1960 Cooper Monaco T57 MKII CM3-60

Competitive and superbly prepared. Undoubtedly one of the best.

Changed to Mk III coil-spring rear suspension in period by John Cooper

Recently rebuilt and prepared by Martin Stretton and his Team. Fresh Climax 2.0 FPF

Consistently successful over recent decades

FIA Papers. Set-up information. Lots of history

It was in November 1958 that the original Cooper Monaco, offset-driving position, sports-racing car was announced by the Surbiton-based company to replace its preceding centre-seat 'Bobtail' small-capacity models. The new design was named 'Monaco' as a respectful nod to Maurice Trintignant's 1958 victory in the Monaco Grand Prix, behind the wheel of a Rob Walker-entered Formula 1 Cooper-Climax. The original Cooper Monaco Mark I model combined coil-and-wishbone front suspension with a transverse-leaf rear end and was a notably short-wheelbase sports-racing car, amazingly low and light for the period, clothed in stubby and purposeful aluminium bodywork.

During 1959, the new Monacos were immediately successful, displaying a decent advantage over the contemporary front-engined Lotus-Climax 15s. At the mid-season British GP meeting, Stirling Moss made his Monaco debut in the first 2.5-litre Climax-engined variant, while other owners fitted the 2.5-litre Maserati four-cylinder in place of Cooper's preferred Coventry Climax FPF power unit. The Mk II differed in detail and featured a slightly longer nose improving the car's balance at speed.

Offered here is a beautifully prepared Cooper Monaco Mk II that is already a previous class winner in the Goodwood Stirling Moss Trophy in 2014. It has been fully rebuilt by Martin Stretton and his team and is ready for the worlds top events. In 1960, early in its race career, it was crashed and during the repairs, Cooper took the opportunity to bring the car up to date by incorporating the coil spring rear suspension arrangement from the Mk III. The history file contains a letter signed by John Cooper explaining that they did upgrade cars in late 1960 and on the strength of photos supplied confirmed that #CM3-60 was indeed modified by them and converted to the more effective coil spring set up. This is a well-known and much-admired car that has been owned and raced extensively by Cooper aficionado Sid Hoole for over forty years. In recent years it has continued its winning ways in the hands of our vendor and is undoubtedly one of the top Monacos.

Preparation has been entrusted to renowned specialist Martin Stretton who have recently completely rebuilt the Monaco and its Climax 2.0 FPF making this car ready to continue winning in 2018.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to own a highly competitive coil-sprung Cooper Monaco, surely the ultimate early sixties Sports Racing Car, and put yourself at the front of some pretty decent International Sportscar grids. Accompanied by current FIA papers.