Cooper T59

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The 1962 Cooper T59 FJ of Michael Shearer, pictured in 2014 Cooper T59 FJ of Michael Shearer.JPG
The 1962 Cooper T59 FJ of Michael Shearer, pictured in 2014

The Cooper T59 was the third series Formula Junior racing car produced by the Cooper Car Company, designed for the 1962 season. Similar in layout to the T56, the T59 was five inches narrower and one and half inches lower than its predecessor. A semi-reclining seat position was adopted for the driver. The chassis frame was stiffened up and the front and rear roll centres raised. T59s were supplied with either Ford or BMC 'A series' engines.

Formula Junior

Formula Junior is an open wheel formula racing class first adopted in October 1958 by the CSI. The class was intended to provide an entry level class where drivers could use inexpensive mechanical components from ordinary automobiles. The idea to form the new class came from Count Giovanni "Johnny" Lurani who saw the need of a class for single-seater racing cars where younger drivers could take their first steps. It is often speculated that this class was founded as a reaction to Italy's lack of success in the 500cc Formula Three, and although Italian marques dominated the first year of the formula, they were soon overtaken by British constructors.

Cooper Car Company auto racing team

The Cooper Car Company is a car manufacturer founded in December 1947 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles's small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England, in 1946. Through the 1950s and early 1960s they reached motor racing's highest levels as their rear-engined, single-seat cars altered the face of Formula One and the Indianapolis 500, and their Mini Cooper dominated rally racing. Due in part to Cooper's legacy, Great Britain remains the home of a thriving racing industry, and the Cooper name lives on in the Cooper versions of the Mini production cars that are still built in England, but are now owned and marketed by BMW.

Cooper T56

The Cooper T56 was the second series of Formula Junior racing cars offered by the Cooper Car Company. Although officially a 1961 model, the first T56 raced in 1960. In addition to the factory constructed cars, a number of kits were sold.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

YearEntrantEngineTyresDrivers12345678910Pts.WCC
1962 Anglo-American Equipe Climax FPF 1.5 L4 D NED MON BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA RSA 29 (37)*3rd
Ian Burgess 1211DNQ
1965 Trevor Blokdyk Ford 109E 1.5 L4 D RSA MON BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX 0NC
Trevor Blokdyk DNQ

* Includes points scored by other Cooper models

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