1953-1955 Cunningham C-3

The predecessor of the 1953-1955 Cunningham C-3 was conceived by Briggs S. Cunningham in 1951. Cunningham built his original C-1 sports car with racing in mind, and his later models were definite contenders. The C-4R finished fourth at Le Mans '52; the following year a C-5R was third, outclassed (and outbraked) by a pair of Jaguars.

The C-3, elegantly styled by Giovanni Michelotti of Carrozzeria Vignale in Turin, was Cunningham's "production" model, high-priced and blindingly fast with its Chrysler Hemi V-8 engine. It was one of two American cars (the other was the '53 Studebaker Starliner) named among the world's ten best designs by Arthur Drexler of the New York Museum of Modern Art. Cunningham lost money on every car he built, however, and halted C-3 production after two years.

• One of the great American sporting cars, a thoroughbred by any yardstick
• Tremendous Hemi power
• Fine handling

• Cost
• Body parts now very scarce

• Coupe: 19
• Convertible: 9

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