Powered mainly by JAP and Manx Norton motorcycle engines, the Cooper Car Company's innovative rear-engined racing cars dominated the 500cc Formula 3 scene in the 1950s, providing many future stars, most notably Stirling Moss, with their first taste of 'real' motor racing.

While production of the 500cc racers was getting under way, company founder Charles Cooper's son John decided to build a sports car for road use.

Following an abortive attempt using a Triumph twin-cylinder motorcycle engine, a prototype was assembled during the winter of 1948/49 to accommodate a four-cylinder Vauxhall Ten power unit.

Despite the Coopers' tuning efforts, the Vauxhall engine was deemed insufficiently powerful and so a deal was concluded with MG for the supply of 1,250cc XPAG engines as found in the TC-Type Midget.

Production of the Cooper-MG – designated Type T14 – got under way in 1950, though most customers purchased their cars in kit form for home assembly, thereby saving on purchase tax.

Althou...