Corvette Model Gallery
1960 Cunningham's Le Mans Racer Corvette
In June 1960, Briggs Cunningham brought 3 Corvettes to Le Mans in France, to compete in the 24 hour classic. The cars were fitted with fuel injected 283 V8 engines. All cars were white with blue racing stripes. Car # 1 was driven by Cunningham himself and Bill Kimberly, car # 2 was driven by Fred Windridge and Dr. Dick Thompson, and car # 3 was driven by John Fitch and Bob Grossman. The cars started 1,2 and 3, with the 4th starting car also a Corvette (entered by Camoradi USA racing team, driven by Lou Lilley and Fred Gamble). Car # 1 retired after an accident with only 38 laps on the event. Fred Windridge crashed car # 2 in the rain needing a 2 hour repair stop. The engine finally gave up after 207 grueling laps. Car # 3 was clocked as high as 151 MPH. Battling extreme heat, to the point of using bags of ice (and even ice cream according to the story) to try to cool down the engine during pit stops, car # 3 finished 8th overall, the highest finishing for any Corvette ever in Le Mans. But most importantly, winning the GT high displacement "over 4 liters" class. The car placed 5th in GT class, running 280 laps.
The model:
Gary McNutt built this replica of car # 3, the famous iced down Cunningham Le Mans survivor from 1960.
The old Revell multi-piece body kit was used
with the side trim removed
Used AMT 1962 Corvette grille surrounds, Halibrands, and hardtop
from the parts box
Added rear facing hood lovers behind a bug deflector at leading
edge of hood
Added French yellow driving lights, fuel filler, and number lights
Swapped the automation transmission for a four
speed from parts box
Comments:
Great reference photos at www.palmeter.com
If you would like to contact Gary on this model his e-mail address is: nuttwest@aol.com
Page updated 03/30/03