel drive, independent front suspension and streamlined styling with no running boards. It was a bargain, too. The 1937 Cord Westchester was like a visitor from another planet, and it didn’t sell at all. (Hugh Llewelyn/Wikipedia)Although the press loved it, and 1,000 cars per month was bravely projected, in fact Auburn-Cord sold only 1,174 in the first year. Frankly, the car laid an egg, and the company was forced to claim that unsold 1936 models were actually 1937s. There was no 1938 model—the company was liquidated. The 1934 Chrysler Airflow, lovely though it is–and aerodynamic–was a sales disaster.