1925 Cunningham Series V-6 Phaeton
By 1925, James Cunningham, Son & Company had abandoned published pricing for its automobiles, listing only “Prices Upon Application” in the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce handbook. This Rochester, New York manufacturer catered to wealthy clients who ordered cars built to individual specifications.
The Series V-6 Phaeton featured a sharp-edged radiator shell that replaced the company’s earlier round-shouldered design, and customers could specify either centerlock wire wheels or demountable rim wood-spoke wheels.
The phaeton body was constructed by Cunningham’s own craftsmen, maintaining the lightweight coachwork that complemented the car’s performance-oriented character. Two wheelbase lengths were available: the 132-inch 91-A and the 142-inch 82-A (the larger model paradoxically carrying the lower designation).
Volney Lacey’s 442 cubic inch (7.2-liter) side-valve V-8 engine featured cast-iron blocks and an aluminum three-bearing crankcase. While rated at just 45 horsepower under the obsolete NACC formula, the engine actually produced approximately 100 horsepower and delivered substantial torque from its five-inch stroke.
By 1925, the engine incorporated a fully balanced crankshaft. The four-speed Brown-Lipe transmission and Timken-Detroit full-floating rear axle were proven components also used in Cunningham’s commercial vehicle line. Four-wheel Lockheed hydraulic brakes represented a significant advancement over earlier rear-only mechanical systems.
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