1953 Cooper Bristol Historic Grand Prix Car

1953 Cooper Bristol Historic Grand Prix Race Car - Chassis Number CB Mk2/9/53 - represents a great opportunity to acquire one of the last two litre Cooper Bristols built, with a current VSCC Passport and FIA papers, it is "on the button' and ready to go! This particular car was originally built by John Cooper for Tom Cole, the American millionaire who owned ECKO, the electronics company.

Tom Cole was killed later that year, driving a Ferrari, and the car was then shipped out to Australia. It was imported by Reg Hunt for Kevin Neal to drive. Its racing history in Australia is extensively documented.

Its first appearance was at Fishermans Bend, near Melbourne on the 19 February 1955 when Neal finished fifth in the 1955 Victorian Trophy. In Neal's hands, it finished third in the following year and fourth in the 1955 Australian Grand Prix.

In October 1956, it was sold to Len Lukey, of Lukey Mufflers fame, who campaigned it very successfully for the next two years, with notably a fourth in the 1957 Australian Grand Prix. In addition, on 28 September 1957 at Coonabarabran in New South Wales, it created a new category E Australian National speed record of 147.4 miles per hour.During most of 1958, it had a special "Vanwall" type body fitted. This had been designed and built at Lukey's instigation in an endeavour to obtain a more slippery shape, but the original body was retained and has remained with the car.

Eddie Clay subsequently acquired the car but blew the engine in a big way at Phillip Island and the car rarely appeared again until it was bought by Ken Cox and fitted with a highly modified 3 Litre Holden engine. In 1966, in that form, it was raced by Jim Russell.

The car was later acquired by Tom Wheatcroft's business partner , Jumbo Goddard, and then reunited with its original engine and shipped back to the UK. It then became one of the first cars to form part of Tom's famous Donington Grand Prix Collection.There are many pictures of the car in the collection, and it also featured in the cigarette cards based on the Donington Collection produced by WD & HO Wills.

The current owner bought the car out of the Donington collection in 1994 and has successfully raced it in VSCC and HGPCA events, both nationally and internationally for the last 18 years, where it has won many class awards.The car has a current VSCC passport and current FIA papers.The car has been meticulously maintained by the current owner. The chassis and all the running components were completely restored by Hi-Tech Motorsport in 2011 and the engine was also rebuilt. The car is sold with numerous spares including two sets of 5 1/2 J racing wheels and a set of 4½ J racing wheels to comply with current HGPCA requirements.

This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire a very desirable, on the button and ready to go Historic Grand Prix Car eligible for both VSCC and HGPCA events.