 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
1953 Cooper T25 news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
 |  |  |
The car was eventually converted to a sports racer, as you see today. The body is aluminum and was built by Wakefields of Byfleet. The car was given the British registration of UPF440. The original 6-cylinder engine was then replaced with a MG XPAG motor and raced in British Club Racing.
The car was imported to the US in the early 1970's and purchased by Mr. Banaszak. The car has since undergone a ground up restoration and has appeared in several concours events.
The Cooper T20 was produced beginning in 1952 and was powered by a L6 Bristol engine. The Bristol engine had been chosen because it was viewed as the best available 2-liter unit at the time. The manufacturer, Bristol Aeroplane Company based the six-cylinder engine's design on the pre-war BMW 328. The engine displaced 1971cc with hover-head valves actuated by cross-pushrods. In standard guise it produced nearly 130 horsepower, which was about 40 horsepower less than the competition.
The engine was lacking in power in comparison to its competition. Cooper chose to continue with the engine due to its availablity, reliability, and parts were in abundance. To compensate for its lack of power, Cooper devised an uncomplicated and lightweight chassis. The resulting car was the Cooper T20, also known as the Cooper-Bristol Mark I (MKI). A prototpye was debuted to the public at Hollyfield Road in early 1952.
The car was given a four-speed manual gearbox and a traditional Cooper suspension. The suspension included tranverse leaves and tubular wishbones. The chassis had been inspired by the Mark V 500 and featured a box-section chassis with holes drilled into the frame to reduce the overall weight. The steering was by rack-and-pinon with a 1.75 turns lock-to-lock. Located on all four corners were Cooper magnesium cast-type that measured 10-inches in diamater.
The prototype car was sold to Archie Bryde. Bob Chase purchase a T20 and it was raced by Mike Hawthorn who had much success with the car. At the Belgian Grand Prix, it was driven to a spectacular fourth place finiish. Late, a third place finish in the British Grand prix was achieved. A fourth at the Dutch Grand Prix earned him a fourth place finish in the World Championship. Hawthorn drove the car to a victory at the Lavant Cup where he was chased by two other Cooper-Bristols. Another victory was scored at the Formule Libre Chichester Cup.
Mike Hawthorn's career would continue with much success. The T20 had paved the way for this aspiring driver. The Cooper-Bristol T20 often outclassed the more powerful cars, though they had trouble beating the Ferrari's. It was Cooper's first Formula 2 car and was replaced in 1953 by the T23, also known as the Cooper Bristol MKII. The T23 had many improvements, such as a lighter tubular frame and larger brakes. The drum brakes of the MKI had been one of the vehicles achilles heal. The MKII's were given 11-inch Alfin light-alloy drums. The body was slightly redesigned, making it smoother and more aerodynamic. Powered by Bristol engines, the car failed to score any championship points during hte 1953 season. At the conclusion of the 1953 season, the cars were raced in Formula Libre classes, by such memorable names as Australia's Jack Brabham.
During the very early 1950s, Cooper had built a reputation by dominating the Formula 3 class. This had been a profitable venture and the company had wanted to diversify by moving into the Formula 2 class. Their customers had been asking for a Formula 2 car in which they could continue to climb the racing class ladder. Thus, the creation of the Formula 2 Cooper T20 MKI's. The car had proved capable, but more was required to become a serious contender. Hawthorn joined with Maranello in 1953, competing in F1 competition under the Ferrari banner. His career would continue for several years, mostly at the wheel for Ferrari's and Maserati's.
Coopers next iteration of the T20 was the Mark II, T23. All, but one, of the cars were powered by Bristol engines, still with the engine being placed in the front. One example was given a BRG Alta engine and owned by Peter Whitehead and driven by Moss.
One of the factory drivers was Britshman, John Barber. He traveled to Argentina at the start of the 1953 F1 season to compete with his Cooper T23. He managed an eighth place finish, seven laps down from the victor. Cruz Schwelm entered an MKI, but it retired prematurely due to mechanical problems.
