Rare Autos

 

1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

Many of the vehicles at the Elliott Museum are limited or rare. For instance, there is a 1954 Corvette (3640 produced) and a 1955 Thunderbird (16,155). And these are very fine vehicles to look at and enjoy. 

But, among the rarest in the museum is a 1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet. The production consisted of 25 cars with only 5 being the Cabriolet version.

1953 Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet, body by Vignale, Turin, Italy. Currently running a 1958 Chrysler 392 cubic inch “Hemi” V-8 with a PowerFlite two-speed automatic transmission. Chassis made in West Palm Beach, FL. This car was on display at the 1953 Geneva Auto Show and the 1953 New York Auto Show. Recent cosmetic restoration. (Elliott Museum)

I have enjoyed looking at this car during every visit to the museum as it is in the gallery, unlike the vehicles in the car racking system which must be requested for viewing. 

1914 Packard 7-Passenger Phaeton
Elliott Museum, Stuart, FL
August 22, 2026

The Cunningham C-3 Continental Cabriolet is valued at over $1 million based upon the most recent sale of one during 2022. This car, while expensive is not the rarest vehicle on display inn the museum. There is a one of a kind auto, but of known vehicles that are a lot of fun to look at, the 1914 Packard 7-Passenger Phaeton previously owned by Ralph Evinrude, the 1914 Packard Touring Car (only three exist in the world), and the 1954 EMW 327/3 coupe (one of only 152 produced and believed to be the only one in the US) are head turners. I continue to be amazed at the size of the older vehicles and how under powered they were. The Phaeton, for example, has a 415 cid engine with a whopping 60 horsepower.

 

-- Bob Doan, Tequesta, FL