Cooper Mark IV
Encyclopedia
The Cooper Mark IV was a Formula Three
and Formula Two
racing car designed and built by the Cooper Car Company
at Surbiton
, Surrey
, England
, in 1950.
Following the adoption of the 500cc formula for F3 in 1949, Cooper evolved the Mark III to use a 500 cc JAP single.
The ladder frame was retained, with the aluminum body supported by hoops. Lockheed twin-shoe disc brakes became standard, coupled to two master cylinder
s. The suspension was Fiat 500
transverse leaf spring
independent suspension
, used at front and rear.
The Mark IV came in a standard version (T11) for F3, and long-wheelbase (T12) variant for F2. Standard for the T11 was a 498 cc one-cylinder Speedway JAP engine. The T12 was powered by a 1000cc engine. The first 500 modified with a 1000cc JAP twin was prepared by customer Spike Rhiando in 1948. In 1949, a model powered by the 1250 cc engine from an MG TD was built, and won on its first outing. Cliff Davis was the most successful driver to campaign one.
Cars were supplied without engines, which the customer provided. (This would become routine in Formula One
in later years.) The T12s were best-suited for hillclimb
s and sprints, not being durable enough for longer events.
The F2 Mark IV, based on the TD-engined variant, appeared in 1952. It was powered by a 127 hp 1971 cc Bristol
inline six, giving up 50 hp to the Ferraris. At just 1000 lb (453.6 kg), they had 400 lb (181.4 kg) on the Ferraris, and better cornering, due to their mid-mounted engines. It made its debut in at Goodwood
on Easter Monday
, run by Eric Brandon
and Alan Brown (for Ecurie Richmond) and Mike Hawthorn
(driving for Bob Chase). Hawthorn took the Formula Two event and one of the two Formula Libre
races, and came second behind González
' 4½ l Ferrari
in another Libre outing. It marked the first mid-engined entrant in Formula Two, and only the second marque
in top-rank European racing, following Auto Union
.
Mark IVs competed successfully in F2 throughout 1952 and 1953, driven by Hawthorn, Peter Collins
, and of course John Cooper
himself, among others. (Stirling Moss
' unsuccessful Cooper-Alta was actually built by a different John Cooper
, Autocar
s sport editor.) In September 1950, Raymond Sommer
died in a wreck at Cadours
in a T12. It sold used at £425 in 1952.
Arthur Owen
modified a Mark IV with a streamlined glassfibre
body and 250cc Norton engine late in 1957. Bill Knight
used this car to set five speed records at Monza
.
Formula Three
Formula Three, also called Formula 3 or F3, is a class of open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held in Europe, Australia, South America and Asia form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers...
and Formula Two
Formula Two
Formula Two, abbreviated to F2, is a type of open wheel formula racing. It was replaced by Formula 3000 in 1985, but the FIA announced in 2008 that Formula Two would return for 2009 in the form of the FIA Formula Two Championship...
racing car designed and built by the Cooper Car Company
Cooper Car Company
The Cooper Car Company was founded in 1946 by Charles Cooper and his son John Cooper. Together with John's boyhood friend, Eric Brandon, they began by building racing cars in Charles' small garage in Surbiton, Surrey, England in 1946...
at Surbiton
Surbiton
Surbiton, a suburban area of London in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is situated next to the River Thames, with a mixture of Art-Deco courts, more recent residential blocks and grand, spacious 19th century townhouses blending into a sea of semi-detached 20th century housing estates...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1950.
Following the adoption of the 500cc formula for F3 in 1949, Cooper evolved the Mark III to use a 500 cc JAP single.
The ladder frame was retained, with the aluminum body supported by hoops. Lockheed twin-shoe disc brakes became standard, coupled to two master cylinder
Master cylinder
The master cylinder is a control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure into hydraulic pressure, in order to move other device which are located at the other end of the hydraulic system, such as one or more slave cylinders...
s. The suspension was Fiat 500
Fiat 500
The Fiat 500 is a car produced by the Fiat company of Italy between 1957 and 1975, with limited production of the Fiat 500 K estate continuing until 1977. The car was designed by Dante Giacosa....
transverse leaf spring
Leaf spring
Originally called laminated or carriage spring, a leaf spring is a simple form of spring, commonly used for the suspension in wheeled vehicles...
independent suspension
Independent suspension
Independent suspension is a broad term for any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically independently of each other. This is contrasted with a beam axle, live axle or deDion axle system in which the wheels are linked – movement on one side affects...
, used at front and rear.
The Mark IV came in a standard version (T11) for F3, and long-wheelbase (T12) variant for F2. Standard for the T11 was a 498 cc one-cylinder Speedway JAP engine. The T12 was powered by a 1000cc engine. The first 500 modified with a 1000cc JAP twin was prepared by customer Spike Rhiando in 1948. In 1949, a model powered by the 1250 cc engine from an MG TD was built, and won on its first outing. Cliff Davis was the most successful driver to campaign one.