Alan Brown and Cruz Schwelm retired in the Buenos Aires City Libre GP, and Barber managed an 11th place finish in the Mark II.
At the close of the season, Gerard and Moss had managed some victories in minor events. The Cooper MKI and MKII models continue to race, with some being converted to sports racing cars. Some of the cars had success in the Formula Libre class and in Formula 1, though with larger engines and improvements throughout the vehicle.
The 1953 World Championship season had run under Formula 2 regulations. At the close of the season, the regulations changed to 2.5-liters in natural aspirated. Cooper decided to focus on Formula 3, unveiling the newest contender, the Mark VIII 500 in October. The 'curved-tube' concept was unveiled to the public where its streamlined body was hailed as the sleekest Cooper to-date.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
The engine was lacking in power in comparison to its competition. Cooper chose to continue with the engine due to its availablity, reliability, and parts were in abundance. To compensate for its lack of power, Cooper devised an uncomplicated and lightweight chassis. The resulting car was the Cooper T20, also known as the Cooper-Bristol Mark I (MKI). A prototpye was debuted to the public at Hollyfield Road in early 1952.
The car was given a four-speed manual gearbox and a traditional Cooper suspension. The suspension included tranverse leaves and tubular wishbones. The chassis had been inspired by the Mark V 500 and featured a box-section chassis with holes drilled into the frame to reduce the overall weight. The steering was by rack-and-pinon with a 1.75 turns lock-to-lock. Located on all four corners were Cooper magnesium cast-type that measured 10-inches in diamater.
The prototype car was sold to Archie Bryde. Bob Chase purchase a T20 and it was raced by Mike Hawthorn who had much success with the car. At the Belgian Grand Prix, it was driven to a spectacular fourth place finiish. Late, a third place finish in the British Grand prix was achieved. A fourth at the Dutch Grand Prix earned him a fourth place finish in the World Championship. Hawthorn drove the car to a victory at the Lavant Cup where he was chased by two other Cooper-Bristols. Another victory was scored at the Formule Libre Chichester Cup.
Mike Hawthorn's career would continue with much success. The T20 had paved the way for this aspiring driver. The Cooper-Bristol T20 often outclassed the more powerful cars, though they had trouble beating the Ferrari's. It was Cooper's first Formula 2 car and was replaced in 1953 by the T23, also known as the Cooper Bristol MKII. The T23 had many improvements, such as a lighter tubular frame and larger brakes. The drum brakes of the MKI had been one of the vehicles achilles heal. The MKII's were given 11-inch Alfin light-alloy drums. The body was slightly redesigned, making it smoother and more aerodynamic. Powered by Bristol engines, the car failed to score any championship points during hte 1953 season. At the conclusion of the 1953 season, the cars were raced in Formula Libre classes, by such memorable names as Australia's Jack Brabham.
During the very early 1950s, Cooper had built a reputation by dominating the Formula 3 class. This had been a profitable venture and the company had wanted to diversify by moving into the Formula 2 class. Their customers had been asking for a Formula 2 car in which they could continue to climb the racing class ladder. Thus, the creation of the Formula 2 Cooper T20 MKI's. The car had proved capable, but more was required to become a serious contender. Hawthorn joined with Maranello in 1953, competing in F1 competition under the Ferrari banner. His career would continue for several years, mostly at the wheel for Ferrari's and Maserati's.
Coopers next iteration of the T20 was the Mark II, T23. All, but one, of the cars were powered by Bristol engines, still with the engine being placed in the front. One example was given a BRG Alta engine and owned by Peter Whitehead and driven by Moss.
One of the factory drivers was Britshman, John Barber. He traveled to Argentina at the start of the 1953 F1 season to compete with his Cooper T23. He managed an eighth place finish, seven laps down from the victor. Cruz Schwelm entered an MKI, but it retired prematurely due to mechanical problems.
