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Briggs S. Cunningham, 'The Great American Sportsman,' won races on land and sea. A key goal was to win Le Mans with a car with his name on it. To qualify, he had to build 25 running chassis for road cars at his facility in West Palm Beach, Florida. Each chassis carried an enhanced version of the most powerful American production engine, the Chrysler Hemi V8. Completed chassis were shipped to Italy for custom alloy bodies and interiors by noted Ferrari supplier Vignale of Turin. Of the 25 cars, most were fast-back coupes and the rest were four cabriolets which were expensive at more than $14,000, which was double the price of the next most costly American car and about the same as an exclusive Ferrari or three times the cost of a sporty Jaguar. One of the four cabriolet buyers was nelson Rockefeller, former New York Governor and Vice President of the United States. He loaned his cabriolet to the New York Museum of Modern Art, which labeled it one of the world's most beautiful automobiles.
This Cabriolet was the last to be built and was shipped to Vignale on February 3rd, 1953. The original owner of this car was Irving Robbins of Palo Alto, CA. He showed it at Pebble Beach. It was later featured in Road & Track magazine and the Encyclopedia of American Cars. The next owner was Stu Barnett of Clearwater, Florida, followed by Charles Cawly of Maine. It was also owned for a short time by Briggs's daughter, Lucie Cunningham McKinney until her passing in 2014.
This Cabriolet was the last to be built and was shipped to Vignale on February 3rd, 1953. The original owner of this car was Irving Robbins of Palo Alto, CA. He showed it at Pebble Beach. It was later featured in Road & Track magazine and the Encyclopedia of American Cars. The next owner was Stu Barnett of Clearwater, Florida, followed by Charles Cawly of Maine. It was also owned for a short time by Briggs's daughter, Lucie Cunningham McKinney until her passing in 2014.
2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $900,000-USD $1,200,000
Sale Price :
USD $1,215,000
1953 Cunningham C3 Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Cunningham C3
(Data based on Model Year 1953 sales)
1953 Cunningham C3 Vignale Coupe Chassis#: 5211 Sold for USD$610,000 2023 Broad Arrow : Monterey Jet Center | |
1953 Cunningham C-3 Cabriolet by Vignale Chassis#: 5441 Sold for USD$1,215,000 2022 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1953 Cunningham C-3 Coupe by Vignale Chassis#: 5223 Sold for USD$1,100,000 2017 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1953 Cunningham C3 Coupe by Vignale Chassis#: 5206 Sold for USD$869,000 2015 RM Sotheby's : The Andrews Collection | |
1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Coupe Chassis#: 5211 Sold for USD$341,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Coupe Chassis#: 5226 Sold for USD$539,000 2011 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auctions | |
1953 Cunningham C3 Sold for USD$255,000 2009 Automobiles of Amelia Island | |
1953 Cunningham C3 Competition Continental Coupe Sold for USD$374,000 2006 Monterey Sports & Classic Car Auction |
Cunningham C3s That Failed To Sell At Auction
1953 Cunningham C3's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
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1953 Cunningham C3
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