Cunningham V3: The Luxury Car That Shattered Speed Records
Imagine this: you’re running one of the most prestigious car manufacturers in America. Your automobiles are luxurious and powerful… but your brand has a problem. Everyone thinks you’re stuffy and old-fashioned. How can you update your image without overhauling your product?
How about hiring the fastest racing driver in America to break speed records in a totally stock version of one of your cars?
That’s exactly what James Cunningham, Son, & Company did with this very chassis in 1919.
The Cunningham Company (not to be confused with Briggs Cunningham’s later outfit) had been one of the foremost carriage builders of the 19th century. As the horseless age approached, Cunningham began manufacturing cars. They were synonymous with luxury and comfort, but not glamour and performance. Which seemed a shame: after all, their V3 model sported the largest V8 engine in America at the time!
Thus, the company hired Ralph De Palma, then already acknowledged as one of the greatest drivers in the world, to run this V3 model chassis in stock configuration around the track at Sheepshead Bay, New York, in November 1919. De Palma demolished three national speed records that day: fastest times for 6, 8, and 10 ten miles around a track in a stock chassis. The results were certified by American Automobile Association (yes, that AAA), which was then the sanctioning body for motor racing. Their representatives disassembled the chassis to verify it was completely stock before issuing the certificates you see here.
Satisfied with the achievement, Cunningham simply issued a press release and continued with business as usual. The speed records brought in more orders for the V3 model (which, naturally, were built to order). This chassis was used as demonstrator by the factory for several years before it was sold to a private customer.
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