The Tom Mix Cord: Saga of a Western Film Star’s Classic Motorcar

Description

Authored by successful business man, historian, and car collector Bob M. White, The Tom Mix Cord: Saga of a Western Film Star’s Classic Motorcar tells the story of this classic car from personalized to wreckage to restoration. Well documented at every stage, this title offers a look at Tom Mix’s unique history in the film industry, circus, and his love affair with a 1937 Cord that has won numerous awards.

Tom Mix was the highest paid actor in Hollywood in the teens and 1920’s silent film era, being featured in over 336 films and being dubbed as the “King of Cowboys” until his untimely death in this very 1937 Cord. While Mix owned the Cord, he personalized it to make it a true show piece, even having an award named after it, The Tom Mix Award for the Best Cord, at the West Coast Auburn Cord Duesenberg show. The car has won the award twice, along with being on the cover of Antique Automobile Car Club of America’s magazine.

If you are a car buff or know one, this title is one not to miss. This book includes the ownership history of the car (with some surprises), the additions made to the car by Mix, a history of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Company, a history of Tom Mix’s other endeavors such as owning a circus featuring Wild West Shows, and a detail of the restoration of the Cord to its current show quality state. Order your copy today!
About the Author:

Bob M. White was the CEO of Garvey/White International and a very successful business man. He can be described as a “Serial Entrepreneur” having started up many companies and heading multiple acquisitions. He has received awards including the Chicago Entrepreneur of the year for his business dealings and the Distinguished Citizen Award form the Boy Scouts of America for his community service.

Here is a short review of Bob White’s new book The Tom Mix Cord by M.G. “Bud” Norris for Western Clippings magazine.
“There are literally thousands of books about various types of motor vehicles, covering virtually every make and model, domestic and foreign. Being a life-long auto enthusiast, I have read a lot of them, but don’t recall one volume devoted to just one example. Until now.

Bob White has written the life history of a single car, a 1937 supercharged Cord Phaeton convertible.
What differentiates this auto from others is not only the few that were made, but because it was owned by western cowboy star Tom Mix. And as film fans know, Tom was killed in the car on October 12, 1940.

The fact that the car exists today is somewhat of a miracle. When you read this book, you will be amazed at all the events which happened and how the car survived the scrap heap at times, and the abuse it underwent.

The Cord had several owners, a few of which performed partial restorations, none of which was entirely completed, and changes made which detracted from the appearance and performance.
A good bit of history about Tom Mix other than the car ownership is included, and the book is full of dozens of black and white and color photos, many of which have never been published before.
I myself was mentally exhausted, reading of the problems which Bob White faced after purchasing the Cord at auction in 2010.

At last, an owner who was determined to completely and accurately restore the car from the ground up, whatever the cost and labor involved. The end result is one of the finest classic car restorations ever done. And I mean, exhaustively. This is no kit car, no replica, no clone classic, but the full re-build of the original body, chassis, and engine.
Since completion, the Cord has won at the most prestigious auto shows across the United States. In fact, it has never lost an award.

If you love cars and are a fan of Tom Mix, you will be doubly rewarded in reading this book. I recommend it without reservation.”

~ Bud Norris