1-194-351 - National Motor Museum/Heritage Images

A 1930 Cord L29. The Cord L29 was the first production front wheel drive car made in America. Although EL Cord, owner of the Auburn Automobile Company, predicted that front drive would be adopted by the automobile industry within a few years of the L29's introduction, general production of front wheel drive did not occur for another half a century. Such personalities as actress Mary Pickford, the Marx Brothers and band leader Paul Whiteman bought Cords. Its arrival, unfortunately, coincided with the Depression, and it and all other luxury cars suffered a dramatic downturn in sales.