how a car get designed sometimes is happenstance

photo from http://www.conceptcarz.com/z13765/Cooper-T43-Mark-II.aspx

John Cooper put the engine behind the driver, because when he built F3 cras, he used motorcycle engines and they connected to the drive wheels by chain.

Cooper cars dominated in F3, so the designer Owen Maddock took the concept to F1

the Cooper t56 that Steve McQueen once raced

Kimberly Cooper special

1949 Cooper /MG T10

The Shelby King Cobra was at the LaJolla concours

 As for why this Cooper badges car is called the Shelby King Cobra: http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2011/10/shelby-king-cobra-1964-usrrc-and-usac.html

they just could not get the turn signals or brake lights sorted out, and thought that if it was running it might work. Nope. They didn't give up though, and it must be worth quiet a few point on the judging to have the stuff work... so why are so many concours cars not showing up tot he show with them ready and working? A 1970s Porsche had a surprise when the judge told the owner (of 20 some years) to turn the fog lights on, and he had absolutely NO IDEA how. Zero clue on a car he's owned for 20 some years. He even hit the windshield washer fluid pump by mistake and had to clean that up off the roof and windshield. 

That awkward moment when you crash a $12 million Ferrari... and a couple other cool photos from Asaucerfulofwheels.tumblr.com

That awkward moment when you crash a $12 million Ferrari, http://asaucerfulofwheels.tumblr.com/post/11862140196/david-love-ferrari-250-tr-monterey-historics-2009 tp see it in slow mo

David Love/Ferrari 250TR/Monterey Historics/2009

Timo Mäkinen Mini Cooper S RAC Rally 1967. http://rcma.free.fr/escort/victoires.htm
Hitchcock in a big cart... never would have thought I'd ever see that!

1934 Mercedes-Benz 500K Streamline Roadsterm, built for a King of Iraq, Erdmann & Rossi coachbuilders
all found on http://asaucerfulofwheels.tumblr.com/

The Shelby King Cobra, the 1964 USRRC and USAC fall series from 1963-1964

 

turbo Busa powered 1966 mini Cooper

240 hp at 1500 pounds. Must be really fun! In comparison, the porsche Spyder from the factory weighed about 1250pounds and had 110 hp. A kit car with a tricked out engine will get about 230 hp, so this Cooper has nearly the power to weight of a racing Porsche Spyder. Pretty damn amazing

Just learned about the Pooper. yeah, stupid name, but catchy: Porsche engined Cooper race car by Pete Lovely

So you can even call it a Lovely Pooper.

Read about it if you're curious at: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19970705&slug=2547962

Photo from http://www.tamsoldracecarsite.net/PebbleBeach2.html