Cooper 500 MkIII

Key facts

Year

1949
Country

Great Britain
Capacity

498cc
Cylinders

1 cylinder
Valves

Overhead valve
Output

40bhp at 6,700rpm
Performance

105 mph
Price new

£575
Owner

National Motor Museum Trust
Manufacturer

Cooper Car Co Ltd, Surbiton

500cc motor racing, later called Formula Three, became popular from the late 1940s. The small single seat-cars with motorcycle engines provided relatively inexpensive racing and launched the careers of many famous drivers. Cooper was the leading builder of 500s and soon progressed to building cars for Formula Two, Formula One and sports car racing. They began a revolution in racing car design when they applied the rear engine layout from the 500 to Grand Prix cars.

Cooper racing-car production started in 1946 when John Cooper welded the front ends of two Fiat Topolinos back to back to make a prototype fully independent suspension chassis for 500cc racing. In 1947, John and his father Charles founded the Cooper Car Company with the first production 500s appearing in 1948. Cooper entered Formula One in 1957, becoming World Champions in 1959 and 1960.