Cooper T53
Lower and slimmer than its predecessor, the 'lowline' Cooper gave Jack Brabham five straight wins and his second title.
- Power
- 240 bhp
About the Cooper T53
Owen Maddock designed the T53 to be lower and slimmer than the T51, with a new tubular steel frame clad in aluminium and coil-spring double-wishbone suspension all round in place of Cooper's usual transverse leaf spring at the rear. The latest 2.5-litre Coventry Climax FPF gave around 240 bhp through a Cooper five-speed gearbox. After a disqualification at Monaco, Jack Brabham won five races in a row to clinch the 1960 title with two rounds to spare, Bruce McLaren finished runner-up and Cooper retained the Constructors' Championship. When the 1.5-litre formula arrived in 1961, at least eight teams raced T53s, mostly with 1.5-litre Climax engines.
Cooper T53 specs
The Cooper T53 produces 240 bhp (179 kW).
| Make | Cooper |
|---|---|
| Model | T53 |
| Years | 1960–1961 |
| Type | Race car |
| Body style | Open-wheel single-seater |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Engine | 2.5L naturally aspirated inline-4 (Coventry Climax FPF) |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,497 cc (2.5 litres) |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated |
| Power | 240 bhp (179 kW) |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual (Cooper) |
| Drivetrain | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 500 kg (1,102 lb) |
| Power-to-weight | 480 bhp per tonne |
Typical figures for the standard car; options, markets and model years vary. Where our specs come from
Cooper T53 rarity in CarSpot
The Cooper T53 is a Unicorn card in CarSpot, with a rarity score of 29 out of 100. The rarest tier: hypercars, one-offs and cars built in tiny numbers, typically fewer than about 500. A Unicorn card is worth 320 XP.
Each model's tier starts from a 0–100 score based on its value plus its power or production numbers. Once enough players have spotted a model, how often it is spotted can move it up or down one tier. How CarSpot rarity works
Rarity is a collectible game mechanic, not an assessment of real-world scarcity or value.
Cooper T53 fun facts
- Honda bought a T53 as part of its own Formula One development, making it a forerunner of Honda's Grand Prix cars.
- Fitted with 2.7-litre FPF engines, T53s driven by Stirling Moss and Jack Brabham won all five races of the short-lived 1961 Intercontinental Formula.
- On its World Championship debut at Monaco, Jack Brabham was disqualified for receiving a push start after spinning off.