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Beschrijving

Of the approximately fifty Cooper T39 Bobtails produced at the Hollyfield Road factory, surprisingly few have survived with their provenance intact — and of those that have, none carries a more compelling or more thoroughly documented history than chassis Mk91655. Supplied new in 1956 to Joe Lubin, Cooper’s West Coast US agent, it became one of the most successful small-capacity sports cars in California during the late 1950s, raced by one of the era’s leading privateer drivers, retained by its original owner for over half a century, and now presented following a preparation programme of exceptional quality and ambition.

Bob Drake was among the most capable and experienced private entrants on the West Coast circuit — a driver who contested Ferraris, Aston Martins, Porsches, and most famously the Maserati Birdcage for wealthy California entrants, and who later campaigned Max Balchowsky’s celebrated V8 special Ol’ Yeller IV. In Lubin’s little Cooper he found a car that suited him immediately: straight out of the box he took victory at Palm Springs in 1956, beating a field that included the ex-works Le Mans Porsche 550RS and Maseratis. Further victories at Pomona, Paramount Ranch, Santa Barbara and Riverside followed across five seasons of competition, and the car’s battles with Ken Miles became a defining feature of California sports car racing of the period. Drake also lined up alongside Richie Ginther, Pete Lovely and Pedro Rodríguez at various rounds, and the combination finished tenth in the GP of Riverside 200-miler and contested a USAC Road Racing Championship round at Pomona in 1959 — both serious international-calibre events rather than club rounds.

When Lubin retired the Bobtail from racing it remained in his possession, displayed at his Firestone Boulevard office in Los Angeles, for over half a century — an almost unheard-of continuity of ownership that is one of the principal reasons the car’s provenance is so clear and so well documented. It subsequently passed to HGPCA racer Scotty Taylor, who entrusted Hoole Racing — long-established and highly respected Cooper specialists — with a full restoration. Retaining the original chassis and bodywork throughout, Hoole fitted a fresh Coventry Climax FWB engine and rebuilt the ERSA transaxle. The car was raced at Spa, the Nürburgring, Silverstone, Oulton Park and Donington under Taylor’s ownership, and was found to be an absolute joy to drive.

The car’s most recent custodian has spared no expense in its preparation. Since 2023, over £85,000 has been invested in race preparation and running by Nick Finburgh and his team at Classic Autos — a 1950s sports car specialist of considerable standing. The engine was rebuilt in 2024 by Classic Autos, and the original gearbox was rebuilt by Crosthwaite & Gardiner, one of the most respected names in historic racing preparation, mated to a new old-stock original bell housing. Crucially, the car’s originality has been sympathetically retained throughout — its original chassis and bodywork remain, and every element of the preparation has been carried out in the spirit of the car rather than against it. The engine and gearbox have covered just one Le Mans Classic and one Goodwood Revival since their rebuild.

The results of that investment speak for themselves. The current owner has raced Mk91655 at three consecutive Goodwood Revivals and at Le Mans Classic, and received an entry to the Monaco Grand Prix Historique — an invitation-only event whose scrutineers assess not merely the condition of the car but the quality and integrity of its provenance and preparation. That Mk91655 has been accepted is a measure of all three.

The car is presented in the white and blue American national racing colours it carried throughout its competition career with Bob Drake, and is accompanied by a history file commensurate with its extraordinary provenance. FIA HTP papers are valid until 2030.

With those papers in place, the car is eligible for each of the following:
Monterey Rolex Reunion
Goodwood Revival
Le Mans Classic
Monaco Grand Prix Historique
MRL Woodcote Trophy
MRL Stirling Moss Trophy

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Conditie categorie: Gerestaureerd
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Technische details

Kenmerken

Merk: Cooper
Model: T39
Eerste registratie: Niet voorzien
Bouwjaar: 1956
Kilometerstand
Carrosserienummer: Mk91655
Motornummer: Niet voorzien
Transmissienummer: Niet voorzien
Aantal eigenaren: Niet voorzien

Technische details

Carrosserie detail: Raceauto
Vermogen (kW/pk): 184/250
Cilinderinhoud (cm³): 1460
Cilinders: 8
Deuren: 1
Stuur: Gecentreerd
Versnellingsbak: Manueel
Versnellingen: 4
Transmissie: Achterkant
Remmen voor: Niet voorzien
Remmen achter: Niet voorzien
Brandstof: Benzine

Individuele configuratie

Kleur: Wit
Interieurkleur: Blauw

Interieur materiaal: Gedeeltelijk leder

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1956 | Cooper T39

Beschrijving

Conditie en registratie

Inspectierapport

Technische details

Kenmerken

Technische details

Individuele configuratie

Lokatie

Andere van The Classic Motor Hub

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