10th Oct, 2007 0:00

Imperial War Museum Duxford

 
  Lot 66
 

1951 Cooper MK 5 Single Seater

Sold for £28,125

(including buyers premium)


Lot details
Registration No: N/A
Chassis No: MKV/7/51
Mot Expiry: N/A

Over the closed season of 1950/51, so legend has it, Jimmy Richmond, Eric Brandon and Alan Brown descended on a pub beside the A1 at Eaton Socon to discuss forming a Formula 3 racing team. The idea being that Richmond - who had accrued some wealth from government construction contracts during WW2 - would act as a backer and the other two as drivers. Both Brandon and Brown were well respected in '500' circles, indeed the former had been involved from the very start of the movement thanks to his childhood friendship with John Cooper. Through a combination of preparation, organisation and sheer ability, the newly formed Ecurie Richmond became the most successful outfit of the 1951 season. Their Cooper Mark Vs were impeccably presented, having the benefit of full-time mechanics (Michael 'Ginger' Devlin and Freddy Sirkett) and were distinguished by different colours on the nose, wheels and upholstery, red for Brandon and blue for Brown. The main bodywork was polished (to save weight!) but the colour schemes were carried through to the drivers' overalls.

This car achieved many period successes at the hands of Alan Brown coming first in the 1951 Luxemburg Grand Prix and also winning international races at Draguignan and Grenzlandring. On the domestic front, Brown scored victories at Boreham and Silverstone (the first 100 mile race) as well as taking numerous top three places. Alan sold the Cooper at the end of 1951 to "somebody in the Midlands" after which time it disappeared for nigh-on two decades. Resurfacing in early 1970 complete with a Reliant engine and shortened wheelbase, the single-seater enjoyed a second career as a midget speedway racer driven by one D.S. Ambrose. Later acquired by Arthur Curnow (the Brixham Lifeboat Coxswain) who reinstated its proper wheelbase, the Mark V has been in the current ownership since February 1982. Treated to an extensive restoration thereafter including a conversion to JAP power (it would have originally carried a Norton unit), the car appeared at various hillclimbs (the Goodwood Festival of Speed among them) until 1998 when it was entered for the first Goodwood Revival meeting. Since then it has participated in two more Revivals, as well as being invited to the Louis Vuitton Classic in 2002 and the 2004 Aintree Festival of Motorsport. The sale will include a full set of fibreglass bodywork plus numerous other spares (drive shafts, cables, wishbones etc). Old style FIA papers exist for the car and it was the subject of a lengthy article in 'Motor Sport' July 2004 - their 80th birthday edition.
 

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Auction: Imperial War Museum Duxford, 10th Oct, 2007

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