1952/3 Cooper Bristol T20 MK I Single Seater

Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: See Text
Mot Expiry: N/A

According to information kindly supplied by the vendor, this well presented single-seater began life as a prototype production Cooper Bristol sports car. Built-up during late 1952 / early 1953, it was based around a MKI chassis and clothed with a Wakefield body. Entered for the August 1953 Goodwood 9-hours race, the sports car was driven by John Coombs and Tommy Sopwith but crashed out on oil dropped at the infamous St Mary's corner. Rebuilt using a spare chassis that may or may not have belonged to Bob Gerard (please see 'Cooper Cars' by Doug Nye, pages 96, 98-99), it was sold to the Hon Edward Greenall in 1954 who was photographed aboard the car at MIRA the following year.

Still being actively campaigned when acquired by American Roy Winkelman during 1956, the Cooper Bristol made another appearance at Goodwood before journeying across The Pond. Driven at a variety of SCCA meetings including Buckley (Aurora), La Junta, Continental Divide and Laguna Seca, its period competition history came to an end as the result of another heavy accident. Unearthed by Stephen Langton in the mid-1970s, the wreck was brought back to the UK and entrusted to Barry Simpson Engineering. Commissioned to restore the sports car to single-seater MKI T20 specification, the Newton Abbott-based firm duly disposed of the crumpled bodywork.

However, the discarded sheetmetal found its way onto another chassis which now also claims to be mortal remains of the ex-John Coombs / Tommy Sopwith prototype. Although, the vendor found the various "Barry Simpson Engineering invoices, Bob Winkelman emails (Roy's brother), sworn affidavits and other letters" on file to be compelling, prospective purchasers are advised to make their own investigations should they have any doubts as to this car's provenance. Passing through the hands of David Vine, Rod Leach, Brian Tyler and Chris Stuart during the 1980s, the single-seater was purchased in 1991 by Keith Payne who had its chassis powder coated as part of a thorough refurbishment.

Enthusiastically raced by previous keeper Ken White, his ten-year stewardship saw the Cooper-Bristol benefit from attention to its engine (NDR Ltd 1997-1998, 2001), rear suspension (Spa shunt, 1999), stub axles (2000), front brake drums (2003) and front suspension. In return, the single-seater rewarded him with victory at the San Marino Historic Grand Prix (Imola), European Historic Grand Prix (Zolder), VSCC Hawthorn Memorial Trophy, Amschel Rothschild Trophy, Bob Gerard Memorial Trophy, Shuttleworth Trophy and a BDC Formula Libre race. Continuing its winning ways during the current ownership, the car was not only the highest placed Cooper Bristol at the 2007 Goodwood Revival meeting but also allowed the vendor to finish 2nd in the 2007 HGPCA Championship (after a flurry of 1st or 2nd in class placings at Donington, Silverstone, Dijon, Pau, Oulton Park and Porto).

Finished in green with a red leather seat, the open wheeler is described as being in "very good overall" condition and has the added advantage of a new four-speed manual gearbox. Offered for sale with a history file (including the aforementioned documentation) and recent FIA HTP papers (issued February 2007), this proven front runner is potentially eligible for some of the most prestigious events on the historic motor racing calendar.