1953 Cunningham C3 Vignale

VIN: 5211

$775,000

Sold

1953 Cunningham C3 Vignale

Seller details

Vehicle specs

  • Chassis/VIN

    5211

  • Body style

    Coupe

  • Odometer

    1264 m

  • Engine Type

    V8

  • Horsepower

    310

  • Induction

    4x2

  • Interior Color

    Red leather

  • Exterior Color

    Black

Vehicle details

Notes and observations recorded by Hagerty staff.

Equipment

331/310hp Chrysler FirePower Hemi, column shift 3-speed manual, wheel covers, original radio with rear seat speaker, heat and defrost, woodrim steering wheel.

Condition

#2 Excellent

Could win a regional car show. Drives like new.

About Hagerty’s condition ratingsClose

Ordered new by American enthusiast Bill Burden (a grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt who commissioned Harry Miller’s V-16 road car). Restored in the 2000s but returned to its original black color more recently. Excellent paint and chrome. The rubber around the windshield frame is inconsistent. The driver’s seat bottom is a little flat but the interior mostly looks gorgeous. A rare American race car for the road, in mostly stellar shape.

Market commentary

This C3, one of only about three dozen built, sold in Monterey back in 2006 for $374,000 and then at Gooding's Pebble Beach auction in 2012 for $341,000. Broad Arrow then sold it here last year out of the Gateway Automobile Museum collection for $610,000, though it was still finished in light yellow and had wire wheels then. Returning it to original specs was a good move, then, not just for authenticity but also for value. The bidders also recognized this as the rare buying opportunity it is. You can't count on a Cunningham coming to market. You have to wait for it.

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