1946 - 1969

Cooper
  • Body type:  Sports cars, racing cars
  • Country of origin:  UK
  • Built in:  UK

The Cooper Car Company, founded by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper in 1946, stands as a pivotal entity in the annals of motorsport history. From a modest garage in Surbiton, Surrey, this family-run business began by crafting racing cars, which dramatically altered the landscape of Formula One with their innovative rear-engined designs during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The company’s iconic breakthrough came with the development of cars like the Cooper T51, which Jack Brabham drove to clinch the Formula One World Championship in 1959 and 1960. This success marked a turning point as it introduced a new standard with the engine positioned behind the driver, a design all subsequent Formula One cars would adopt.

In addition to their F1 success, the Cooper name is perhaps even more widely recognized through the Mini Cooper. This vehicle, borne from the collaboration between John Cooper and the British Motor Corporation, transformed the classic Mini into a racing legend. The Mini Cooper earned acclaim for its agility and prowess, leaving an indelible mark on rally racing and becoming a symbol of 1960s British culture.

Today, the legacy of Cooper continues, intertwined with BMW’s stewardship of the Mini brand, showcasing a blend of traditional racing heritage with modern automotive innovation. Despite challenges and transformations through the decades, the Cooper brand endures, continually pushing the boundaries of car design and performance.



Main image via: By <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Alexander-93" title="User:Alexander-93">Alexander Migl</a> – <span class="int-own-work" lang="en">Own work</span>, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link


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