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  Cooper T51 Climax      

  Article Image gallery (82) Chassis (3) F2-23-59 Specifications  
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Country of origin:Great Britain
Produced in:1959
Designed by:John Cooper / Owen Maddock
Author:Wouter Melissen
Last updated:November 19, 2009
Download: All images
Chassis: F2-23-59
A Works car, chassis F2-23-59 was used for several races by Bruce McLaren during the 1959 season. In the opening races that year he used a T45/51 hybrid chassis F2-23-58 and it is believed that the chassis was renumbered upon its upgrade to full T51 specifications. Cooper sold the car at the end of the World Championship winning season Fred Tuck and Horace Gould. They entered the car in 1960 for the likes of Lucien Bianchi and Roy Salvadori. It was fitted with a 1.5 litre for the 1961 season but did not score any notable results. It was sold to American Frank Dochnal in 1962. He raced the car in local events but also entered it in the inaugural Mexican Grand Prix. He crashed during a very wet practice session and decided to retire from racing.

Less engine and gearbox, the ex-Works Cooper was sold on and continued to be raced with various engines for many more years. Its contemporary racing career finally ended in 1970. The car was eventually bought by collector Murray Smith, who carefully had it restored to its original configuration. Fitted with a two-litre engine, it was raced extensively from 1984 onwards. Smith competed in 15 editions of the Monterey Historic Automobile races. In 2004, it was fitted with a Crosthwaite & Gardiner built 2.5 litre FPF engine, restoring it to full Formula 1 specification. A few years ago Smith decided to retire from racing and offered his prized Cooper for sale. It was acquired by the current owner, a compatriot of McLaren, who had it restored and repainted again, this time by Neil Twyman in England. Driven by the owner and Jack's son David Brabham during the 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed, fifty years after the historic 1959 season. Later in the year the owner drove it to a win in the Jack Brabham Trophy during the Silverstone Classic.


Chassis details
Appearances

2017 Goodwood Members' Meeting 2016 Goodwood Revival 2014 Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2014 Monaco Historic Grand Prix
2014 Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2014 Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2014 Monaco Historic Grand Prix 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed
2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

  Article Image gallery (82) Chassis (3) F2-23-59 Specifications