Collecting Coopers from philadelphia

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Bonhams’ sale of today, at the Simeone museum in Philadelphia shows a wilde selection of automotive Americana. Themed ‘Preserving the Automobile’ there are some fantastic prewars which haven’t lost much of their originality. But a duo of postwar Cooper racers is the star of the sale if you ask us. Both of them come from Alexis Du Pont, the heir of an American chemical concern, who ordered them new from the Cooper Car Company. The old bills of sale come with both cars.

First of them is a 1952 Cooper Mk6, with 500cc two-cilinder air-cooled Norton engine and beautiful patina, which was used in anger throughout the 1950s and had a string of podium places with it on Long Island, Watkins Glen, and in several races and hillclimbs of the SCCA. Next is a 1958 Cooper Mk12, which still uses a 500cc two-cylinder but is much further developed and includes enhanced suspension-geometry, magnesium rear hub-carriers, improved Armstrong shockers, a raked-back engine mounting to reduce overall height and slimmer body. It’s also yellow and its equally patinated. Absolutely stunning.

And there’s more. Dupont also had piles of spare parts. Crated sets of rare magnesium Cooper wheels, spare engines and everything that is bolted on them. Plus body bits and even a brand-new old stock crated aluminium body to name some of the more mouth-watering bits. We wonder if there’ll be one buyer who will go for the lot. Mike Cooper perhaps?

(Words Jeroen Booij, pictures courtesy Bonhams)  Collecting Coopers from philadelphia

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