Cunningham automobile
Encyclopedia
The Cunningham automobile (not to be confused with the Cunningham Steam Wagon
produced from 1900 until 1901 by the Massachusetts Steam Wagon Company of Pittsfield, MA.) has its roots in a firm named the James Cunningham, Son & Company of Rochester, N.Y. Incorporated in 1882, it was taken over after James' death in 1886 by his son, Joseph. Production was now focused on fine carriages. Cunningham became the leading producer of carriages, sleighs, etc. long before the shift of the century. Also, aircraft,car bodies (mainly hearses) and even automobile chassis for other car makes were manufactured. Today, its high quality luxury automobiles are best remembered.
required the operator to be certified and licensed.
. Frequently, Cunningham also sold electric cars which based on their experimental car from the 1890s. By 1910, the company was producing all its parts and selling its cars in the range of $4,500 to $5,000.
The first of this cars was the model J. It was a huge automobile with a Cunningham-built 4 cylinder engine of 40 HP. Wheelbase was 124 in. There were four bodies: a 7-passenger touring car
at $3,500, a runabout at $3,250, a limousine
and a landaulet
at $4,500 each. For 1912, the model J was offered without much changes. Choice of bodies went up to seven and included three additional open body styles: A 5-passenger phaeton
, a 4-passenger torpedo
and a 4-passenger toy tonneau, each at $3,500. Prices for the other models didn't change.
The new model M that superseded the J in 1913 got a slightly less powerful engine rated at 36,1 HP. Its chassis had the same wheelbase as previous and probably wasn't changed much. There was a little shuffling with the body styles as the phaeton and torpedo were listed for 5 passengers now. Again, there were seven body styles but the toy tonneau had gone and a new 7-passenger "Berlin Limousine" joined the range. Prices remained the same with the exception of the two liousine types which went to $4,600 each.
The only obvious change in the model R that appeared in 1914 was a wheelbase of 129 in. Listed body styles were slightly rearranged and reduced to six. The torpedo and the "Berlin Limousine" were dropped. Prices went up remarkably. $3,500 was the catalogued price for the runabout and each of the now three touring cars (for 4, 5 or 7 passengers, respectively) was prized at $3,750. Limousine and landaulet now hit the $5,000 mark.
The Model S, built from 1915 until 1916, was the last of the big four-cylinder Cunninghams. Technically, these cars were quite similar to the model R. Body styles didn't change, and neither did prices. For 1916, the 5-passenger touring car was dropped.
s, adding to the European touch of the car.
A V-8 engine
was developed in 1916 and introduced in the series V-1 Cunningham. It was of the side-valve design and had a huge displacement of 442 c.i. It was rated by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce (N.A.C.C.) at 45 HP.
Cunningham bought many components from outside vendors. In case of the series V, there were a clutch
and transmission
by Brown Lipe, axles and rear-wheel brakes by Timken-Detroit, pistons by Lynite, and an electric system by Westinghouse
.
To meet the bad roads of the day, Cunninghams were further equipped with an air pump for easier repair of the quite usual tire punctures. As there was not a service network for the small company, and the owners of these very expensive cars did not wish to let local mechanics repair their cars, Cunningham simply sent its own expert people to their customers for the necessary work.
Series V Cunninghams came with a wheelbase of 132 in. Twelve body styles were listed in its initial year. Open types - 5 and 7 passenger touring cars, a new 2 passenger roadster
, a 3 passenger runabout and a 4 passenger toy tonneau - had a price tag of $3,750. There were three new closed styles at $4,500 each: a 4 passenger coupe
, a 5 passenger sedan and a 4 passenger roadster coupe. With $5,000 each, the more formal styles were, as could be expected, the most expensive. There were four of them: a 5 passenger touring sedan, a 6 passenger town car
and a limousine and a berline that seated 8 passengers each.
Of course, these only were basic prices. Individualizing these bodies would add hefty supplements in price. Cunningham further invited its customers to commission their own body work, and gladly assisted with design and execution. Such cars could easily cost twice as much as a comparable catalogued style.
