“In the UK, Coombs fielded a new car with 2.5 Litre FPF power for Salvadori which promptly cleared up, winning virtually everywhere it went” – Doug Nye
Small in stature, but a giant in his racing era, John “Noddy” Coombs was a charismatic British racing team owner who was instrumental in the early careers of Jackie Stewart and many others. Born in Chertsey in 1922, Coombs managed the Jaguar dealership ‘Coombs & Sons Ltd’ which had been founded by his father William, a former wheelwright and coachbuilder. John started his (not so successful) career as a racing driver in the early years after the end of World War II, driving a 1930s Aston Martin and kept on competing until the late 1950s. Realising he was more useful in the paddock than on the track, he focused on the business and became an entrant / team manager. John Coombs Racing went on to promote the careers of young drivers, such as Roy Salvadori and Ron Flockhart – both of whom are understood to have raced the Cooper T49 we offer here today.
Historians believe that as few as fourteen MkI/II (T49/T57) Cooper ‘Monaco’ sports cars were built, including a number of ‘tax-free assembly kits’ which were sold to the major race teams. This included John Coombs Racing and Ecurie Ecosse Ltd. Some of the most well-raced in period cars therefore have no chassis number, or a retro-fitted one in non-Cooper sequence. This particular T49 (MkI) has been consigned to us from a prominent family within historic motorsport and has been in their custodianship for almost three decades. Research suggests that the car was to be prepared by mechanic Ken Stratton and delivered in a complete, but dismantled state to John Coombs’ Guildford garage in early 1960. First appearing publicly on the grid at April’s Goodwood ‘opener’, it was liveried in the Coombs colours of off-white with vertical and horizontal blue flashes. Roy Salvadori was chosen to get behind the wheel and won ‘out of the box’, fresh from his victory (paired with Carroll Shelby) in the previous year’s Le Mans 24-Hour race. Son of Italian immigrants, Salvadori was born in Essex during 1921 and went on to be a solid presence in the Formula 1 and sportscar racing scene (1947 – 1968). Records report that Salvadori went on to five outright victories during this opening season, with a plethora of other wins awarded to the car’s subsequent owners Jimmy Blumer and Greg Wood. Thought to have been sympathetically restored twice in its life, once in the mid 60s when colour changed from cream to green (with a slightly widened nose air intake at the front, and another above the gearbox on the rear clamshell) – it was again treated to some TLC around 1996, readying it for use in historic meetings, also being put back into its period Coombes livery around this time. The car’s original 2.5 Coventry Climax FPF powerplant looks to have expired in late ’61 and was replaced with a 2-litre unit, just as is fitted today.
Last raced by our vendor’s grandfather in 2003, the ‘Monaco’ appears unmolested and largely original, having now spent two decades on static display. It will understandably require expenditure and lacks some modern safety features which have been made mandatory by the FIA and race scrutineers. Early Cooper sports and Grand Prix cars regularly have very fragmented and tenuous histories, having been resurrected / recreated from the remains of cars destroyed in period. This ‘Monaco’ however is quite the contrary – research shows ten keepers, across its sixty-six year existence, with no obvious gaps. Previously road-registered, prospective purchasers should do their own research into whether the period ’99 MBH’ number plate could be reobtained on a non-transferrable basis, making this plucky little racer even more versatile.
‘Cooper Cars’ by Doug Nye
“In the UK, Coombs fielded a new car with 2.5 Litre FPF power for Salvadori which promptly cleared up, winning virtually everywhere it went”. (P217)
“The 1960 Coombes Monaco-Climax driven by Salvadori was apparently sold to the Hon. Eddie Portham for 1961, road registered 99 MBH and run with a 2-litre FPF. He sold it to Blumer who raced it with considerable success for two more seasons before selling it in 1963 to Greg Wood in Bradford, who raced on at club level – Jimmy taking a Cooper F3 in part exchange. Wood later sold that car to George Pitt who restored it, before selling it to Ken Yates of the BARC.” (P219)
Notable early results –
18th April 1960 – Goodwood Sussex Trophy – Roy Salvadori – 1st and class lap record
30th April 1960 – Aintree – Roy Salvadori – 1st
7th May 1960 – Oulton Park (sports cars over 1100cc) – Roy Salvadori – 1st and class lap record
14th May 1960 – Silverstone – 1st and class lap record
16th July 1960 – British GP (support race for sports cars) – Ron Flockhart – 1st
1st August 1960 – Brands Hatch Raffles Cup Trophy – 1st
14th July 1961 – Linton-on-Ouse – BRSCC Meeting – Jimmy Blumer – 1st x2 (lap record)
18th August 1961 – Aintree Bank Holiday BARC Meeting – Jimmy Blumer – 1st x2
8th September 1961 – Darlington DMC meeting – 1st x3 (fastest lap)
2nd April 1962 – Mallory Park ‘Easter Monday’ Meeting – Jimmy Blumer – 4th
4th May 1962 – Aintree 200 Meeting – Jimmy Blumer – 2nd
18th May 1962 – Silverstone International Trophy – Jimmy Blumer – 2nd (fastest lap)
1st June 1962 BRSCC National British Meeting (Brands Hatch) – Jimmy Blumer – 1st (fastest lap)
15th June 1962 – BARC National Meeting (Goodwood) – Jimmy Blumer – 1st (fastest lap)
6th July 1962 – Newcastle & DMC Race Meeting – Jimmy Blumer – 1st (fastest lap)
7th August 1962 – Oulton Park Gold Cup – Jimmy Blumer – DNF, whilst running 3rd (engine issue)
‘Autosport Championship’, 1962 – 2nd
22nd March 1963 – Oulton Park BARC Meeting – Greg Wood – 1st
19th April 1963 – BRSCC Sports car race at Rufforth – Greg Wood – 1st (fastest lap)
19th April 1963 – BRSCC Libre race at Rufforth – Greg Wood – 2nd
7th June 1963 – BRSCC Northern Race Meeting – 2nd
Paperwork –
VSCC Document for post-1940 Cars Competing in VSCC Events, undated but from c2000
Hand-written notes, detailing various events and previous owners
Available for viewing at our Cheshire showrooms by appointment only.
Please note – Interested parties should satisfy themselves with the description and condition of each vehicle. Each motorcar is offered ‘as is/as seen’ as per our terms and conditions of business. The history listed above is to the understanding of ourselves and the vendor, using the available resources. Any disputes will not be entertained after a sale has been agreed.
