This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, The Iconic Sale at the BRDC Classic 2026 - Competition Cars on Friday, July 24th, at The Wing, Silverstone Circuit, NN12 8TN.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. They provided many future stars, most notably Stirling Moss, with their first taste of real motor racing. While production of the 500cc racers was underway, company founder Charles Cooper's son John decided to build a sports car for road use. Following an unsuccessful 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 engine. Despite tuning efforts, the Vauxhall engine was deemed insufficiently powerful, leading to a deal with MG for 1250cc XPAG engines as found in the TC-type Midget. Production of the Cooper-MG, designated ‘Type T14,’ began in 1950. Most customers purchased their cars in kit form for home assembly to save on purchase tax. Although intended for road use, the Cooper-MG was raced extensively by owners and the Works, with its first win at Goodwood in late 1950, driven by John Cooper himself. Production, later in Type T21 form, ended by 1953. Proper production records are scarce, but estimates suggest between 17 and 24 units were completed. The Cooper T14 and T21 actively competed in racing from 1950 to 1961, achieving 23 wins, 82 podium finishes, and two pole positions. This example is a 1951 Cooper-MG T14, chassis ‘DEY 100’ (VIN CB1 – Campbell-Blair). It is a two-seater sports car originally purchased by Denys Wolstenholme and built for the Campbell-Blair brothers, who raced it. According to previous owners, it was supplied as a kit and later fitted with a fibreglass Rochdale F-Type body by Niall and Ian Campbell-Blair. The brothers also ran a similarly styled 'Bristol-Barb' (registration LBU 349) at the same time. Despite being road-registered as the ‘Blair Special’ in 1956 under the registration DEY 100, the car was still being raced by Clive Doyle at the end of the 1950s.‘DEY 100’ was laid up after a period of road use. Its rediscovery was documented in Michael Ware's 'Lost & Found' column (Classic & Sportscar, October 1991). During an extensive restoration, a copy of the original factory aluminium body worn by George Cooper's Cooper-MG was fabricated and fitted. Since then, the car has been used for racing and hill climbs. The car is now in superb condition, equipped with a 1500cc MG XPAG engine by Edney, a Laystall Lucas aluminium cylinder head, an MG TC gearbox, and a correct ENV differential. All chassis and suspension components are original and to specification, including an adjustable Trident pedal assembly, SPAX adjustable shock absorbers, and a foam-filled fuel tank. In 2011, it was issued a 10-year MSA/FIA Historic Technical Passport (HTP) for period E (1947-1960) and FIA class TSRC3. The HTP has since lapsed but can be renewed easily. The current owner commissioned and fitted a stainless-steel exhaust system, including new inlet and exhaust components.
