Briggs Cunningham Cadillac Le Mans Car "Le Monstre" 1950

[Sick Cylinder]

The Briggs Cunningham racing team competed at Le Mans many times winning their class and coming 8th overall with a Chevrolet Corvette in 1960.

In 1950 Briggs Cunningham came 11th overall at Le mans driving a Cadillac powered special which the French named "Le Monstre". Cadillac supplied a special five carb setup for the engine which featured four two barrel carbs - one in each corner supplying two inlets and a fifth carb in the centre of the manifold. Engine capacity was 5.4 litres and it was limited to 4,400rpm.

The bodywork was designed and built by a team of aerodynamicists from the Grumman aircraft corporation.

Here the Cadillac Le Monstre leads a pair of Cadillac powered J2 Allards.

Under that aerodynamic skin

Fantastic period interior complete with three speed column change!

 

[Dr P Grunfelde]

In 1950 Briggs Cunningham entered two cars in the Le Mans 24 hour race - one was the special pictured above, which had a standard Cadillac chassis under that "wind cheating" body - the second car was a standard, but race prepared Cadillac. The streamliner finished 11th overall and the standard looking car was 10th and in my view would be a better addition to the game - therefore I will start a thread for that car.

The Briggs Cunningham team learnt a lot from the 1950 race and came back many times, sometimes with cars of their own design powered by Chrysler hemi engines, then in 1960 they won their class with a Chevrolet Corvette.