Vehicle Description
To be OFFERED AT AUCTION at Auctions America's Auburn Spring event,
May 11-13, 2017.
Chassis No.
V5501
Estimate:
$ 80,000 - $100,000 US
Cunningham of Rochester, New York was one of America's leading
producers of carriage vehicles and with the advent of the
piston-driven automobile, they made a successful transition from
the horse-drawn vehicle to the horseless carriage. Cunningham
entered the market in earnest in 1907 and offered custom coachwork
to order. By 1916 the company had its own 442-cid, 45-hp V-8 engine
and in 1919, Indianapolis 500 winner (1915), Ralph DePalma drove a
V-8 Cunningham special roadster 98-mph in a special six-mile speed
trial at Sheepshead Bay.
However; it was not the Cunningham's specifications, nor its
performance (both described as meritorious), that distinguished the
marque. It was, not surprisingly its excellently executed
coachwork. During the World War I era and throughout the 1920s,
Cunninghams were regarded as among the most handsome cars in
America and most expensive as well, averaging $5,000, and reaching
as high as $9,000. They are large vehicles and among the clientele
in period were Mary Pickford, Harold Lloyd, William Randolph
Hearst, Marshall Field, Phillip Wrigley, Fatty Arbuckle and Cecil
B. De Mille. Following the Wall Street crash, Cunningham focused on
the production of hearses and ambulances (otherwise known as
Professional Cars), the business that had been its mainstay,
practically from the beginning.
For many years, the finest and most expensive funeral car,
ambulance or limousine an American funeral director could buy was
the impressive Cunningham. This particularly fine example has been
part of the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, Dearborn's oldest business
(since 1873) and has been passed along for three generations of the
Peterson family. It remains in fine mechanical condition and has
been shown extensively throughout the Midwest. The business'
closure precipitates the sale.
The Peterson Cunningham hearse features the big 442-cid V-8 engine,
but is immediately identified with its carved exterior carrier and
the accompanying wood-paneled interior of the casket compartment,
making for a classic hearse that is impressive both inside and out.
Before the acquisition by this long-established Dearborn funeral
home many years ago, the Cunningham served the Chicago area. The
owner relates that this is "a beautiful vehicle. We really enjoy
having our hearse on display for the public to see. We've taken it
to shows across the region, but this show (2006 Greenfield Village
Old Car Festival) is important to us since it's our hometown
crowd.
Among the other awards for this well-cared-for Cunningham is a Best
of Show and first place awards at the Professional Car Society Show
in Lima, Ohio, the Best of Show and Award of Excellence for
commercial vehicles two years in a row at the St. Ignace auto show,
Designer's Choice Award at the Eyes on the Classics Show on the
grounds of the Edsel Ford Estate on the shores of Lake St. Clair.
The hearse remains operational and it has been on display at
various times at the Greenfield Village Henry Ford Museum and other
shows throughout metro Detroit.
Research indicates that only around 5,600 Cunninghams were built in
total and that the serial number on this vehicle appears to be
within 100 from the end of production. The Cunningham Registry is
reported to show only 100 listed survivors. With long term caring
of ownership and recognition, this Cunningham is ready to be
further treasured in its next chapter.
