Across the Pond and Into the Paddock: Le Monstre Replica Arrives for Historic Festival 43
One of the most bizarre and beloved cars in motorsports history is crossing the Atlantic for this year’s Historic Festival. No, it’s not the original—but you’d be hard-pressed to tell the difference.
This painstaking replica of Le Monstre is the passion project of English enthusiast Derek Drinkwater, a man so captivated by the original that he decided to build his own.
“I actually built it in five months!” Drinkwater recalls. “Day and night with not much sleep!”
The original Le Monstre roared into the public eye at the 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it placed 11th overall. Its outlandish appearance—somewhere between a bar of soap and a science experiment—earned it the nickname from astonished French spectators. Though the design raised eyebrows, it was all part of an audacious plan by American sportsman Briggs Cunningham.
Cunningham, a millionaire from Connecticut with little taste for excess and a deep love for competition, had a vision: to take American horsepower to Europe’s most grueling endurance race. He enlisted engineers from Grumman Aircraft on Long Island to craft an aluminum body to fit a stock Cadillac chassis—one that would reduce weight and slice through the air more efficiently. With five carburetors feeding its V8 engine and an eye toward aerodynamic advantage, Le Monstre pushed the boundaries of what a race car could look like in its day.
But Cunningham was more than a racing innovator. He was also a world-class sailor and the skipper of Columbia, the 12-meter yacht that won the 1958 America’s Cup. His passion for the sea ran deep—so much so that in 1953, he donated the schooner Brilliant to Mystic Seaport. That vessel became an offshore classroom and remains one of the finest wooden schooners ever built. For 75 years, Brilliant has taught students of all ages the art of sailing, a legacy that reflects Cunningham’s lifelong belief in learning through experience.
Despite its theoretical advantages, Le Monstre, co-driven by Cunningham and Phil Walters, finished just behind the Collier brothers’ entry—another Cadillac—in 11th place. The difference? A sandbank. Miles Collier had suggested carrying a shovel onboard, a recommendation Cunningham dismissed. He likely regretted that call after burying the car and spending precious time digging it out by hand. To make matters worse, Le Monstre lost all but its highest gear late in the race.
Still, the American effort made a lasting impression. The Cadillacs finished to raucous cheers from the crowd, and the European press praised the team for their “skill, sportsmanship, and dauntless good humor.”
More than half a century later, that legacy would inspire Derek Drinkwater to recreate the mythical machine from scratch. Unable to buy the original due to its astronomical value, he decided to build one—telling his wife he’d be dining in the garage for the foreseeable future. In 2018, after months of fabrication and sleepless nights, he completed his version of Le Monstre and began putting it to the test on track.
Since then, the car has brought Drinkwater across Europe and beyond. “The car is very special and has given us so much joy and introduced us to so many lovely people,” he says. “It has been described by spectators as similar to seeing a unicorn or Bigfoot. Love it or hate it, she always sparks a conversation.”
He’s raced it at Brands Hatch, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and in three editions of the Le Mans Classic—with a fourth scheduled this year. “In fact, we have both Cadillac replicas racing this year to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the originals,” he adds.
At Goodwood, Drinkwater’s tribute car and the original Le Monstre were reunited side-by-side. The differences were subtle: a slightly larger roll hoop tunnel, as mandated by modern safety regulations, and a shift in paint color on the original car from white to cream due to age. Otherwise, the two looked uncannily alike—even down to the smallest details. On the original, a small, engraved plate on the dashboard to the left of the steering wheel read “Custom built by Frick-Tappet Motors Inc.,” of Long Island, New York. Drinkwater paid homage with his version: “Custom built by Derek Drinkwater Motors Inc.,” of Chiddingfold, England.
Last November, Drinkwater brought Le Monstre to Daytona for the Classic 24, typically reserved for cars from 1965 onward. He asked if an exception could be made—and the organizers welcomed him with open arms. In practice, he hit 130 mph, eclipsing the speeds recorded by Cunningham’s original effort back in 1950.
“We love to share Le Monstre’s story and create interest in the history of Briggs Cunningham and the two Cadillacs,” Drinkwater says. “Racing at Lime Rock, in the area where the original was ‘born,’ is an absolute thrill.”
This Labor Day weekend, Le Monstre returns to the spotlight—not in France, but at Lime Rock Park. A hand-built tribute to one of America’s boldest racing moments, Le Monstre is ready to thrill a new generation of fans. And this time, Derek’s bringing the car, the story, the spirit—and hopefully, the shovel.
Don’t miss your chance to see Derek Drinkwater’s Le Monstre’s legendary silhouette in person—alongside hundreds of historic race cars—at Historic Festival 43. Get your tickets here now!
