Tom Mix's restored 1937 Cord to appear at Arizona concours

(December 10, 2013) Hemmings Daily Blog reports that the 1937 Cord 812 supercharged Phaeton purchased new by famous cowboy movie star Tom Mix will be on display at the Arizona Concours d'Elegance on Sunday, Jan. 12, at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix.

Mix actually died behind the wheel of the Cord on Oct. 12, 1940, when he hit a washed-out bridge at excessive speed. An unsecured metal suitcase struck Mix in the head, fracturing his skull and breaking his neck.

Equipped with a forced-induction 288.6-cubic-inch Lycoming V-8 engine rated at 170 horsepower, the front-wheel-drive Cord also utilized a four-speed pre-selector gearbox. As delivered, Mix’s car was one of three Cord 812 phaeton models to include a factory-installed rear tire mount, with the other two going to Al Jolson and Barbara Stanwyck.

The Cord has been restored to its original condition by Bob White of Scottsdale, Ariz., who acquired the car in 2010. White has completely restored the Cord including repairing some of the damage caused in the 1940 accident that had not been repaired in previous restorations.

The Cord since 2011 has taken awards at the Glenmoor Gathering, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, Keels and Wheels, the Elegance at Hershey, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance and the Santa Fe Concurs.

Other cars to be featured at the event include a 1958 Lister-Jaguar, campaigned by Walt Hansgen; a 1907 Renault AI 35-45, originally ordered by William K. Vanderbilt; a 1924 Hispano-Suiza H6, rebodied by Swiss coach builder Hermann Graber; and a 1937 Maserati 6CM grand prix car, one of 27 constructed for the automaker’s factory racing efforts. In all, 80 cars are expected to participate in 15 classes.

Sources: Hemmings Blog, Arizona Concours d'Elegance