The restored 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton once owned by Amelia Earhart takes center stage in The Journey’s season finale.
As renewed attention surrounds the mystery of Amelia Earhart’s disappearance and an upcoming expedition to locate her missing Lockheed 10-E Electra, another piece of the aviator’s remarkable story has been found—not in the sky, but on the ground. The 1937 Cord 812 Phaeton Convertible once owned by Earhart is now fully restored and featured in the Season One finale of The Journey, produced by The JBS Collection in collaboration with LaVine Restorations and Eyedart Creative Studio.
The episode recounts how collector Jack Boyd Smith Jr. and restoration expert Travis LaVine brought the long-lost Cord back to life after decades of obscurity. Designed by Gordon M. Buehrig, the elegant convertible was famously photographed in 1936 alongside Earhart and her airplane. Following her disappearance in 1937, the car was sold by her husband, George Putnam, and later disassembled for parts.
The Cord’s survival hinged on one man’s persistence. Texas collector Ray Foster spent years tracing and reuniting the car’s original components—a remarkable effort that ultimately preserved an irreplaceable piece of American history. In 2018, Smith purchased the vehicle from Foster and enlisted LaVine Restorations to return it to its precise 1930s condition.
Since its restoration, the Cord has earned top honors, including induction into the National Historic Vehicle Register in 2023. It has been displayed on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., at the Royal Automobile Club in London, and at The Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.
“The story of this Cord is winding and remarkable,” Smith said. “It’s not just about the restoration—it’s about fate, passion, and preserving history.”
Through The Journey, Smith aims to share that passion with fellow enthusiasts, chronicling rare automotive restorations and the human stories behind them.
