This is an interim specification Formula 1 Cooper-Climax of the kind that launched the years of the rear-engined revolution in Formula 1 Grand Prix racing car design.

With a 2-litre unit, the Type 45 contested contemporary 2½-litre Formula 1 races, and Formula 2 events with a 1½-litre engine.

Cooper immediately asserted itself by introducing the new Cooper Type 41 Formula 2 cars and in 1957 a further improved Cooper-Climax Type 43 model was introduced for the official introduction of international Formula 2.

The cars won the opening F2 Championship and into 1958 a further refined version (including coil sprung front suspension) of the theme emerged as the Type 45 model – like this fine example offered here.

Cooper-Climax Type 45 chassis serial 'F2-11-58' was sold to Flt.

Lt.

Richard 'Dickie' Stoop – a Royal Air Force fighter pilot who had served in WWII.

In 1958 he bought his new Formula 2 Cooper-Climax as a foray into the single-seater world.

This car's chassis serial has been...