The car looks like a modified Cooper Monaco - a lot found their way across the Atlantic, the little four pot was ditched in favour of an Oldsmobile, Ford or Chevy V8 - I got pictures of the "Nickey Chevrolet" and "King Cobra" Ford versions at this years FIA Historic Masters at Brands Hatch. A very difficult car to drive with front end lift, narrow tyres and an extreme rear weight bias - but it was the best there was in 1963-4.
Enjoy this brief clip of the late great Dave Macdonald winning in the Cooper Monaco "King Cobra" at Riverside.
In 1960 Doc Shepherd took the BTCC title in dominant style driving an Austin A40 and winning his class in all, but one round.
Until relatively recently leather was used a lot for oil seals on cars - for example on axles and differentials so at the time it wouldn't have been an unusual name - apart from the "Rawhide". The trick with leather seals is to soak them in oil for 24 hours prior to fitment.
