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Cooper 500 diesel powered rail car
Produced by Model Road Racing Cars, Ltd. (MRRC)
In 1949, Henri Baigent developed a round rail and rail guide system which permitted small diesel engine powered rail cars to race on road course design circuits. Round rails were mounted on spacers above the racing surface. The rail guides (a.k.a. "zonkers") consisted of pairs of bell mouth-shaped guide rollers mounted directly under the center line of the car to permit the car to turn both right and left. Baigent ultimately patented his round rail and rail guide system design.
The English rail car shown in the photos was produced and sold in kit form by Model Road Racing Cars, Ltd. (MRRC), a company founded by Henri Baigent for the manufacture of diesel engine powered rail cars. This particular example consists of a cast aluminum MRRC chassis with a formed sheet aluminum body styled after the Cooper 500 Formula 3 race car. The car is powered by a 1.46 cc E.D. Hornet diesel engine with bevel gear drive and a centrifugal clutch to facilitate starting the car. The car is fitted with the original wire wheels and tires provided by MRRC.
The car is finished in the livery of the Cooper Mk IV which Stirling Moss drove to victory in the Formula 3 race at Silverstone on July 18, 1953.
