Topic: Solved: Allemano's № 614 - BuMerc Special

[Allemano]

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[Allemano]

Experts?

[Allemano]

and Pro's?

[woodinsight]

I believe this is the Bu-Merc built by Charles Chayne for Briggs Cunningham on a Buick chassis and engine and using a Mercedes-Benz SSK modified body. Year is c.1939

[Allemano]

That's right! Though I have it withought hyphen.

[woodinsight]

I've seen it in various sources with and without the hyphen. Also sometimes as BuMerc......

[Allemano]

What I've read Cunningham got the car not before 1948

[Allemano]

What I've read Cunningham got the car not before 1948

One of the cars Cunningham loved was the
Mercedes SS but feeling he “couldn’t afford it” he
turned to a friend to build a car that would emulate
the SS. The friend happened to be the chief engineer
of Buick and the result was one of America’s first
road racing specials, the BuMerc. Built on a Buick
chassis with a special Buick engine, a modified body
that came from a wrecked SS, Cunningham had his
first race car. Not yet racing, he loaded the car to
Miles Collier to race in the 1940 World’s Fair Grand
Prix where he was running second before coming to
rest against a light pole.
WWII brought an end to racing and having held a
pilots license for several years, Cunningham served
in the Civil Air Patrol for the duration of the conflict.
Once hostilities ceased, Cunningham along with
many of his car enthusiast friends, joined the newly
formed Sports Car Club of America. Since his
mother had passed away, he was now free to try his
hand at racing cars. He entered the BuMerc Special
in his first important event at Watkins Glen in 1948
and finished second. Car racing had now replaced
sailing as his primary focus.