1952 Cunningham C3 Coupe

In order to qualify for production car status at LeMans in 1953, all entrants had to build 50 cars. To establish himself as a manufacturer, Cunningham produced the C-3 Coupe and Cabriolet and, although the project fell short of the 50 cars, 25 Vignale-bodied C-3s were completed between 1952 and 1953. Powered by a Chrysler Hemi V-8, the chassis was built in West Palm Beach and then shipped to Italy to return months later as complete cars.

This car was the third Cunningham C-3 Vignale and the only one delivered with Borrani wire wheels. It is also the only C-3 to have been raced by the Cunningham team when it was driven by Phil Stiles at MacDill Air Force Base in February 1953 in the 6 Hour Collier Memorial Handicap. It was in the Petersen Museum until recently, and its new owner has just completed its restoration to its original color scheme.