Cars were supplied without engines, which the customer provided. (This would become routine in Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
in later years.) The T12s were best-suited for hillclimb
Hillclimbing
Hillclimbing is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course....
s and sprints, not being durable enough for longer events.
The F2 Mark IV, based on the TD-engined variant, appeared in 1952. It was powered by a 127 hp 1971 cc Bristol
Bristol Cars
Bristol Cars is a manufacturer of hand-built luxury cars headquartered in Patchway, near Bristol, United Kingdom. Bristol have always been a low-volume manufacturer; the most recent published official production figures were for 1982, which stated that 104 cars were produced in that year...
inline six, giving up 50 hp to the Ferraris. At just 1000 lb (453.6 kg), they had 400 lb (181.4 kg) on the Ferraris, and better cornering, due to their mid-mounted engines. It made its debut in at Goodwood
Goodwood Circuit
Goodwood Circuit is an historic venue for both two- and four-wheeled motorsport in the United Kingdom. The 2.4 mile circuit is situated near Chichester, West Sussex, close to the south coast of England, on the estate of Goodwood House, and completely encircles Chichester/Goodwood Airport...
on Easter Monday
Easter Monday
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
, run by Eric Brandon
Eric Brandon
Eric Brandon was a motor racing driver and businessman. He was closely associated with the Cooper Car Company, and was instrumental in the early development of the company....
and Alan Brown (for Ecurie Richmond) and Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn
John Michael Hawthorn was a racing driver, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex.-Racing career:...
(driving for Bob Chase). Hawthorn took the Formula Two event and one of the two Formula Libre
Formula Libre
Formula Libre is a form of automobile racing allowing a wide variety of types, ages and makes of purpose-built racing cars to compete "head to head". This can make for some interesting matchups, and provides the opportunity for some compelling driving performances against superior machinery...
races, and came second behind González
José Froilán González
José Froilán González is an Argentine former racing driver, particularly notable for scoring Ferrari's first win in a Formula One World Championship race at the 1951 British Grand Prix. He made his Formula One debut for Scuderia Achille Varzi in the 1950 Monaco Grand Prix...
' 4½ l Ferrari
Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. is an Italian sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari in 1929, as Scuderia Ferrari, the company sponsored drivers and manufactured race cars before moving into production of street-legal vehicles as Ferrari S.p.A. in 1947...
in another Libre outing. It marked the first mid-engined entrant in Formula Two, and only the second marque
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
in top-rank European racing, following Auto Union
Auto Union racing car
The Auto Union Grand Prix racing cars types A to D, were developed and built by a specialist racing department of Horch works in Zwickau between 1933 and 1939....
.
Mark IVs competed successfully in F2 throughout 1952 and 1953, driven by Hawthorn, Peter Collins
Peter Collins (racing driver)
Peter John Collins was a Formula One driver from England. He participated in 35 World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 18 May 1952. He won 3 races, achieved 9 podiums, and scored a total of 47 championship points....
, and of course John Cooper
John Cooper (car maker)
John Newton Cooper was a co-founder, with his father Charles Cooper, of the Cooper Car Company. Born in Surbiton, Surrey, England, UK he became an auto racing legend with his rear-engined chassis design that would eventually change the face of the sport at its highest levels, from Formula One to...
himself, among others. (Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
' unsuccessful Cooper-Alta was actually built by a different John Cooper
John Cooper
John Cooper may refer to:* John A. D. Cooper , American physician & educator* John B.R. Cooper , California pioneer* John Cooper, current director of the Sundance Film Festival...
, Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
s sport editor.) In September 1950, Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer
Raymond Sommer was a Grand Prix motor racing driver....
died in a wreck at Cadours
Circuit de Cadours
The Circuit de Cadours was a race track located in the southwest of France, in the Tarn-et-Garonne .- Historic race track of Cadours Laréole :Cadours is now part of the Toulouse city district...
in a T12. It sold used at £425 in 1952.
Arthur Owen
Arthur Owen
Arthur Owen was a British racing driver from England. He participated in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix, the 1960 Italian Grand Prix, driving a privately-entered 2.2 litre Cooper. He crashed on the first lap of the race at the South Corner, due to brake failure...
modified a Mark IV with a streamlined glassfibre
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
body and 250cc Norton engine late in 1957. Bill Knight
William Knight
William Knight is the name of:* Bill Knight, racing driver and speed record setter* Bill Knight , former Canadian Member of Parliament and financial executive* William Angus Knight , British writer, professor, and philosopher...
used this car to set five speed records at Monza
Monza
Monza is a city and comune on the river Lambro, a tributary of the Po, in the Lombardy region of Italy some 15 km north-northeast of Milan. It is the capital of the Province of Monza and Brianza. It is best known for its Grand Prix motor racing circuit, the Autodromo Nazionale Monza.On June...
.
Sources
- Kettlewell, Mike. "Cooper: Forerunner of the Modern Racing Car", in Northey, Tom, editor. World of Automobiles, Volume 4, pp.427-433. London: Phoebus, 1974.