10 replies to this topic

[speedmodel]

I have lots of old photos, correspondence and other historical items for a Cooper Type 53 Lowline, F1-1-63 that I would like to give to the car's current owner.

[molestrangler]

I have lots of old photos, correspondence and other historical items for a Cooper Type 53 Lowline, F1-1-63 that I would like to give to the car's current owner.

To have a 1963 chassis number it could only be the Formula libre car supplied originally to Pringle in Ireland. Think it maybe belongs to a Frenchman now.

[Allen Brown]

Last owned by Jean-Louis Duret as far as I'm aware.

Some history here: http://www.oldracing...com/cooper/t53/

Any chance I could see some of that material to develop the history on OldRacingCars.com?

Speedmodel, are you Tom Masterson?

[speedmodel]

Yes, it's the ex-Pringle car. I have some great photos of the car when Pringle had it, with the original Climax engine and also after he fitted the Traco Olds V8.

I'm not Tom Masterson, but I have some photos of the car when he owned it. It appeared on the cover of Motor in Canada magazine in August 1970 with Masterson driving. A Chevy 5.0 litre V8 was fitted at that time.

[Peter Morley]

Paul Grant from VDVGrant in Brussels is a friend of Jean Louis Duret, you might try contacting him via Paul (his website is vdvgrant.be).

[speedmodel]

Perfect, thank you for the referral. I have sent him an email.

[Richard Young]

As the assistant junior (16 y o) car polisher with the Pringle equipe - and now manager of its 'home' circuit - I would love to see copies of what you have if this is possible. Obviously the originals should be with the car itself, but if there are copies......?
You can reach me at richard.young@kirkistown.com

[bill p]

As the assistant junior (16 y o) car polisher with the Pringle equipe - and now manager of its 'home' circuit......

No sign of any polishers at the Cooper's outing at Craigantlet!



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Edited by bill p, 26 May 2011 - 15:10.

[T54]

In the late 1980s, I was offered that "Tom Masterson Cooper" as it ran last, meaning as a set of a few rusty and destroyed bits. I recall that the only boby panel left was the nose section, there was no tail or the large panel that goes around the chassis and forms the sides of the body, and neither were present the two other panels that were under the tail section.
What was present was in terrible condition with no engine, gearbox, in fact not much left of it, assuming that it was the same car. I have retained some of the pictures that were sent to me, I will scan them and post them here. If indeed it is the same car, the reconstruction job must have been something, and would nave needed a new engine and gearbox as well as almost everything else... I met Mr. Duret at Monterey a few years back when he brought the car there, where I was told that it was "Bruce McLaren's car" and the gentleman went into explaining me why in detail. I said a polite "yes" and kind of walked away, as I certainly was not going to argue the point without full knowledge of the facts.

[Allen Brown]

Sid Hoole restored the car in the early 1990s

[Alan Cox]

As seen at Angoulême ten years ago. M Duret at the wheel.