The Cooper-Climax T55 is a Formula One car built by the Cooper Car Company for the 1961 Formula One season. Its best result was third-place for Bruce McLaren at the 1961 Italian Grand Prix.
Development The T55 was a stop-gap development of the Cooper T53 for the start of the 1961 Formula One season, pending the introduction of a new chassis to take the Climax FWMV V8 for the new 1.5 litre formula. Smaller and lighter than the T53, it was powered by the naturally aspirated Coventry-Climax FPF four-cylinder engine driving through a new Cooper six-speed gearbox.
Racing history The T55 debuted at the non-championship 1961 Aintree 200. Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren finished first and second, and Brabham set fastest lap. However, it would be unable to match the power of the new Ferrari 156 in the World Championship events, where McLaren's third place at Monza would be its best result. Cooper would finish fourth in the Constructors' championship.
The works team continued with the T55 at the start of 1962, along with the V8-powered T60, primarily driven by Brabham's replacement Tony Maggs, although McLaren used it in some non-championship events. John Love then obtained one of the cars and campaigned with it in several South African events, including its last World Championship appearance at the 1965 South African Grand Prix.
Complete Formula One World Championship results Year Entrants Engine Tyres Drivers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Points WCC Cooper Car Company Climax FPF1.5 in-line 4 MON NED BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA14 (18)4th Jack Brabham Ret 6 Ret Ret 4 Bruce McLaren 6 12 Ret 5 8 6 3 4 Cooper Car Company Climax FPF1.5 in-line 4 NED MON BEL FRA GBR GER ITA USA RSA 29 (37) 3rd Tony Maggs 6 Ret 9 John Love John Love 8 John Love Climax FPF1.5 in-line 4 MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITA USA MEX RSA 25 (26) 5th John Love 9 John Love Climax FPF1.5 in-line 4 RSA MON BEL FRA GBR NED GER ITA USA MEX 14 5th John Love Ret
Points were awarded on an 8-6-4-3-2-1 (1961) and 9-6-4-3-2-1 (1962 onwards) basis to the first six finishers at each round, but only the best placed car for each make was eligible to score points. In 1961 and 1962 only the best five results from the season were retained, and only the best six results for 1963 and 1965. Includes points scored by other Cooper-Climax models All points scored by other Cooper-Climax models
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