Although it appears that these cars were listed as 1917 models, they were available to the public already in 1916. Thus, they are among the earliest V-8 engines built in the U.S.A. after the Cadillac
V-8 model was introduced in 1914.
Series V-2 started with model year 1918 Changes were few. Body styles offered were reduced to eight and prices went up, starting now at $4,250 for open-bodied cars. With the exception of a re-introduced Landaulet at $5,750, closed cars cost $5,500 each. Gone were the runabout, the roadster coupe, the touring sedan and, again, the toy tonneau. The roadster now seated 4 passengers and the smaller touring car 4. For 1919, berline, town car and coupe were dropped, too. A special roadster became available to commemorate Ralph De Palma’s record-breaking run at Sheepshead Bay that year.
With the series V-3 that started in 1920 came many improvements. Most important was its new engine. It had the same 442 c. i. displacement as before. 3 main bearings were on each cylinder bench. The aluminium crankcase was cast in two parts and counterweighed. Pistons were cast iron and the Oil pump was gear-driven. Transmission, again by Brown Lipe, had 4 speeds plus overdrive.
Further, an additional chassis with a wheelbase of 142 in became available. With the series V-3, drum-type headlamps were introduced. There were only three catalogued body styles on the 132 in. wheelbase - at substantially higher cost. Roadster and 4 passenger touring were at $6,200, and the sedan even cost $7,600. On the longer chassis, a 6 passenger touring car was available at $6,700, and three very formal styles called Inside Drive limousine, Town Limousine and Landaulet. These cars had an astronomical price tag of $8,100 each and thus belonged to the most expensive cars on the market. For 1921, there were few changes. Now, there were a touring car and three formal styles (one of them a "Cabriolet" a.k.a convertible sedan) on the smaller chassis with prices that started at $6,000. On the larger chassis, there were two touring cars at $6,700 and $6,800, respectively, and a town car and a cabriolet for $8,100 each.
.
. As with automobile production, its engineers were innovative and were able to produce a bi-wing plane in 1929 that was designed, and was able, to land at the very low speed of thirty-nine miles per hour.
Cunningham Steam Wagon
The Cunningham Steam Wagon was a product of the Massachusetts Steam Wagon Company of Pittsfield, MA...
produced from 1900 until 1901 by the Massachusetts Steam Wagon Company of Pittsfield, MA.) has its roots in a firm named the James Cunningham, Son & Company of Rochester, N.Y. Incorporated in 1882, it was taken over after James' death in 1886 by his son, Joseph. Production was now focused on fine carriages. Cunningham became the leading producer of carriages, sleighs, etc. long before the shift of the century. Also, aircraft,car bodies (mainly hearses) and even automobile chassis for other car makes were manufactured. Today, its high quality luxury automobiles are best remembered.
Corporate emphasis
Cunningham’s emphasis was on a quality built product featuring luxury, elegance, and high style. Its products were sometimes innovative, often unique, and in most cases, expensive. When it produced automobiles, its strategy was to build a car equal, or better than, the best European automobile.Company experimentation
The company in 1896 produced electric-powered buggies, primarily for purposes of experimentation during an era when such electric-powered vehicles were slow, and when vehicles powered by steamSteam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
required the operator to be certified and licensed.
Car production
Foreseeing the necessity to switch to the production of horseless carriages, Cunningham started automobile production in 1908, producing gasoline engined cars which sold at approximately $3,500, a very high price for an automobile at the time. Initially, the company made only the chassis and assembled each car from items produced by other manufacturers, thereby following the individual order of the customer. Engines came from Buffalo or ContinentalContinental Motors Company
Continental Motors Company was an American engine and automobile manufacturer. The company produced engines for various independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced Continental-branded automobiles in...
. Frequently, Cunningham also sold electric cars which based on their experimental car from the 1890s. By 1910, the company was producing all its parts and selling its cars in the range of $4,500 to $5,000.
