1956 Cooper T39 – Bobtail

The story of the Cooper Car Company is well known where father and son team Charles and John Cooper in 1946 set up shop in the south-west London suburb of Surbiton. John was keen on motor racing and the first cars built were comprised of joining the front ends of two Fiat Topolinos. Seems simple enough, but the surprising step taken by the Coopers were to use a JAP motorcycle engine in the rear driving the gearbox by way of a chain. Logical really, as the gearbox, also from a motorcycle, was driven by chain so both engine and box had to be close together. Little did they know, of course, the impact that would have on the construction of racing cars into the future.

Also not long into the future was a marriage between Cooper and the long established engine manufacturer Coventry Climax. Before World War Two Climax had been manufacturing engines for many vehicle manufacturers, but not many of them could be labelled sporting. Of course, during WWII they produced a range of engines to suit military purposes.