1928 Cunningham Series V-6

In 1882 the James Cunningham, Son & Company was incorporated. In 1886, the founding father passed away, leaving the son Joseph in charge. In the years that followed, the company built a solid reputation for producing vis-a-vis, cutters, berlins, victorias, tally-hos, and dogcarts. When automobiles grew in popularity, Cunningham transitioned from carriages to horseless vehicles. Though they had produced automobiles as early as the late 1890s, they entered the automobile production market in 1907. Their early cars were powered by Buffalo and Continental gasoline engines. The cars were elegant and expensive, with coachwork tailored to customers' desires. By 1911, they began offering cataloged production models. Power was from a Cunningham-built four-cylinder engine offering 40 horsepower. In 1916, horsepower rose even further when the company introduced a V-8 that displaced 442 cubic inches.

Along with potent powerplants, the Cunninghams had stunning coachwork and elegant designs. Equally impressive was the price tag, averaging $5,000 and in some cases, exceeding $9,000. By the early 1920s, wheelbase sizes measured 132 and 142 inches, certainly stately proportions. The Series V of the late 1920s powered a Cunningham-built side-valve 442 cubic-inch V8 engine that developed 145 horsepower.

Production of the Cunningham automobile continued until September 1936.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2012