The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. John Newton Cooper ( July 17, 1923 – December 24, 2000) was a co-founder with his father Charles Cooper of the Cooper Car Company Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946. Eric Brandon ( 18 July 1920 in East Ham, London – 8 August 1982 in Gosport, Hampshire) was a Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is a commuter town next to the river Thames, populated with a mixture Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Through the 1950s and early 1960s, they reached auto racing's highest levels as their rear-engined, single-seat cars altered the face of Formula One and the Indianapolis 500, and their Mini Cooper dominated Rally racing. Auto racing (also known as automobile racing, motor racing or car racing) is a Motorsport involving Racing Cars It The Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, often shortened to Indianapolis 500 or Indy 500, and historically known simply as "The 500" is an American Rallying is a form of motor competition that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars Thanks in part to Cooper's legacy, Britain remains the home of a thriving racing industry, and the Cooper name lives on in the Mini Cooper production cars that are still built in England but are now owned and marketed by BMW. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC and its successors from 1959 until 2000 ( BMW) (Bavarian Motor Works is an independent German automobile manufacturer founded in 1916
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From Shortage, Innovation
The first cars built by the Coopers were single-seater, 500cc Formula racing cars driven by John Cooper and Eric Brandon and powered by a JAP motorcycle engine. Eric Brandon ( 18 July 1920 in East Ham, London – 8 August 1982 in Gosport, Hampshire) was a JA Prestwich Industries Ltd, was a British engineering company named after founder John Alfred Prestwich, produced cinematographic equipment Internal combustion MotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by Rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. Since materials were in short supply immediately after World War II, the prototypes were constructed by joining two old Fiat Topolino front-ends together. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Fiat SpA (an Acronym for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino (Italian Automobile Factory of Turin) is an Italian automobile manufacturer History The Topolino was the name given to an Automobile model manufactured by Fiat from 1936 to 1955 According to John Cooper, the stroke of genius that would make the Coopers an automotive legend -- the location of the engine behind the driver -- was merely a practical matter at the time. Because the car was powered by a motorcycle engine, they believed it was more convenient to have the engine in the back, driving a chain.
Called the Cooper 500, this car's success in hillclimbs and on track, including Eric winning the first post war motor race at Gransden Lodge airfield, quickly created demand from other drivers (including, over the years, Stirling Moss, Peter Collins, Jim Russell, Ivor Bueb, Ken Tyrrell and Bernie Ecclestone) and led to the establishment of the Cooper Car Company to build more. Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE (born September 17, 1929 in London) is a retired racing driver from England. Peter John Collins ( 6 November 1931 &ndash 3 August 1958) was a Formula One driver from England. James or Jim Russell can refer to James Russell (born 1931 American inventor James Russell (basketball, Canadian Olympic Ivor Léon John Bueb (born June 6 1923, East Ham, London - died August 1 1959, Clermont-Ferrand, France Ken Tyrrell ( May 3, 1924 &ndash August 25 2001) was a British Auto racing driver and Bernard Charles "Bernie" Ecclestone (born 28 October 1930 near Bungay Suffolk, England) is the president and CEO of The business grew by providing an inexpensive entry to motorsport for seemingly every aspiring young British driver, and the company became the world's first and largest post-war, specialist manufacturer of racing cars for sale to privateers. In Motorsport, a privateer is usually an entrant into a racing event that is not directly supported by an Automobile manufacturer
Cooper built over 300 500cc Formula 3 cars and dominated the category, winning 64 out of 78 major races between 1951 and 1954. Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. This volume of construction was unique and enabled the company to grow into the senior categories, it was with a modified Cooper 500 chassis, a T12 model, that Cooper had its first taste of top-tier racing when Harry Schell retired on the first lap of the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix. Henry O'Reilly Schell (born 29 June 1921, Paris, France - died 13 May 1960, Silverstone Circuit, England The 1950 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on May 21, 1950 at Monaco. Although brief in duration, this entry marked the first appearance of a rear-engined racer at a Grand Prix event since the end of WWII.
