Errett Lobban (E.L.) Cord

In 1924, E.L. Cord was recruited to manage the struggling Auburn Automobile Company on the condition that he could secure a controlling interest if he succeeded. He quickly assembled young, talented engineers and designers who introduced powerful eight-cylinder engines, colorful paint schemes, and elegant body styles to the Auburn line, and sales grew exponentially. Auburn automobiles thereafter became known for their performance and fashionable design. In 1926, Cord assumed control of Auburn and also purchased the Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company. Born in 1894 in Warrensburg, Missouri, Cord built, drove, and sold racecars in his teens. He was working as a car salesman in Chicago when investors noticed him and hired him to come to Auburn as general manager. In 1929, he created a transportation empire by founding the Cord Corporation, a holding company. He eventually owned 60 companies, including Lycoming Manufacturing, Columbia Axle, Checker Cab, Stinson Aircraft, American Airways, New York Shipbuilding, Limousine Body, and Central Manufacturing. He later moved to Beverly Hills, California, and also lived on a ranch in Nevada, where he served as a state senator. He died in 1974 in Reno, Nevada.

Auburn, Indiana · United States