The big four-cylinder cars
After 1911, finally, Cunningham offered complete automobiles that were illustrated in its first catalogue. Alas, production remained slow and was not attuned to mass production. With 450 workers, a worker could produce only one and a half cars during a production year. Much of the wood and metal-work work on each car was crafted by hand.The first of this cars was the model J. It was a huge automobile with a Cunningham-built 4 cylinder engine of 40 HP. Wheelbase was 124 in. There were four bodies: a 7-passenger touring car
Touring car
A touring car, or tourer, is an open car seating five or more. Touring cars may have two or four doors. Often, the belt line is lowered in the front doors to give the car a more sportive character. They were often fitted with a folding roof and side curtains. Engines on early models were either in...
at $3,500, a runabout at $3,250, a limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....
and a landaulet
Landaulet
A landaulet or landaulette is a car body style, "an enclosed sedan or coupé with a folding top at the extreme rear quarter, over the rear seat."...
at $4,500 each. For 1912, the model J was offered without much changes. Choice of bodies went up to seven and included three additional open body styles: A 5-passenger phaeton
Phaeton
Phaeton, Phaëton, Phaethon, or Phaëthon may refer to:In Greek mythology, several figures with astral associations:*Phaëton, son of Helios*Phaethon , guardian of the temples of Aphrodite...
, a 4-passenger torpedo
Torpedo
The modern torpedo is a self-propelled missile weapon with an explosive warhead, launched above or below the water surface, propelled underwater towards a target, and designed to detonate either on contact with it or in proximity to it.The term torpedo was originally employed for...
and a 4-passenger toy tonneau, each at $3,500. Prices for the other models didn't change.
The new model M that superseded the J in 1913 got a slightly less powerful engine rated at 36,1 HP. Its chassis had the same wheelbase as previous and probably wasn't changed much. There was a little shuffling with the body styles as the phaeton and torpedo were listed for 5 passengers now. Again, there were seven body styles but the toy tonneau had gone and a new 7-passenger "Berlin Limousine" joined the range. Prices remained the same with the exception of the two liousine types which went to $4,600 each.
The only obvious change in the model R that appeared in 1914 was a wheelbase of 129 in. Listed body styles were slightly rearranged and reduced to six. The torpedo and the "Berlin Limousine" were dropped. Prices went up remarkably. $3,500 was the catalogued price for the runabout and each of the now three touring cars (for 4, 5 or 7 passengers, respectively) was prized at $3,750. Limousine and landaulet now hit the $5,000 mark.
The Model S, built from 1915 until 1916, was the last of the big four-cylinder Cunninghams. Technically, these cars were quite similar to the model R. Body styles didn't change, and neither did prices. For 1916, the 5-passenger touring car was dropped.
The Cunningham V-8
From the very beginning, Cunningham automobiles were highly regarded because of their clean lines. A radiator shell of German silver was included, and a feature seen on many of these cars was the use of aluminum steps instead of running boardRunning board
A running board is a car or truck accessory part, a narrow step fitted under the side doors of the vehicle. It aids entry, especially into high vehicles. Typical of vintage cars which had much higher ground clearances than today's cars, it is also used as a fashion statement on vehicles that would...
s, adding to the European touch of the car.
A V-8 engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
was developed in 1916 and introduced in the series V-1 Cunningham. It was of the side-valve design and had a huge displacement of 442 c.i. It was rated by the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce (N.A.C.C.) at 45 HP.
Cunningham bought many components from outside vendors. In case of the series V, there were a clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
and transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
by Brown Lipe, axles and rear-wheel brakes by Timken-Detroit, pistons by Lynite, and an electric system by Westinghouse
Westinghouse Electric (1886)
Westinghouse Electric was an American manufacturing company. It was founded in 1886 as Westinghouse Electric Company and later renamed Westinghouse Electric Corporation by George Westinghouse. The company purchased CBS in 1995 and became CBS Corporation in 1997...
.
To meet the bad roads of the day, Cunninghams were further equipped with an air pump for easier repair of the quite usual tire punctures. As there was not a service network for the small company, and the owners of these very expensive cars did not wish to let local mechanics repair their cars, Cunningham simply sent its own expert people to their customers for the necessary work.
