1961 Cooper Monaco Mark III Type 61

According to the seller, this 1961 Cooper Monaco Mark III Type 61, chassis CM/3/61, represents one of the most historically significant examples of the breed as the final example of only three factory-constructed Mark IIIs ever built. The provenance reads like a motorsport hall of fame: originally assembled at the Cooper works in Surbiton, England by Bruce McLaren alongside factory mechanic Mike Barney, then campaigned by the legendary Briggs Cunningham racing team with American sports car ace Walt Hansgen at the wheel. Under Hansgen's control, this very car delivered victories at the 1962 Watkins Glen Grand Prix and the 1963 FIA International 500K at Bridgehampton—outpacing formidable competition including NART Ferraris, Corvette Grand Sports, and Shelby Cobras. Bruce McLaren himself piloted this chassis to a second-place finish at the 1961 Riverside Grand Prix and fourth at Laguna Seca that same year.

Described as being in excellent overall condition, this Monaco balances authentic period specification with modern reliability upgrades. Power comes from an FIA-legal Buick 215 V8 engine that was professionally rebuilt in October 2022 by Huffaker Engineering, dyno-tested at approximately 400 horsepower, and paired with a contemporary ZF 5-speed gearbox. The seller notes that the original Cooper C5S five-speed transaxle is included as a desirable spare. Since 2015, the car has benefited from cost-no-object preparation by respected specialists including Phil Reiley & Co. and Huffaker Engineering, with recent work encompassing new front hubs, bearings, tires, and extensive gearbox preparation. The chassis retains its Cooper-developed double wishbone coil-spring rear suspension with distinctive finned rear fenders that contribute to high-speed stability.

• Year/Make/Model: 1961 Cooper Monaco Mark III Type 61
• Chassis Number: CM/3/61
• Configuration: Right-hand drive, open-top sports racer with two seats
• Engine: FIA-legal Buick 215 V8 with crossflow intake and Weber carburetors
• Transmission: ZF 5-speed manual (original Cooper C5S spare included)
• Color: White exterior with black interior
• Recent Competition: Multiple victories at Velocity International (2021–2022), 2021 Rolex Reunion, and 1st in class at Sonoma SVRA (2020)

The Cooper T61 market represents an exceptionally rare segment of historic sports racing machinery with just four documented listings in recent years and minimal turnover. The last publicly recorded sale in this market occurred in 2019 at Bonhams Quail Lodge, while subsequent offerings at major auction houses have ranged from approximately $225,000 to $275,000. Given this chassis's unique factory Mark III status, documented McLaren and Cunningham provenance, major period victories, and recent professional preparation with fresh powertrain, it occupies a singular position within a historically important model line that pioneered mid-engine sports racing car design.