Jay Leno in his 1953 Cunningham C-3. Photo courtesy of Jay Leno.
The 2018 Greenwich Concours d’Elegance will see history being made, as 33 of the 35 existing Cunningham race and street cars will be on display both days of the event, making it the largest field of these historic vehicles ever assembled. In all, 36 cars were built – eight race cars and 28 street cars, created in the 1950s by the iconic Briggs Cunningham.
The concours celebrates its 23rd year on June 1-3 at the Roger Sherman Baldwin Park overlooking the Greenwich, Conn., harbor on Long Island Sound, and is recognized as one of the most prestigious classic car shows in the country.
Included in the 33 Cunninghams are all 25 of the C-3 street models whose bodies were created by custom coach builder Vignale in Torino, Italy. And, 31 of the 33 feature the famous Chrysler FirePower first-series Hemi V8 engine, in various states of tune, including one with a McCullough supercharger installed by Bill Frick in 1956.
Another outstanding entry is comedian Jay Leno’s 1953 C-3, which was the basis of a dedicated episode of his TV show “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Also, Lot #224, a C-3 coupe, will be featured on Sunday at the Bonhams auction.
Museums from around the country are lending their Cunningham cars for display. The Revs Institute of Naples., Fla., will send five of its six Cunninghams (1951 C-1 Prototype, 1952 C-4R, 1952 C-3, 1953 C-5R, 1955 C-6R). The Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia, Pa., will share its 1952 C-4R. Gateway Canyons Automobile Museum of Gateway, Colo., will show its 1953 C-3, and from the Elliott Museum of Stuart, Fla., comes a 1953 C-3 Continental Cabriolet.
Concours visitors will have a chance to chat about Cunningham, his life and his cars, with car owners, historians, authors, race-car drivers, race-car builders, and descendants of the Cunningham family.
“The C-3s are in all states of preservation and restoration, while all 25 Vignale C-3s are running for the first time in over 40 years,” said Cunningham collector and historian Chuck Schoendorf, who, along with “Barn Find Hunter” Tom Cotter, organized the gathering. “This collection is arguably one of the largest displays of Vignale-bodied cars anywhere, certainly the largest ever in America,” Schoendorf continued.
“A comprehensive turnout of Cunningham cars on this scale has never happened before and likely never will again, at least any time soon. It took Tom and me 10 years to personally inspect all 33 cars,” added Schoendorf.
Cunningham, who died in 2003 at the age of 96, is best known as an America’s Cup skipper, race-car builder, driver and team owner. He made the Greens Farms section of Westport, Conn., his home from the ’20s through the ’60s. He fielded his early race cars for Sam and Cowles “Miles” Collier out of his carriage house, and later kept his car collection there before moving it out of state. The Cunningham family remained at the Greens Farms compound until the death of his daughter Lucie Cunningham McKinney in 2014.
Columbia in Newport, R.I., on Narragansett Bay. Photo courtesy of Columbia Yacht Charters. (Columbia to be docked at Delamar, available to sail)
Completing the Cunningham experience at the Concours will be the opportunity to sail on the 70-foot Columbia, the first 12-meter class yacht, with Briggs Cunningham at the helm, to win the America’s Cup. It continues to be one of the most significant vessels in yacht racing history. Columbia will be docked at the Delamar Hotel for the weekend. A private sailing charter of Columbia, for up to 11 people, will be offered in the on-site Silent Auction to benefit Americares.
On Friday night, a Tribute to Briggs Cunningham will be held at the Cole Auditorium at the Greenwich Library. The evening will include video presentations and a panel discussion on Cunningham’s life and career, with Cunningham specialists Miles Collier (Grand Marshal of the event), Dr. Fred Simeone, Tom Cotter, Rich Taylor and Chuck Schoendorf. Tickets may be purchased at greenwichfilm.org.
“The Greenwich Concours is honored to be the venue to showcase the cars of a racing and automotive legend who made his home at one time right here in Connecticut,” said event chairman Mary Wennerstrom. “We are proud to host this historic gathering.”
The beneficiary of the Greenwich Concours for the 23rd year is Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization that responds to people affected by poverty or disaster with life-changing health programs, medicine and medical supplies. The Stamford, Conn.-based organization is the world’s leading nonprofit provider of donated medicine and medical supplies.
• Gates open at 10 a.m. for general admission, 8 a.m. for VIP ticket holders. VIP tickets are sold out
• Advance tickets for both days are available at $30 per day or $50 for both days
• Tickets purchased on the day of the event are $40 per day or $60 for both days
• Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult
• Saturday Night Gala tickets are available for $175
• Tickets can be purchased at http://www.greenwichconcours.com/visitors/tickets/