Chassis Number: 5542
The Cunningham car of the early 1950s was the product of revered sportsman Briggs Cunningham’s determination to win the 24-hour race at Le Mans with an American-built automobile. Cunningham had attempted the feat with production-based Cadillacs, but finding them not sufficient to the task, endeavored to build his own car, backed by his not-inconsiderable fortune and bottomless enthusiasm. His team developed a strong tubular chassis with independent coil-sprung front suspension and tuned Chrysler Hemi V8 power, wrapped in slippery bodywork. It won at Road America and Watkins Glen in 1951.
Le Mans proved a trickier nut to crack, as the organizers insisted that Cunningham build at least 25 roadgoing examples of the design in order to qualify. In the end, he met the goal and finished 3rd at Le Mans in both 1953 and 1954, still a powerful achievement, to which the surviving Cunningham C-3s stand in testimony.
According to Richard Harman’s authoritative book, Cunningham: The Passion, The Cars, The Legacy, C-3 number 5442, the second-from-last coupe built, was based upon the renumbered, unused chassis originally designated 5213. It was completed in the spring of 1953, likely in metallic gray with gray interior trim, 20-gallon fuel tank and engine number 52810226, still installed today, carrying four Zenith single-barrel carburetors. It was originally delivered in the spring of 1954 to R.L. Parish of New York City. Subsequently, it moved west, and in the early 1960s was repaired following an accident while being driven by a lady in Northern California.
The car was bought in 1964 by Paul Rawn, who sold it a decade later to William Cattell, who began a complete restoration, including reconstruction of the original Vignale bumpers. Following completion, the car was an award-winner at the Silverado Concours in 1976 and remained with Mr. Cattell for several years. Subsequently, the C-3 was owned by David Willison and by Briggs Cunningham’s grandson, Robert B. Cunningham. In 2001 it was sold by Mr. Cunningham to enthusiast Peter Markowski, from whom Jim Taylor acquired the car in 2003.
Mr. Taylor immediately embarked upon a complete restoration, eventually completed in this striking combination of gray hues, borrowed from the 2007 Pebble Beach Concours Best of Show-winning Horch 853 Special Roadster. Following completion of the work, the car won multiple awards over many years on the tour circuit.
Because of their bespoke nature and wonderful heritage, every Cunningham C-3 is a significant automobile. Few, however, stand as prominently as this one, bearing an exceptional, cost-no-object restoration, in spectacular colors, and with an extremely authentic presentation that has won awards across the country. It is truly one of the very finest of its kind and a proven victor — something that Briggs Cunningham, the passionate competitor, would certainly appreciate. There is likely no finer example available.
