Topic: SOLVED: Djetset 755 - Cooper-Alfa T45 of Sydney van der Vyver

[Djetset]

What is this, and who is it most strongly associated with?

[Djetset]

Taking another lap...

[Djetset]

Can it take the chequered flag with the Pros..?

[nicanary]

With that massive exhaust I thought it could be Borgward powered, but not unless the photo has been reversed!

Cooper-Maserati?

[Djetset]

With that massive exhaust I thought it could be Borgward powered, but not unless the photo has been reversed!

Cooper-Maserati?

Image not reversed, and not Borgward powered. It's not Maserati powered either, but it is a Cooper, so locked to you for your next reply.

[nicanary]

Well, the well-known book by the doyen of writers didn't help much, but I had an inkling about Southern Africa. And so it was.

It's the Cooper T45 of Syd van der Vyver fitted with an Alfa Romeo engine.

[Djetset]

Well, the well-known book by the doyen of writers didn't help much, but I had an inkling about Southern Africa. And so it was.

It's the Cooper T45 of Syd van der Vyver fitted with an Alfa Romeo engine.

Spot on. I thought you might get this. Another point to you 

[Iluvatar]

Was it a 1900 engine? If so it should be added to my Alfa 1900 fuoriserie book! Do you have more info?

[nicanary]

Was it a 1900 engine? If so it should be added to my Alfa 1900 fuoriserie book! Do you have more info?

Almost certainly a bored-out Giulietta engine.

[Djetset]

Was it a 1900 engine? If so it should be added to my Alfa 1900 fuoriserie book! Do you have more info?

I'm struggling to find my original information source, but from memory (as Nicanary says) I think this Alfa engine was taken from a 101-Series model.

[nicanary]

I've trawled the web and found a list of entries in the race programme for the 1960 Rhodesian Grand Prix which this car won. The engine size is shown as 1470cc.. These engines were widely used in South Africa and neighbouring countries, and the following year (1961) they complied with new F1 regulations and could take part in bona fide WC events.

I feel there must have been an Alfa tuning specialist in that part of the world. Doug Serrurier?

By the way, I realised today that Bob Chase once tried an Alfa 1900 engine in a Cooper T23 Formula 2 car, but its handling was awful, and he gave up on the idea.

[Iluvatar]

Thank you for the information. Is the Chase car the same of Paul Emery's Cooper-Alfa?

[nicanary]

Thank you for the information. Is the Chase car the same of Paul Emery's Cooper-Alfa?

Yes. He drove it at least once.