Jack Brabham’s first F1 car could be your crown jewel

Few people have had as much of an impact on motor racing as Sir Jack Brabham. He built his racing career and then headed up a motorsport company. This 1955 Cooper-Bristol T40 was the first Formula 1 car he drove, and it’s for sale. It’s a legend in racing history and would fit perfectly in almost any classic car collection.

Brabham helped develop the car and drove it at the 1955 British Grand Prix. It had a 2.0-litre straight-six engine, a manual gearbox and an onboard fire extinguisher, just in case. Although it didn’t finish the race due to overheating, it’s still notable for being the first F1 car to feature a rear-engine layout. The car may not have returned to F1, but its layout lives on today.

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The T40 then raced in other series, including a fourth place at Snetterton. “The specialist press called it a championship battle and it was certainly an important step in my career. Without that race I would have certainly returned to Australia… the car performed very well,” Brabham said in his autobiography.

If it hadn’t been going so well, he probably wouldn’t have started his own company, Motor Racing Developments LTD.

Often referred to simply as Brabham, MRD is the same company responsible for the legendary BT46B Fan Car of 1978. Designed by Gordon Murray, the car won its first and only race at the wheel of Niki Lauda before Brabham retired. These were far from the major innovations Brabham brought to the table, though. His company pioneered carbon brakes, full-width rear wings and carbon-fibre composites.

This 1955 car is clearly a homecoming for a company that had such an impact on motorsport. Today, Brabham as a brand is essentially defunct. It attempted a comeback as a supercar and racing company, but its partnership with its majority owner ended earlier this year. Those interested in this classic F1 car can find it on RM Sotheby’s private sales page.

Image source: RM Sotheby’s