The JBS Collection’s 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible, originally owned by Amelia Earhart, Shines at the Greenwich Concours
The JBS Collection enjoyed an exceptional weekend at the 2026 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance, as our 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible earned both Best in Class in Pre-War American Classics and Junior Judging honors at one of the nation’s premier automotive events. Hosted by Hagerty at the prestigious Greenwich Concours, the annual celebration brings together some of the world’s finest collector automobiles for a weekend dedicated to automotive design, innovation, preservation, and craftsmanship.
For Jack Boyd Smith Jr. and The JBS Collection team, the recognition represents another remarkable chapter in the ongoing story of one of America’s most important automobiles.
The 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible remains one of the most revolutionary production cars ever built. Designed by legendary stylist Gordon Buehrig, the Cord’s dramatic “coffin nose” design, hidden headlights, streamlined bodywork, and front-wheel-drive engineering were decades ahead of their time. In fact, the 810/812 series was among the first American production automobiles to combine front-wheel drive with independent front suspension and innovative retractable headlights, features that helped cement its place among the most influential automotive designs of the twentieth century.
The JBS Collection’s Cord carries an even more extraordinary story.
Perhaps best known as Amelia Earhart’s personal automobile, the Phaeton Convertible was photographed alongside the pioneering aviator and her Lockheed Electra aircraft shortly before her final flight.
After decades of changing ownership and falling into disrepair, the vehicle was acquired by The JBS Collection and painstakingly restored by LaVine Restorations, returning one of America’s most historically significant automobiles to its former glory.
Turning heads, everywhere
The restoration has already garnered significant national recognition.
Since its completion, the Cord has appeared at some of the world’s most prestigious automotive venues, earned acclaim at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, been inducted into the National Historic Vehicle Register, displayed under glass on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and exhibited at the renowned Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, where visitors from around the world have been able to experience this remarkable piece of automotive and aviation history firsthand.
To add Greenwich Concours honors to the vehicle’s growing list of accomplishments is especially meaningful. The Junior Judging award reflects the vehicle’s ability to inspire the next generation of automotive enthusiasts, while Best in Class recognition acknowledges the extraordinary authenticity, preservation, and presentation of this remarkable automobile.
See more of this historic Cord
We are thrilled that more than eighty years after it first turned heads on American roads, the Cord 812 continues to captivate audiences—proving once again why it remains one of the most beautiful, innovative, and beloved automobiles ever created.
The Cord’s remarkable story has also reached new audiences through its appearance in Season 1, Episode 6 of The Journey, The JBS Collection’s award-winning automotive video series.
The episode highlights the automobile’s groundbreaking design, the Amelia Earhart connection, and the painstaking restoration of the Cord—which serves as a perfect example of what The Journey is all about: preserving automotive history, uncovering forgotten stories, and celebrating the people who ensure these extraordinary machines continue to educate and inspire future generations.
As the Cord continues collecting accolades on concours lawns across America, it also continues fulfilling an equally important mission—bringing history to life for enthusiasts everywhere!