The front-engined, Formula 2 Cooper Bristol model was introduced in 1952. Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, was a type of Formula racing. Various iterations of this design were driven by a number of legendary drivers - among them Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn - and furthered the company's growing reputation by appearing in Grand Prix races, which at the time were run to F2 regulations. Juan Manuel Fangio ( Balcarce, June 24, 1911 - Buenos Aires, July 17, 1995) nicknamed "El Chueco" ("knock-kneed" John Michael Hawthorn ( April 10, 1929 - January 22, 1959) was a racing driver born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England It wasn't until the company began building rear-engined sports cars in 1955 that they really became aware of the benefits of having the engine behind the driver. Sports car racing is a form of circuit Auto racing with Automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels Based on the 500cc cars and powered by a modified Coventry Climax fire-pump engine, these cars were called "Bobtails. Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump and speciality Engine manufacturer " With the center of gravity closer to the middle of the car, they found that it was less liable to spin out and much more effective at putting the power down to the road, so they decided to build a single-seater version and began entering it in Formula 2 races.
Rear-Engined Revolution
Jack Brabham raised some eyebrows when he took sixth place at the 1957 Monaco Grand Prix in a rear-engined Formula 2 Cooper. Karl Jochen Rindt ( April 18, 1942 - September 5, 1970) was a German - Austrian racing driver Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One The 1957 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 19 May 1957 at Monaco. But when Stirling Moss won the 1958 Argentine Grand Prix in Rob Walker's privately-entered Cooper and Maurice Trintignant duplicated the feat in the next race at Monaco, the racing world was stunned and a rear-engined revolution had begun. The 1958 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 19 January 1958 at Buenos Aires. Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant ( 30 October 1917, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Vaucluse &ndash 13 February 2005, The next year, 1959, Brabham and the factory Cooper team became the first to win the Formula One World Championship in a rear-engined car. Both team and driver repeated the feat in 1960, and every World Champion since has been sitting in front of his engine. The 1960 Formula One season featured the eleventh FIA World Championship of Drivers, the third International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and numerous non-championship Formula
Brabham took one of the Championship-winning Cooper T53 "Lowline" to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for a test in 1960, then entered the famous 500-mile race in a larger, longer and offset car based on the 1960 F1 design. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway Indiana (an Enclave of Indianapolis) in the United States, is the home of the Arriving at the Speedway May 5, 1961, the "funny" little car from Europe was mocked by the other teams, but it ran as high as third and finished ninth. It took a few years, but the Indianapolis establishment gradually realized the writing was on the wall and the days of their front-engined roadsters were numbered. Beginning with Jim Clark, who drove a rear-engined Lotus in 1965, every winner of the Indianapolis 500 has had the engine in the back. Jim (or Jimmy) Clark OBE ( 4 March, 1936 &ndash 7 April, 1968) was a Scottish Formula One 1950s Colin Chapman established Lotus Engineering Ltd in 1952 at Hornsey, UK. The revolution begun by the little chain-driven Cooper 500 was complete.
Once every Formula car manufacturer began building rear-engined racers, the practicality and intelligent construction of Cooper's single-seaters was overtaken by more sophisticated technology from Lola, Lotus, BRM and Ferrari. Lola Racing Cars (also Lola Cars International) is a Racing car Engineering company founded in 1961 by Eric Broadley and based in Huntingdon "BRM" redirects here For other uses please see BRM (disambiguation. Scuderia Ferrari is the name for the Gestione Sportiva the division of the Ferrari automobile company concerned with racing The Cooper team's decline was accelerated when John Cooper was seriously injured in a road accident in 1963 driving a twin engined Mini and Charles Cooper died in 1964.
