Cooper T45


The Cooper T45 was an open-wheel formula racing car, developed and built by the Cooper Car Company in 1958, and designed by Owen Maddock. It competed in Formula 2 racing as well as in Formula One racing, where it won one World Championship Grand Prix, the 1958 Monaco [Grand Prix], being driven by Maurice Trintignant.

Development history and technology

The Cooper T45 was the successor to the Cooper T43. The chassis remained almost unchanged, but the wheel suspension was revised. The engine was lowered. Until 1959 the cars had drum brakes, which were then replaced by disc brakes.

Racing history

For the Formula 1 version, Climax developed a 2.2-litre engine. Since this engine was exclusively available to the works team, Rob Walker had to resort to the 2-litre engine, which had less power. In 1958, Frenchman Maurice Trintignant surprisingly won the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix with the Walker 2-litre T45. However, the car lacked power on the fast stretches. Especially against the competition from Ferrari and Vanwall, the Coopers had no chance. Works driver Roy Salvadori was third at Silverstone and second at the Nürburgring and fourth overall in the Drivers' Championship. Cooper finished third in the Constructor's Championship, which was held for the first time.

Complete Formula One World Championship results

YearEntrantEngineTyresDrivers1234567891011PointsWCC
Cooper Car CompanyClimax FPF L4ARGMONNED500BELFRAGBRGERPORITAMOR313rd
Cooper Car CompanyClimax FPF L4Jack Brabham48Ret66Ret6Ret11313rd
Cooper Car CompanyClimax FPF L4Roy SalvadoriRet481132957313rd
Cooper Car CompanyClimax FPF L4Ian BurgessRet313rd
Cooper Car CompanyClimax FPF L4Jack Fairman8313rd
R.R.C. Walker Racing TeamClimax FPF L4Maurice Trintignant193RetRet313rd
High Efficiency MotorsMaserati L4MON500NEDFRAGBRGERPORITAUSA0-
High Efficiency MotorsMaserati L4Roy Salvadori6RetRet0-
High Efficiency MotorsMaserati L4Jack FairmanRet0-
High Efficiency MotorsClimax FPF L4Jack FairmanRet401st
Jean LucienbonnetClimax FPF L4Jean LucienbonnetDNQ401st
Equipe Alan BrownClimax FPF L4Mike TaylorRet401st
Equipe Alan BrownClimax FPF L4Peter Ashdown12401st
Gilby EngineeringClimax FPF L4Keith GreeneDNQ401st
R.H.H. ParnellClimax FPF L4Tim ParnellDNQ401st
Equipe Nationale BelgeClimax FPF L4ARGMON500NEDBELFRAGBRPORITAUSA48 1st
Equipe Nationale BelgeClimax FPF L4Lucien Bianchi648 1st
Arthur OwenClimax FPF L4Arthur OwenRet48 1st
Wolfgang SeidelClimax FPF L4Wolfgang Seidel948 1st
Gilby EngineeringMaserati L4Keith GreeneRet0-
Fred Tuck CarsClimax FPF 1.5 L4MONNEDBELFRAGBRGERITAUSA14 4th
Fred Tuck CarsClimax FPF 1.5 L4Jack FairmanRet14 4th

Formula Two entry.
Points also scored by the Cooper T43.
All points scored by other Cooper models.
Points also scored by other Cooper models.