6 failed car companies

Yachtsman and racecar driver Briggs Cunningham II was no stranger to business. His family had sizable investments in Procter & Gamble and the B&O Railroad.

After World War II, he dreamed of creating an American sports car to compete with European nameplates. He assembled a team in West Palm Beach and within a few years produced several models.

His first big success came in 1952 with the C-4R, which took fourth place at Le Mans. But Cunningham's high-performance racing vehicles lacked wide appeal, and he closed up shop in 1955 after making a total of 37 autos without ever turning a profit.

NEXT: Bricklin Motors (1974 - 1976)