After the death of his father, John Cooper sold the Cooper Formula One team to the Chipstead Motor Group in April, 1965. Their final Formula One victory was achieved by Mexican driver Pedro Rodríguez at the 1967 South African Grand Prix in a Cooper T81. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. Pedro Rodríguez ( 18 January 1940 &ndash 11 July 1971) was a Mexican Grand Prix motor racing driver The 1967 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Kyalami on January 2, 1967. The Cooper T81 was one of the last Formula One racing cars produced by the Cooper Car Company. In all, Coopers participated in 129 Formula One World Championship events in nine years, winning 16 races.
In 2008, the Cooper name survives (2008) in the chain of UK BMW dealerships operated by Inchcape plc. Inchcape plc ( is a large Automotive retail group operating in developed and emerging countries
Grand Prix victories
Mini Legacy
As the company's fortunes in Formula One declined, however, the John Cooper-conceived Mini Cooper -- introduced in 1961 as a development of the Alec Issigonis-designed British Motor Corporation Mini with a more powerful engine, new brakes and a distinctive paint job -- continued to dominate in saloon car and rally races throughout the 1960s, winning many championships and the 1964, 1965 and 1967 Monte Carlo Rallies. The 1958 Argentine Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 19 January 1958 at Buenos Aires. Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE (born September 17, 1929 in London) is a retired racing driver from England. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. The 1958 Monaco Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on 18 May 1958 at Monaco. Circuit de Monaco is the name given to a motor racing circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the Principality Maurice Bienvenu Jean Paul Trintignant ( 30 October 1917, Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes, Vaucluse &ndash 13 February 2005, Events 1152 - Henry II of England marries Eleanor of Aquitaine. Results from the 1959 Formula One Monaco Grand Prix held at Monaco on May 10, 1959. Circuit de Monaco is the name given to a motor racing circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the Principality Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. The 1959 British Grand Prix was a Formula One Motor race held at the Aintree Circuit on 18 July 1959 Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Results from the 1959 Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix held at Monsanto on August 23, 1959. Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE (born September 17, 1929 in London) is a retired racing driver from England. Events 79 - Mount Vesuvius begins stirring on the feast day of Vulcan the Roman god of fire Results from the 1959 Formula One Italian Grand Prix held at Monza on September 13, 1959. Autodromo Nazionale Monza is a Motorsport Race track near the town of Monza, Italy, north of Milan. Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss OBE (born September 17, 1929 in London) is a retired racing driver from England. Events 509 BC - The Temple of Jupiter on Rome 's Capitoline Hill is dedicated on the ides of September The 1959 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on December 12, 1959 at Sebring International Raceway. Sebring International Raceway is a road course Auto racing facility located in Sebring Florida. Early life As an eleven year old McLaren contracted a disease in his hip which left his left leg shorter than the right Events 627 - Battle of Nineveh: A Byzantine army under Emperor Heraclius defeats Emperor Khosrau II 's Persian Results from the 1960 Formula One Argentine Grand Prix held at Argentina on February 7, 1960. Early life As an eleven year old McLaren contracted a disease in his hip which left his left leg shorter than the right Events 457 - Leo I becomes emperor of the Byzantine Empire. 1074 - Battle of Montesarchio in which the Prince Results from the 1960 Formula One Dutch Grand Prix held at Zandvoort on June 6, 1960. Circuit Park Zandvoort is a Motorsport Race track located in the dunes near the town of Zandvoort, in the Netherlands, near the North Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Results from the 1960 Formula One Belgian Grand Prix held at Spa-Francorchamps on June 19, 1960. The Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps is the venue of the Formula One Belgian Grand Prix and the Spa 24 Hours endurance race Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 1179 - The Norwegian Battle of Kalvskinnet outside Nidaros. Results from the 1960 Formula One French Grand Prix held at Reims-Gueux on July 3, 1960. Reims-Gueux was a triangular Motor racing road course near Reims, France, which hosted 14 French Grands Prix. Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. The 1960 British Grand Prix was a Formula One Motor race held at the Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire, England, on 16 July 1960 Silverstone Circuit is a Motor racing circuit in Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire, named after the village in the former England Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and Results from the 1960 Formula One Portuguese Grand Prix held at Circuito da Boavista, Oporto on August 14, 1960 Circuito da Boavista was a Formula One street course in Oporto (Porto Portugal used twice for the Portuguese Grand Prix. Sir John Arthur "Jack" Brabham, AO, OBE (born April 2 1926) is an Australian former racing driver who was Formula One Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Results from the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix held at Monaco on June 3, 1962. Circuit de Monaco is the name given to a motor racing circuit laid out on the city streets of Monte Carlo and La Condamine around the harbour of the Principality Early life As an eleven year old McLaren contracted a disease in his hip which left his left leg shorter than the right Events 350 - Roman usurper Nepotianus, of the Constantinian dynasty, proclaims himself Roman Emperor, entering The 1966 Mexican Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on October 23, 1966. The Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (" Rodríguez Brothers Racetrack " is a 4 Motorcycle racing career Born in Tatsfield, Surrey, Surtees was the son of a south London motorcycle dealer Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - The 1967 South African Grand Prix was a Formula One race held at Kyalami on January 2, 1967. Kyalami ( My home in Zulu) is a motor racing circuit located in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa. Pedro Rodríguez ( 18 January 1940 &ndash 11 July 1971) was a Mexican Grand Prix motor racing driver Events 366 - The Alamanni cross the frozen Rhine River in large numbers invading the Roman Empire. The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC and its successors from 1959 until 2000 Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (November 18 1906&ndashOctober 2 1988 was a Greek - British designer The British Motor Corporation (BMC was a UK vehicle company formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation (parent The Mini is a small car that was produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC and its successors from 1959 until 2000 The Monte Carlo Rally (officially Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo) is a Rallying event organized each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco who also organize
Several different Cooper-marked versions of the Mini and various Cooper conversion kits have been, and continue to be, marketed by various companies. The current BMW MINI, in production since 2001, has Cooper and Cooper S models and a number of John Cooper Works tuner packages. Mini (styled as MINI) is a British automotive brand owned by the German BMW Group that has produced a redesign of the traditional Mini Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.
Coopers Garage
On the 1st of April 1968 John Cooper leased the building to the Metropolitan Police and the local Traffic Division (V Victor) moved in. They would stay there for the next twenty-five years and 'TDV' would become one of the busier police garages. In August 1968, they were supplied with the two Mini Coopers index numbers PYT767F and PYT768F. The centre boss of the steering wheel was replace by a speaker and microphone and a PTT transmitter switch, was added to the steering column. The sight of a six-foot bobby getting into the mini, caused great humour amongst the locals. The vehicles were trialled for a number of months, but no orders were placed for other garages.
References
- John Cooper Works
- John Cooper - A Very British Marque, A Very British Man
- John Cooper: The Man Who Beat Italia
- 500 Owners Association
- TDV Webs site
- John Cooper (1977). The Grand Prix Carpetbaggers: The Autobiography of John Cooper. Doubleday. ISBN 0-385-03081-9
- Cooper Cars, by Doug Nye, 1983, Osprey Publishing, 2003, Motorbooks International
See also
- GPL Driveable, detailed simulations of Cooper's T81 and T77 F1 cars. Grand Prix Legends (nicknamed GPL) is a computer Racing simulator developed by Papyrus Design Group and published in 1998 by Sierra
External links
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vanwall | Formula One Constructors' Champion 1959-1960 | Succeeded by Ferrari |
en:Cooper Car Company
Vanwall was a Formula One team in the 1950s The Vanwall name was derived by combining the name of the team owner Tony Vandervell with that of his patented Thinwall By season The 1959 Formula One season included the 10th FIA Formula One World Championship season which commenced on May 10, 1959, and ended on December The 1960 Formula One season featured the eleventh FIA World Championship of Drivers, the third International Cup for F1 Manufacturers and numerous non-championship Formula Scuderia Ferrari is the name for the Gestione Sportiva the division of the Ferrari automobile company concerned with racingDapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic