1952 Cooper-Bristol Grand Prix F2 single-seater Two-seat sports car since 1953 Serial number: CB - 03 - 52 Engine : Bristol in-line 6-cylinder, front longitudinally mounted # 100B2/4242 Bore and stroke: 66 mm x 96 mm Capacity : 1971 cc Valve mechanism: OHV with pushrods and rockers, hemispherical combustion chambers Induction: three Solex carburettors Compression ratio : 9,5 : 1 Maximum power : 135/140 ch à 5700 tr/mn Transmission : four speed + R manual Chassis : square section boxed-in drilled steel members with tubular front subframe supporting the engine and the front suspension Body : aluminium two-seater designed by Bernie Rodgers and built by Wakefield and Sons Ltd of Byfleet Front suspension: IFS with transverse leaf spring and telescopic dampers Rear suspension : IRS with transverse leaf spring and telescopic dampers Wheelbase : 2286 mm Dry weight: 700 kg Brakes : Four drums hydraulic (2LS Lockheed) front 12''x 2'', rear 10''x 2'' Wheels : 16'' centre lock wire wheels Tyres : 5.50 x 16 Max. speed : 144 mph/230 km/heure Production: 1952/1953 Number made: three F2s in 1952 In 1951 young Mike Hawthorn having made some convincing driving mainly at the wheel of a pre-war Riley, his father was determined to help him for his future career in motor racing. The two men thought primarily of the Formula 500 before realizing that Mike's stoutness forbade him to drive these little racers with which almost all young British drivers like Stirling Moss and Peter Collins had cut their teeth. Mike then considered the Formula 2 (two litres) and had the opportunity to join the HWM team with Stirling Moss and Lance Macklin (In fact Peter Collins replaced Moss). Mike made a test drive at Goodwood, but disliked the HWM. His father convinced Rodney Clarke to allow Mike to test a Connaught, but a series of spins and others unwanted figures put an end to the attempt. The the Hawthorns read an article about Cooper's projects for the 1952 season. Charles and his son John Cooper were famed for having produced the best F3 500 cc cars at the time. In their little workshop of Surbiton, they made one car per week. When the FIA announced that the 1952 and 1953 World Championships would be organized for Formula Two 2-litre single-seater cars, the Coopers decided to take another step and to build three six-cylinder front engined single-seater Cooper-Bristols. The frame was made of boxed-in steel sheet strengthenend by a tubular upper structure and a front sub-frame receiving the engine and the suspension. Suspensions were very simple with two transverse leaf springs, upper arms and telescopic hydraulic dampers. The six-cylinder engine made by the Bristol Aeroplane Company derivated from the BMW 328 and gave 120 bhp at 5 500 rpm. The Coopers made an agreement with Jimmy Richmond whose team would enter the three cars to be driven by Eric Brandon and Alan Brown with John Cooper himself as the third driver. Bob Chase was an old friend of Leslie Hawthorn and offered to buy one of the Cooper-Bristols. See continuation next lot