{"id":131920,"date":"2025-06-17T13:32:53","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/revsinstitute.org\/?p=131920"},"modified":"2025-06-17T13:32:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:32:53","slug":"cunningham-v3-the-luxury-car-that-shattered-speed-records","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/revsinstitute.org\/blog\/cunningham-v3-the-luxury-car-that-shattered-speed-records","title":{"rendered":"Cunningham V3: The Luxury Car That Shattered Speed Records"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;85&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_image=&#8221;131930&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;74&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; top_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;200597&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-gradient&#8221; overlay_color_gradient=&#8221;{&#8220;css&#8220;:&#8220;background: linear-gradient(to bottom , rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04) 25% , rgb(0, 0, 0) 90%);&#8220;,&#8220;sliders&#8220;:`{`{&#8220;color&#8220;:&#8220;rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.04)&#8220;,&#8220;position&#8220;:25},{&#8220;color&#8220;:&#8220;rgb(0, 0, 0)&#8220;,&#8220;position&#8220;:90}`}`,&#8220;type&#8220;:&#8220;linear&#8220;,&#8220;direction&#8220;:&#8220;top&#8220;}&#8221;][vc_column column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;bottom&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; style=&#8221;dark&#8221; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;733118&#8243;][vc_custom_heading text_size=&#8221;fontsize-208146&#8243; text_weight=&#8221;800&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;418377&#8243;]<strong>Cunningham V3: The Luxury Car That Shattered Speed Records\u00a0<\/strong>[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;121691&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; inverted_device_order=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;847393&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;103682&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;128729&#8243;]Imagine this: you\u2019re running one of the most prestigious car manufacturers in America. Your automobiles are luxurious and powerful\u2026 but your brand has a problem. Everyone thinks you\u2019re stuffy and old-fashioned. How can you update your image without overhauling your product?<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How about hiring the fastest racing driver in America to break speed records in a totally stock version of one of your cars?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em>That\u2019s exactly what James Cunningham, Son, &amp; Company did with this very chassis in 1919.\u00a0<\/em>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131931&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;448292&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131934&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_connected=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;927560&#8243; media_link=&#8221;target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131928&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_connected=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;152914&#8243; media_link=&#8221;target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;125146&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; inverted_device_order=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;847393&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;170523&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;117946&#8243;]The Cunningham Company (not to be confused with Briggs Cunningham\u2019s later outfit) had been one of the foremost carriage builders of the 19<span data-contrast=\"auto\"><sup>th<\/sup><\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> 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\u00a0model sported the largest V8 engine in America at the time!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">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.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131925&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;924724&#8243;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131926&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_connected=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;118580&#8243; media_link=&#8221;target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=&#8221;1\/3&#8243;][vc_single_image media=&#8221;131927&#8243; media_lightbox=&#8221;yes&#8221; media_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; media_ratio=&#8221;one-one&#8221; alignment=&#8221;center&#8221; lbox_actual_size=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_full=&#8221;yes&#8221; lbox_connected=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;132416&#8243; media_link=&#8221;target:_blank&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;3&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;4&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;812131&#8243;][vc_column width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243;][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;2&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;168789&#8243;][vc_column_text text_lead=&#8221;yes&#8221; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;142811&#8243;]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.<span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Follow our social channels for more details about this incredible automobile![\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=&#8221;0&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;969661&#8243;][vc_column_inner column_width_use_pixel=&#8221;yes&#8221; position_vertical=&#8221;middle&#8221; align_horizontal=&#8221;align_center&#8221; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;50&#8243; shift_x=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; shift_y_down=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; medium_width=&#8221;0&#8243; mobile_width=&#8221;0&#8243; width=&#8221;1\/1&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;847776&#8243; column_width_pixel=&#8221;840&#8243;][uncode_socials size=&#8221;lead&#8221; css_animation=&#8221;zoom-in&#8221;][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row row_height_percent=&#8221;85&#8243; override_padding=&#8221;yes&#8221; h_padding=&#8221;2&#8243; top_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; bottom_padding=&#8221;5&#8243; back_image=&#8221;131930&#8243; overlay_alpha=&#8221;74&#8243; gutter_size=&#8221;3&#8243; column_width_percent=&#8221;100&#8243; shift_y=&#8221;0&#8243; z_index=&#8221;0&#8243; top_divider=&#8221;gradient&#8221; content_parallax=&#8221;0&#8243; uncode_shortcode_id=&#8221;200597&#8243; overlay_color_type=&#8221;uncode-gradient&#8221; overlay_color_gradient=&#8221;{&#8220;css&#8220;:&#8220;background: linear-gradient(to bottom , [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":131930,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"%%post_title%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Cunningham Motor Car Company needed to shake its old-fashioned image. So they handed a stock V3 to racing legend Ralph De Palma, who broke three national speed records. 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