Today at kirkistown saw two ( 3 cars if you include the GP2 car lurking about in the background) very rare cars indeed a 1961 Cooper T53 F1 car and a AC Shelby Cobra, so in true 60s fashion i decided to do old style photos for the report to show the cars in their full glory and how most people would have seen them.
About the Cooper T53
For the 1960 Formula One season, Cooper produced the first of the Lowline’ series. The T53 was narrower and lower than the previous types. This approach gave them a second World Championship.
Coopers impressive season for 1959, with eight victories out of the 13 F1 races, had them excited for the 1960 season.
The next iteration was the T53, which had coil springs instead of the leaf springs of the T51. The bodywork was improved which gave the car better aerodynamics. The T53 was a solid performer, providing Brabham with five consecutive wins by mid-season.
the mid-engined layout revolutionized F1, with most marque’s adapting the style for the 1960 and 1961 season. Ferrari was one of the last to change.
1960 was the final year for the 2.5-liter regulations. This 1961 Cooper T53 has a 1.5 coventery climax, 4 cyclinder engine and was driven by James “Hap” Sharp who was an American race car driver who drove in six Formula One grands prix. But he was best known as co-owner and driver of the revolutionary Chaparral sports racing cars built by Jim Hall and Sharp in Midland, Texas. In 1962 Jim Hall and Hap Sharp formed Chaparral Cars, Inc. and immediately began the design and construction of Chaparral 2, a mid-engined car with an aerospace inspired semi-monocoque fiberglass chassis.
The 1961 United States Grand Prix was a Formula One race held on October 8, 1961 at the Watkins Glen Grand Prix Race Course in Watkins Glen, New York and in this very T53 he manged to finish the race in 10th place completing 93 laps and 7 behind the leaders.
About The 1964s AC Shelby Cobra
The car is a 1964 AC Shelby Cobra 289 FIA Roadster with a 4.7 litre Ford V8 engine
