1959 Cooper Beart Cooper-Climax Type 45/51 Formula 2
- Engine
- Climax inline-four, ~1.0L
Chassis F2-5-59, known as the 'Beart-Cooper', is a Cooper-Climax prepared for Formula 2 competition in 1959 by celebrated Norton tuner Francis Beart for Yorkshire driver Trevor Taylor. After Taylor, it was raced by Roy Salvadori under C.T. 'Tommy' Atkins, winning a Formula 2 race at Oulton Park in May 1960. Identity confirmed by the Formula 1 Register in 1977, the car holds FIA HTP papers and has competed regularly in modern historic events including the Goodwood Revival.
Ownership
- 2026-02-20Auction saleEstimate £120,000 – £150,000
- 1959 → 1960Acquisition unknownTrevor Taylor (and Ace Garage, Rotherham)partial documentation
Taylor's father operated the Ace Garage in Rotherham; engines were prepared by Francis Beart, who modified the car for Formula 2. Taylor debuted the car at Goodwood on Easter Monday 1959 and contested several major events that year.
- 1960 → 1964Acquisition unknownC.T. 'Tommy' Atkinspartial documentation
Atkins campaigned the car with Roy Salvadori in 1960 and George Morgan in 1961 under the early 1.5-litre Formula 1 regulations; the car was later sidelined following an accident during this period.
- 1964 →Acquisition unknownGraham Whitepartial documentation
White acquired the car in 1964; no further details of his tenure are given in the catalogue.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPrivate collection (consignor)partial documentation
In recent years the car has formed part of a respected private collection and has been actively campaigned at the Goodwood Revival and other leading European historic events, maintained throughout by Cooper specialist Michael Hibberd.
Competition
- 1959Lavant Cup, GoodwoodDriver: Trevor Taylor
Debut outing for the car on Easter Monday 1959; result not recorded in the catalogue.
- 1959British Empire Trophy, Oulton ParkDriver: Trevor Taylor
One of several major events Taylor contested with the car in 1959.
- 1959London Trophy, Crystal PalaceDriver: Trevor Taylor6th
- 1960Oulton Park Formula 2 raceDriver: Roy Salvadori3rd
One of two third-place finishes recorded for Salvadori in 1960.
- 1960Lavant Cup, GoodwoodDriver: Roy Salvadori3rd
- 1960Aintree raceDriver: Roy Salvadori
The catalogue notes a start at Aintree in 1960 but gives no result.
- 1960-05-07Oulton Park Formula 2 raceDriver: Roy Salvadori1st
Victory in a Formula 2 event on 7 May 1960, the most significant competitive result recorded for the car.
- 1961Snetterton raceDriver: George Morgan
Contested under the new 1.5-litre Formula 1 regulations, still under Atkins ownership.
- 1961Goodwood raceDriver: George Morgan
- 1961Aintree raceDriver: George Morgan
The car was subsequently sidelined after an accident following this period of activity.
- —Goodwood Revival
The car has been campaigned at the Goodwood Revival in recent years as part of the consignor's collection; specific year(s) not stated.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1959ModificationFrancis Beart (engine preparation)
Francis Beart, renowned Norton engine tuner, prepared and modified the Cooper-Climax specifically for Formula 2 competition.
Work carried out prior to the car's competition debut at Goodwood, Easter 1959.
- —Repair
The car was taken out of competition following an accident sustained during the 1961 season.
Circumstances and extent of damage not detailed in the catalogue.
- —ServiceMichael Hibberd Motor Engineers
Ongoing preparation, running, and maintenance carried out to a high standard by Cooper specialist Michael Hibberd, keeping the car in excellent condition for historic competition.
Extensive invoicing and service records from this workshop are included in the car's documentation file.
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