Series V Cunninghams came with a wheelbase of 132 in. Twelve body styles were listed in its initial year. Open types - 5 and 7 passenger touring cars, a new 2 passenger roadster
Roadster
A roadster is a two-seat open car with emphasis on sporty handling and without a fixed roof or side weather protection. Strictly speaking a roadster with wind-up windows is a convertible but as true roadsters are no longer made the distinction is now irrelevant...
, a 3 passenger runabout and a 4 passenger toy tonneau - had a price tag of $3,750. There were three new closed styles at $4,500 each: a 4 passenger coupe
Coupé
A coupé or coupe is a closed car body style , the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time...
, a 5 passenger sedan and a 4 passenger roadster coupe. With $5,000 each, the more formal styles were, as could be expected, the most expensive. There were four of them: a 5 passenger touring sedan, a 6 passenger town car
Town car
A town car is a historical automobile body style in which the front seats were open and the rear compartment closed, normally with a removable top to cover the front chauffeur's compartment...
and a limousine and a berline that seated 8 passengers each.
Of course, these only were basic prices. Individualizing these bodies would add hefty supplements in price. Cunningham further invited its customers to commission their own body work, and gladly assisted with design and execution. Such cars could easily cost twice as much as a comparable catalogued style.
Although it appears that these cars were listed as 1917 models, they were available to the public already in 1916. Thus, they are among the earliest V-8 engines built in the U.S.A. after the Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
V-8 model was introduced in 1914.
Series V-2 started with model year 1918 Changes were few. Body styles offered were reduced to eight and prices went up, starting now at $4,250 for open-bodied cars. With the exception of a re-introduced Landaulet at $5,750, closed cars cost $5,500 each. Gone were the runabout, the roadster coupe, the touring sedan and, again, the toy tonneau. The roadster now seated 4 passengers and the smaller touring car 4. For 1919, berline, town car and coupe were dropped, too. A special roadster became available to commemorate Ralph De Palma’s record-breaking run at Sheepshead Bay that year.
With the series V-3 that started in 1920 came many improvements. Most important was its new engine. It had the same 442 c. i. displacement as before. 3 main bearings were on each cylinder bench. The aluminium crankcase was cast in two parts and counterweighed. Pistons were cast iron and the Oil pump was gear-driven. Transmission, again by Brown Lipe, had 4 speeds plus overdrive.
Further, an additional chassis with a wheelbase of 142 in became available. With the series V-3, drum-type headlamps were introduced. There were only three catalogued body styles on the 132 in. wheelbase - at substantially higher cost. Roadster and 4 passenger touring were at $6,200, and the sedan even cost $7,600. On the longer chassis, a 6 passenger touring car was available at $6,700, and three very formal styles called Inside Drive limousine, Town Limousine and Landaulet. These cars had an astronomical price tag of $8,100 each and thus belonged to the most expensive cars on the market. For 1921, there were few changes. Now, there were a touring car and three formal styles (one of them a "Cabriolet" a.k.a convertible sedan) on the smaller chassis with prices that started at $6,000. On the larger chassis, there were two touring cars at $6,700 and $6,800, respectively, and a town car and a cabriolet for $8,100 each.
Racing
On November 17, 1919, famous race car driver Ralph De Palma drove a stripped but otherwise stock series V-3 Cunningham special roadster at ninety-eight miles per hour in a six-mile trial at the Sheepshead Bay Race TrackSheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility built on the site of the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay, New York...
.
Aviation production
In 1928 Cunningham entered the aircraft production field under the name Cunningham-Hall Aircraft CorporationCunningham-Hall Aircraft Corporation
The Cunningham-Hall Aircraft Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1928 to its closure in 1948.-History:The company was formed in 1928 at Rochester, New York. It was a combination of Randolph F. Hall, some former employees of Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation and...
. As with automobile production, its engineers were innovative and were able to produce a bi-wing plane in 1929 that was designed, and was able, to land at the very low speed of thirty-nine miles per hour.