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Home » Amelia Earhart 1937 Cord Added to National Historic Vehicle Register

Amelia Earhart 1937 Cord Added to National Historic Vehicle Register

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Amelia Earhart’s 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton is being added to a select group of vehicles on the National Historic Vehicle Register.

historic photo of Amelia Earhart photographed with her plane and car_ecoxplorer
Photo: Hagerty Driver Foundation

The pioneering aviator’s vehicle is only the 33rd vintage vehicle to be inducted into the only federally recognized program to document the historical and cultural significance of the automobile.

That compares with more than 2,500 buildings and statues on the National Historic Landmarks program, from the Statue of Liberty in NYC to Alcatraz in San Francisco.

But I digress.

Earhart purchased the Cord less than a year before she, navigator Fred Noonan and her Lockheed 10E Electra disappeared over the South Pacific in 1937 during an attempt to be the first woman to fly around the world.

Just five years earlier, in 1932,  Earhart made history as the first woman pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic.

She was as passionate about driving as she was about flying.

steering wheel and dashboard of Amelia Earhart's 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton_evelynkanter
Photo: JBS Collection

In September 1936, Earhart was famously photographed standing with the Cord and the airplane she would ultimately take on her final flight.

Her affection for the car is said to be due in part to its aerodynamic styling and dashboard with controls similar to an airplane.

Earhart’s car will be on public display inside a special case erected in September 2023 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., during the annual “Cars at the Capital” celebration sponsored by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation.  Hagerty is the leading insurer of classic and vintage vehicles.

The free event will feature both vehicles added to the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2023 plus activities for all ages.

In honor of Women’s History Month and Earhart’s passionate advocacy of women’s rights, the announcement of the Cord’s enshrinement was made by Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty at The Amelia, an annual event in Florida celebrating cars and automotive heritage.

The Cord’s current owner, The JBS Collection, represented by Laura and Jack Boyd Smith, Jr., were on hand, accompanied by the car’s restorers from LaVine Restorations, Inc.

In September 1936, Earhart was famously photographed standing with the Cord and the airplane she would ultimately take on her final flight.

close-up of front end of Amelia Earhart 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton_ecoxplorer
Photo: JBS Collection

History of Amelia Earhart 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton

Cord was a brand of American luxury automobiles manufactured by the Auburn Automobile Company of Connersville, Indiana, near Indianapolis, from 1929 to 1932 and again in 1936 and 1937.  Another manufacturer nearby was Studebaker.  

The Indianapolis Raceway was built so early auto manufacturers could test drive their vehicles safely.

But I digress – again.

Earhart’s  husband, George Putnam, sold the Cord shortly after Earhart’s disappearance and the Phaeton passed through a number of owners throughout the decades.

It was eventually disassembled and split up across the country.

In 2004, after decades of research, travel and acquiring the original components, the car’s body, frame and engine were finally reunited by collector Ray Foster, who sold it to its current owner, The JBS Collection.

In 2018, The JBS Collection commissioned noted marque experts LaVine Restorations, Inc. to return the car to its original specifications with a restoration that has captured numerous awards.

Amelia Earhart's 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton with driver side door open_ecoxplorer
Photo: JBS Collection

Read more about the history – and technical specs of Amelia Earhart’s 1937 Cord on the Hagerty website.

“Highlighting the story of Amelia Earhart and her passion for the automobile is a unique glimpse into the varied and widespread love of cars that has captivated our society since the turn of the 20th century. We are thrilled to honor this American hero and advocate for women’s rights during Women’s History Month. It is one more example of the way America’s automotive history is woven into the diverse past of our nation,” said Casey Maxon of the Hagerty Drivers Foundation.

About Hagerty Drivers Foundation

The Hagerty Drivers Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit launched in 2021 by Hagerty.

With the purpose of shaping the future of car culture while celebrating our automotive past, the Hagerty Drivers Foundation provides scholarships for students in the automotive field of education, as well as students seeking formal driver education training.

In addition, the Foundation continues to build a federally recognized program – the National Historic Vehicle Register – that documents and records the important history of our automotive past.

For more information, please visit https://driversfoundation.org/.


ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter rides an Indy 500 car
ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter at the Indy 500

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and author of guidebooks and smartphone apps – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA) and is a former Board Member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW)

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

Copyright (C) Evelyn Kanter

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Filed Under: Free, Historic Travel, Travel Pioneers, Travel Technology Tagged With: Amelia Earhart, Hagerty Drivers Foundation, Indianapolis 500

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ecoXplorer is your guide to smart spending and eco-friendly living

Evelyn Kanter is a journalist with 20+ years of experience as a newspaper and magazine writer, radio & TV news producer & reporter, and guidebook and smartphone app author – all focusing on travel, automotive, the environment and your rights as a consumer.

Evelyn Kanter currently serves as President of the International Motor Press Assn. (IMPA), and is a past Board Member of a prestigious professional group for travel journalists.

Contact me at evelyn@ecoxplorer.com.

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