Alan Brown and Cruz Schwelm retired in the Buenos Aires City Libre GP, and Barber managed an 11th place finish in the Mark II.
At the close of the season, Gerard and Moss had managed some victories in minor events. The Cooper MKI and MKII models continue to race, with some being converted to sports racing cars. Some of the cars had success in the Formula Libre class and in Formula 1, though with larger engines and improvements throughout the vehicle.
The 1953 World Championship season had run under Formula 2 regulations. At the close of the season, the regulations changed to 2.5-liters in natural aspirated. Cooper decided to focus on Formula 3, unveiling the newest contender, the Mark VIII 500 in October. The 'curved-tube' concept was unveiled to the public where its streamlined body was hailed as the sleekest Cooper to-date.
By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2007
| 1955 Tourist Trophy: One Last Victory | |
 | The tragedy at Le Mans on the 11th of June, 1955 would dramatically affect motor racing. For one of the manufacturers involved, Mercedes-Benz, it would be a confirmation of what it had already come to believe. Toward the end of the 1955 season it was known Mercedes-Benz would withdraw from all motor racing having achieved just about everything possible in Formula One and sportscars. However, on the 18th of September, there would be one last race in which the mighty Silver Arrows would be gunning...[Read more...] |
| Epic Finishes Highlight The American Le Mans Road Race Showcase At Road America | |
 | Guy Smith and Dyson Racing were on the other end this time around at Road America. A year after missing out by 0.112 seconds to Muscle Milk Racing in the P1 class, Smith delivered victory for Dyson Racing on Saturday in the closest overall finish in the history of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón - 0.083 seconds. Despite starting next-to-last on the grid, Smith and Chris Dyson won the four-hour Road America Road Race Showcase in an epic finish. Muscle Milk Pickett Rac...[Read more...] |
| 1957 Italian Grand Prix: A True Nobleman Stands Amongst Two of F1's Most Noble | |
 | The sea of spectators overwhelming the circuit would be a truly awe-inspiring sight to behold. The vast majority of this horde was there to celebrate the car adorned in red finishing in the top three. The car's driver, a true royal, would stand amongst the crowd as if standing amongst adoring and loving subjects. For the first time in his career, Wolfgang von Trips would be able to count himself amongst the elite of Formula One. Wolfgang von Trips had been born into a noble German family in ...[Read more...] |
| 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix: British All the Way | |
 | After years of frustration, and well past his life-expectancy, Mike Hawthorn would be on the verge of his first World Championship. This was more than likely Hawthorn's last and best hope at a World Championship title. Just one last race, and a fellow Brit, would separate Hawthorn from his World Championship. Emotionally, Hawthorn was done. The last few seasons had seen Hawthorn fail to experience anywhere near the level of success he had even in his rookie year of 1952. In 1952, with an unde...[Read more...] |
| 1952 Belgian Grand Prix: Youth Reigned Down | |
 | On a rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps Circuit a tall, blonde-haired Brit by the name of Mike Hawthorn would stun the crowd and would make many within grand prix racing take notice of the 23 year old. Mike Hawthorn had started out racing motorbikes. In his first-ever event in a BSA trial bike, Hawthorn would take the victory. Michael's father, Leslie, recognized his son's skills as a racer and would invest in his talent by using his Tourist Trophy garage to help prepare racing cars for his son. ...[Read more...] |
| View more Formula 2 vehicles |
 1953
Cooper
models |
| Cooper MG Barchetta |
| Cooper T23 MKII |
| Cooper T24 |
| Similar Vehicles | |
 | 1954 Stanguellini 750 Sport Internazionale |
| Cooper: 1951-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Cooper |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| 2005 Hilton Head Island Concours d'Elegance |
| 2005 Palm Beach International Concours d'Elegance |
| Monaco T-56 T24 T51 T53 |
© 1998-2012. All rights reserved. The material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
