The Shelby T61M Cooper Monaco King Cobra.
- Mar 2
- 3 min read
The Cooper Monaco was a sports racing car produced by the British manufacturer Cooper Car Company during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Known for its lightweight design and mid-engine layout, the Cooper Monaco became highly successful in international sports car racing. Its agility and innovative engineering contributed to Cooper’s reputation as a leading constructor during that era.
In 1962 two great Motorsport Giants came together to make history. One of them being John Cooper, the originator of the rear engined Formula 1 car, a world championship winning car in VHRR Club Patron, Jack Brabham's hands in 1960 & 61 and the other being Carroll Shelby, the 1959 Le Mans 24hours race winner in an Aston Martin DBR1, now retired from driving owing to ill health and establishing a growing reputation as a race car preparer.
Cooper and Shelby had both planned to break into American Sports Car racing. The plan was for Cooper to build five special Cooper Monaco's with strengthened chassis and suspension to be shipped to Los Angeles for Shelby to fit the Ford (Windsor) 289cu V8. Everything went according to plan and five T61Ms were built ready for racing.
Known as the "King Cobra's" in the workshop, Shelby was also busy turning out AC Aces now fitted with the same 289 cu Ford V8 which became known as the now iconic AC Cobra.
The King Cobra made it's debut in 1963 at the Northwest Grand Prix in Kent, Washington and soon became race winners. Although early outings were plagued by mechanical issues, the car quickly found its stride. Under the hands of talented drivers such as Dave MacDonald, Ken Miles and Parnelli Jones, the King Cobra became a dominant force.
MacDonald secured major victories at Laguna Seca, Riverside, and Georgia in 1963. The car’s combination of explosive acceleration and nimble handling made it a formidable competitor
The King Cobra’s success culminated in an extraordinary achievement:it won the USRRC championship three years in a row - 1963, 1964, and 1965.
The USRRC morphed into the legendary CanAm series. Cooper’s and Shelby’s innovation of putting a big banger American V8 in the back of a British Sports Car was soon followed by McLaren, Lotus, Lola making some of best late sixties sports car racing.
The car visiting us at the this year Phillip Island Penrite 100 Classic is CM63-3 which raced in private hands in the USA into the Seventies. In the Eighties it moved to a museum in Europe and early this century it returned to the race track.
Owned by the current owner since 2007 it has had an active racing history since then. Raced all over Europe at all the major Formula 1 circuits it has scored many victories.
The FiA Historic Sports Car Champion in 2016,2017 & 2018. It continues to be a regular participant at the Goodwood Revival every year.
You can witness this incredible car in all it's glory and step back in time, at the 2026 Phillip Island Penrite 100 Classic along with over 350 incredible historic racing machines.
March 13th – 15th 2026. Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit. Tickets available on-line or at the gate. Patrons under 17 enter free, Friday is free for all.
Be There!
Learn more here.
