Briggs cunningham was a well-heeled sportsman who pursued speed at the helm of a yacht or the controls of a plane- but especially behind the wheel of a sports car. He raced his own Mercedes-engined Buick and the first Ferrari imported to the United States. In the early 1950s he entered his own cars in Europe's most prestigious sports auto race, the Le Mans 24-hour endurance event. Specifications included a performance top speed of about 160 mph; engine type drivetrain: Overhead-valve, V8 displacement 331.1 cu. in. (5.4 liters) with 300 hp; 5-speed all syncromesh transmission;chassis: coil-spring suspension, independent front; 2,410 lbs total weight. After running two highly modified Cadillacs in the 1950 Le Mans race, Cunningham built the C2 or C2R, which resembled the Ferrari 166MM, but was powered by a Chrysler Firepower V8 hemispheric-cylinder-head engine. This car finished 18th. For 1952, he prepared three C4R racing cars.