Last Cunningham LeMans Corvette
From Hemmings;
Last unaccounted-for Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Corvette found
11 comments
All three Cunningham Corvettes at Le Mans, 1960. Photos courtesy Lance Miller.Cunningham had attempted Le Mans in his own cars throughout the 1950s, but after his automaking venture folded in 1955, he turned to cars from other manufacturers for his Le Mans efforts. Thus in 1960, Cunningham plucked three fuel-injected Corvette roadsters from the assembly line and had Alfred Momo prepare the cars for Le Mans with unofficial help from Zora Arkus-Duntov and others from within Chevrolet. As Karl Ludvigsen, writing in his book , described the three:
Bruce Meyer and #3 in the collection of Lance Miller
However, one Corvette enthusiast, who wishes to remain anonymous for the time being, remained convinced that #1 was still out there and followed up every lead until this past June, when one of those leads (from Cunningham historian Larry BermanCarlisleEvents.com.
Last unaccounted-for Briggs Cunningham Le Mans Corvette found
11 comments
All three Cunningham Corvettes at Le Mans, 1960. Photos courtesy Lance Miller.Cunningham had attempted Le Mans in his own cars throughout the 1950s, but after his automaking venture folded in 1955, he turned to cars from other manufacturers for his Le Mans efforts. Thus in 1960, Cunningham plucked three fuel-injected Corvette roadsters from the assembly line and had Alfred Momo prepare the cars for Le Mans with unofficial help from Zora Arkus-Duntov and others from within Chevrolet. As Karl Ludvigsen, writing in his book , described the three:
Stripped of their grille inserts and chrome trim they were handsome brutes in white with blue striping, riding on the familiar Halibrand magnesium knock-off wheels. The hardtop was bolted in place, its rear window pierced by a big fuel filler. Special instrumentation and racing bucket seats were installed, as were adjustable steering columns to suit the different drivers. Engine oil was circulated through a cooling radiator by an electric pump. Standard cylinder heads were used on the test day prior to the event, and for the race itself new cast-iron versions of the aluminum heads, with their big valves and improved porting, were produced.
Bruce Meyer and #3 in the collection of Lance Miller
However, one Corvette enthusiast, who wishes to remain anonymous for the time being, remained convinced that #1 was still out there and followed up every lead until this past June, when one of those leads (from Cunningham historian Larry BermanCarlisleEvents.com.
Comment