Cooper Monaco is not one car but a name used by the Cooper Car Company for three different sports racing cars built between 1959 and 1964: the T49, the T57 and the T61.
Cooper Monaco at a glance
| Maker | Cooper Car Company |
|---|---|
| Name used | 1959–1964 |
| Cars | T49, T57, T61 |
| Type | sports racing car |
| Cars sharing the name | three |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Cooper Monaco, which is only a short note naming the three cars; the article is therefore much shorter than the usual 600–800 words. No free photograph of the car was available, so the entry keeps its existing cover image.
History of the Cooper Monaco
One name, three cars
The Monaco name covered three separate designs rather than a single model line. The first was the Cooper T49, then the T57, and finally the T61; all three were built by the Cooper Car Company between 1959 and 1964. Because the three cars shared the name, a period entry or a later history that refers simply to a “Cooper Monaco” does not say which of the three is meant. The type number, not the name, is what identifies the car.
Design and features
- Three different cars: the T49, T57 and T61 all carried the Monaco name.
- Sports racing car: the name was used for this class, not for a single-seater.
- Type number is the key: the T-number, not the name, tells you which car is meant.
Cooper Monaco versions
- Cooper T49 Monaco: one of the three cars to carry the name.
- Cooper T57 Monaco: another of the three.
- Cooper T61 Monaco: the third of the cars built between 1959 and 1964.
The single-seater of the same period is described in the article on the Cooper T45. More cars from the marque are in the Cooper collection.
Video: Cooper Type 61 Monaco King Cobra #98 Driving
Video by Yz250fTony on YouTube.
Sources
- Cooper Monaco, English Wikipedia: the three cars and the years
