Cunningham C6R 1955

[NART512]

History:
The Cunningham C6R was Briggs Cunningham's last attempted car at Le Mans and only had a short life in the racing world. In 1955 the car retired from the 12 Hours of Sebring due to a gear box failure. At the 24 hours of Le Mans the car slower than it predecessor, the C4R. 2nd and 3rd gear failed and the engine overheated. The engine was a special developed 3.0L version of the 4-cylinger Offenhauser engine used at Indianapolis. The Offenhauser engine was used because the car was too small for the Chrysler V8 that was planned for the car. The car was then fitted with a Jaguar D-Type engine, gearbox, and nose for the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. The car's engine blew up in the practice season for the race.

Specs:
Engine:
1955 - 3.0L 4 cylinder Offenhauser (260 bhp)
Weight:
862 kg (1,900lbs)

After D-Type modifications:

Related:
Cunningham C4-R 1952:https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/cunningham-c4-r-1952.306823/
Jaguar D-Type 1954-1957:https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/jaguar-d-type-1954-1957.300355/#post-9740573

 

[adam46]

History:
The Cunningham C6R was Briggs Cunningham's last attempted car at Le Mans and only had a short life in the racing world. In 1955 the car retired from the 12 Hours of Sebring due to a gear box failure. At the 24 hours of Le Mans the car slower than it predecessor, the C4R. 2nd and 3rd gear failed and the engine overheated. The engine was a special developed 3.0L version of the 4-cylinger Offenhauser engine used at Indianapolis. The Offenhauser engine was used because the car was too small for the Chrysler V8 that was planned for the car. The car was then fitted with a Jaguar D-Type engine, gearbox, and nose for the 1957 12 Hours of Sebring. The car's engine blew up in the practice season for the race.

Specs:
Engine:
1955 - 3.0L 4 cylinder Offenhauser (260 bhp)
Weight:
862 kg (1,900lbs)

After D-Type modifications:

Related:
Cunningham C4-R 1952:https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/cunningham-c4-r-1952.306823/
Jaguar D-Type 1954-1957:https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/jaguar-d-type-1954-1957.300355/#post-9740573

The last picture is a Jaguar.

 

[StarLight]

Yes, I like these kind of cars.
👍

 

[NART512]

The last picture is a Jaguar.

The C6R did have a lot in common with the D-type at the end of it's life, however it is different. Notice the differences in the tail of the car as well as the vents and exhaust. The only thing in common with the D-type that this has is the front nose, the engine, and the transmission. The rest is all Cunningham.

 

[adam46]

The C6R did have a lot in common with the D-type at the end of it's life, however it is different. Notice the differences in the tail of the car as well as the vents and exhaust. The only thing in common with the D-type that this has is the front nose, the engine, and the transmission. The rest is all Cunningham.

Hmm, fair enough. Looks good regardless. 👍

 

[JMSports]

My grandfather currently owns this engine and it is in his 1947 Kurtis Kraft Sprint Car. The car is part of his auto racing museum that had been open since 1975 in Bay Shore, NY.

Sorry to "dig" up an old thread but this information directly relates to the topic posted.