This 1960 Cooper T53 “Lowline” features an over-stamped chassis plate F11-12-59 and was originally owned by Scuderia Centro Sud, an Italian privateer racing team operating in the 1950’s- mid 1960’s.
The team competed in various F1 and non-championship events throughout Europe with some well-known drivers such as Lorenzo Bandini, Carlo Abate, Carlo Peroglio, and Ian Burgess.
It is understood this car was originally raced with a Maserati 2500 engine that was later replaced with a Cooper Climax engine and eventually an Alfa Romeo engine.
After the race events the car is believed to have been used by Centro Sud as part of a driver school that successfully ran from 1963-1965.
The car raced in the Gran Primo di Imola in April 1963, driven by Carlo Maria Abate, finishing 5th and again driven by Abate in April 1963 at Gran Primo di Syracusa, finishing 3rd.
The next race was at Gran Premo di Roma at Vallelunga May 1963 driven by Carlo Peroglia however the car retired with an oil pump issue.
The car retired from racing after this and other than at the race school, didn’t re-appear until 1972 when the car was shipped from Rome to the USA and remained in the Sutherland Collection until April 1995 when it was bought by Terrance Hefty.
The car was then fully restored and raced at historic events throughout the US including the 2011 Rolex Monterey Reunion.
The car was eventually purchased by David Smoker in early 2019 and transported to Australia where it has competed and demonstrated regularly.
