1969 Cooper T90 Formula A/5000
- Engine
- Chevrolet V8, approximately 5.0L
The third and final Cooper T90 Formula A/5000 single-seater built, chassis F1C/3/69 represents the last competition single-seater ever constructed by the Cooper Car Company at their Byfleet factory before closure in 1969. One of only three T90s made, it was raced by American enthusiast Peter Rehl throughout 1969–70, winning at Lime Rock, Bryar, and the SCCA Road Race of Champions at Daytona. After a lengthy period in a Massachusetts private collection, the car received a comprehensive restoration drawing on contributions from several original participants including a former Cooper factory specialist.
Ownership
- 2018-12-01Auction saleEstimate £115,000 – £135,000
- 1969 → 1971Factory deliveryPeter Rehlfull documentation
US-based Cooper enthusiast who acquired the car new and ran it in Continental Championship Formula A and SCCA club events. Advertised it for sale in 1971, noting the dominance over well-funded West Coast rivals.
- 1971 →Subsequent US owner after Rehlpartial documentation
Ran the car in several national events and one additional professional Formula 5000 race before the car entered a lengthy period in a private eastern Massachusetts collection.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownPrivate collector in eastern Massachusettspartial documentation
Car remained in storage in a private collection in eastern Massachusetts for an extended period before being acquired by the consignors.
- Date unknownPrivate saleCurrent vendorspartial documentation
Commissioned an extensive but sympathetic restoration with input from original owner Peter Rehl, Dick Yagami, and original Cooper factory specialist Tony Whitburn among others.
Competition
- 1969-07-06SCCA NationalSCCA National, Lime RockDriver: Peter Rehl1st
- 1969-07-20Badger 200, Elkhart LakeDriver: Peter Rehl7th
- 1969-08-02Schaefer Grand Prix, Lime RockDriver: Peter Rehl9th
- 1969-08-31SCCA NationalSCCA National, Bryar Motorsports ParkDriver: Peter Rehl1st
- 1969-09-01Lime Rock Grand PrixDriver: Peter Rehl7th
- 1969-09-07Ste JoviteDriver: Peter RehlRetired
Event held in Canada; car classified 27th on the results sheet despite retirement.
- 1969-11-29SCCA Continental Championship Formula ARoad Race of Champions, DaytonaDriver: Peter Rehl1st
SCCA season-end championship run-offs at Daytona International Speedway; car reportedly outpaced heavily funded West Coast rivals with engines tuned by specialist builders.
- 1970-04-19Riverside Grand PrixDriver: Peter Rehl24th
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationMultiple specialists including Prince Racing, J&J Racing, TrueChoice, Williams Racing, McKee Engineering, and Tony Whitburn
Comprehensive yet historically respectful restoration carried out after the car's acquisition by the current vendors. Contributors included Peter Rehl and Dick Yagami (original owners), Pat Prince of Prince Racing, John Grubb at J&J Racing, Phil Harris at TrueChoice, Bill McCurdy of Williams Racing, Bob McKee of McKee Engineering, and Tony Whitburn, the original Cooper Car Co specialist who oversaw the car's initial construction in 1969.
Post-restoration running has been minimal; fluids have since been drained and the car preserved ready for future use.
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