History
Cord L-29
The Cord L-29 pioneered front-wheel drive in American production cars, allowing for a dramatically lower silhouette without a transmission tunnel. Lycoming's straight-eight engine was mounted backwards with power transmitted through a de Dion front axle. The advanced engineering came at a price in reliability and performance, as the heavy car struggled with its front-drive layout. Despite technical issues, the L-29's low, elegant styling influenced automotive design for decades.