1955 Cooper T39 “Bobtail”

History

This Cooper T39 was most recently purchased by Jim Brown from Cooper open wheel racer Bob Korst in 1985. The car was in project condition, needing a rebuild and a rear clamshell body section. Over the next several years the Bobtail was restored. An original rear clamshell body section was sourced in Vancouver, B.C. and fitted to the car. A new aluminum undertray was installed. The Cooper then began what would become its second racing career. Ironically, it was through the car’s second racing career that Jim would learn of the car’s first racing career. 

While racing at the 1990 Monterey Historics, Jim noticed a gentleman closely examining the Cooper. It was Roy Kiesling. Roy was a friend and mechanic for a young racer in the late 1950’s with a bright future ahead of him. The racer was Carroll Smith, future Shelby American GT40 team member and Le Mans winner, and author of all those great books on how to prepare and drive race cars. Yes, we have all of them ourselves, with lots of hand scribbled notes in the margins, and greasy fingerprints on the pages. 

Roy recognized the car, and its scars, from when he prepared and supported the Cooper for Carroll. Carroll raced the car in at least three SCCA races in 1959, winning his class in all three. Carroll said it was his success in this car that lead him to believe that he should go to Europe to learn racecraft from some of the best. When Carroll went to Europe, the Cooper went to the U.S. West Coast, where it raced in the Pacific Northwest.

A book, Racing in the South 1957-58, contains photos of the Cooper with its prior owner, Hugh Grammer in 1957-58. Grammer would soon become even more well known in Cooper circles racing one of the two famous Mini Cooper “Purple People Eaters,” with the Overseas Motors Team out of Fort Worth, Texas.  The Racing in the South 1957-58 book, with the period photos of the Bobtail, will be included with the sale of the T39. 

In 1991, the year after Jim met Roy, Jim and Carroll connected in person. Carroll came to Jim’s home, looked the car over from top to bottom, and confirmed it was his old race car. Then he got back into the cockpit one more time and drove it around Jim’s circular driveway, reveling in the sights, sounds, and smells of that 1959 racing season. Thereafter Jim continued to race the Cooper up and down the U.S. Western seaboard for the next 30 years, including many races at Monterey. 

In 2008, the Cooper was hit by another car at Sonoma Raceway. The frame was damaged, and had already been showing signs of failure due to internal rust and fatigue. The decision was made to have Southern California fabricator Wayne Mitchell build a new frame. The Cooper’s aluminum panels were preserved and restored using a planishing hammer, and the car’s other parts were fitted to the new frame.

Jim presented his Bobtail to the Cooper Car Club for verification and authentication. The Club issued a Cooper Car Club chassis tag for the car with the number “CS-50” That tag remains affixed to the car to this day.

Description

The Cooper is powered by a 1220 c.c. Schlossenagel Coventry Climax engine. It has a billet crank and rods, and redlines at 8,000 rpm. The fuel is fed by twin 1.5” SU carburetors. The engine has approximately 4-5 race weekends on it. A new five bearing cam carrier was recently installed.  

The car has period correct 8” drum brakes which are cast into the front wheels. Wayne Mitchell produced a run of 25 of these period correct “artillery” style Cooper wheels in magnesium for safety and authenticity purposes. The shocks are the period correct rebuilt original Armstrong shock absorbers.

During the rebuild, the Bobtail received new uprights and hubs sourced from Syd Hoole in England. The gearbox is a Webster modified 5 speed built to Hewland Mk5 specs. It was originally built to be used with a Lotus twin cam engine. Both the engine and gearbox are in very good condition. The original steering wheel will come with the car. 

The owner raced the Cooper right up through the 2021 Monterey Pre Reunion and Reunion. Since then the Bobtail has been quietly nestled in his home garage in Southern California. The car is periodically run and driven to keep all systems fully functioning. Please see the recent video of the car driving below. 

All vehicle descriptions are accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of writing. Corrections, and supplemental information, are always welcome. Buyers are responsible for confirming vehicle histories, condition, and authenticity to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. Motorsports Market is not the owner of the vehicle and assumes no liability for errors and omissions.

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