Cunningham Motor Company Introduces New GT Product Of Legendary Values and Modern Concepts
10 January 2001
Cunningham Motor Company Introduces New GT Product Of Legendary Values and Modern Concepts
DETROIT, Jan. 10 A new kind of car company, formed last
year to fill a hole in the world's automotive landscape, today unveiled a new
kind of American grand touring automobile -- and both proudly wear the
heralded name Cunningham -- here at the 2001 North American International
Automobile Show.
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Taking its cue, direction and inspiration from the grand touring and
sports cars produced by Briggs Cunningham II, the quintessential American
sportsman of the 1950s, the Cunningham Motor Company will produce a V-12
powered, limited production, grand tourer for the most discerning automobile
buyer -- and do it with a "virtual" car company.
"Why should someone who wants to purchase a truly prestigious automobile,
something unique, have to turn to a European marque," asks Robert A. Lutz, a
founding investor in the new firm and an automotive legend in his own right.
"The Cunningham name is synonymous with American and automotive excellence,
the perfect combination for this project."
The Cunningham family, led by Briggs Cunningham III, has a major position
in the new firm which will combine solid, traditional automotive values with
the most modern, technological advances, to produce the new Cunningham GT in
reasonable time and at a profitable pace.
John C. (Jack) McCormack, with more than 41 years of bottom-line industry
responsibility including the American Honda Motor Company and U.S. Suzuki
Motor Corporation (of which he was cofounder), is President and Chief
Executive Officer of CMC.
"I have been involved in a number of startups, from automotive to
railways, and this one might be the most exciting," said McCormack. "It isn't
only because we will produce an exhilarating grand tourer, with
un-paralleled power, luxury and refinement; it is because we will produce such
a car without having to make investments in traditional infrastructure, like
an assembly plant.
"We will tap into the extremely rich vein of independent automotive
talent, from designers to chassis developers to fabricators to manufacturers,
available around the United States, from metropolitan Detroit to Southern
California. American hi-tech companies can develop significant systems,
designed to Cunningham's specifications, which in the past had to be developed
in house."
By the time the virtual CMC is fully operational, McCormack will have a
staff of approximately 20 in the Detroit area overseeing product definition,
marketing, distribution and supplier relations.
Stewart Reed has been commissioned to design the Cunningham, a 2 + 2
coupe, expected to have more than 500 horsepower from an American-sourced V12
engine and a price tag exceeding $250,000.
"We believe we can develop the Cunninhgam for less than Chrysler spent
developing the Viper," said McCormack. "And one of our founders and advisors,
one of the fathers of the Viper, Bob Lutz, knows all about this type of
operation."
"There is sufficient wealth -- and more importantly desire -- in the world
to support an American prestige marque," said Lutz. "The Cunningham will fill
this niche."
Briggs Cunningham II challenged the world's best when he took his cars to
France to compete in the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1950. The Cunningham race team
dominated road racing in the U.S. during most of the 50s and the company's
series of Chrysler Hemi-powered sports cars set performance standards for
years to come.