The 1961 Cooper T-56 MK II Formula Junior is a championship-winning race car with a high-speed connection to a Hollywood icon. John Cooper Works built the car and it was campaigned by Team Tyrrell in 1961 for Formula Junior racing. The car would go on to achieve eight first-place finishes, and a total of 18 podium wins in the European Formula Junior Championship. The Cooper T56 MK II is powered by a four-cylinder 1098cc engine fueled by a single twin-choke Weber 45 DCEO carburetor. Transmission is a five-speed Citroen-ERSA with Jack Knight internals and Cooper lid magnesium bell housing.
In 1962, with the car’s purpose accomplished, Cooper sold the now used race car to a motoring fanatic who wanted to moonlight as a racing driver. He was a talented driver who became friends with Cooper after attending his racing school. He is known as the King of Cool, none other than Hollywood legend Steve McQueen. In the hands of McQueen, the car was immediately shipped to California and started racing. At this time, McQueen was set to star in a new upcoming film titled The Great Escape. Before a race at Laguna Seca, a team of Hollywood lawyers confronted McQueen. They gave him an ultimatum – acting or racing. Since then, the T-65 has been fully restored and currently for sale by Canepa. Someone is going to be the next owner on the title alongside the King of Cool. That alone is probably worth the asking price.