By Jay Hirsch
The 1953 Cunningham is not an “English” car as what some people ask when seeing the few that are displayed at car shows. The Cunningham is an American built car that was built in West Palm Beach, Fla., by Briggs Cunningham. Briggs was an heir to the Swift Meatpacking Company. He was a “sportsman” and had a vision of racing at LeMans, winning being the goal. As an heir to Swift Meatpacking he had the funds to pursue that vision.
In racing circles — and in the sailing community — the name Briggs Swift Cunningham II is well known. He was the quintessential American sportsman. He won the America’s Cup in 1958 with the 12-meter sloop Columbia.
Briggs first raced at LeMans in 1950 with a Cadillac coupe. That experience led to the decision that he would build his own car to race at LeMans. LeMans organizers had other ideas and threw Cunningham a curve ball when …
