This year marks the 60th anniversary of MINI’s collaboration with racing legend John Cooper, and this new limited edition MINI John Cooper Works Anniversary Edition has been built to commemorate the occasion.
In 1961, John Cooper, a Formula 1 veteran, determined that the original lightweight and skillfully packaged Mini would form the perfect basis for a performance model, and he set out to build a more powerful Mini, dubbed the ‘Cooper.’
The even sportier Cooper S followed, a formidable rally machine that won the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967. The name John Cooper has been synonymous with high-performance Minis ever since, with the JCW (John Cooper Works) moniker marking the pinnacle of the series.
In homage to the partnership, MINI is producing only 740 units of the JCW Anniversary Edition, each featuring a Rebel Green color scheme with custom nostalgic details.
The Anniversary Edition has no mechanical changes from the standard JCW, so it comes equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine sends 227bhp to the front wheels through a manual or automatic gearbox, propelling the car from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.3 seconds.
Aesthetically, the Anniversary Edition boasts a Rebel Green finish with a contrasting white roof, hood stripes, front headlight rings, and door handles. There are also flashes of red details, with red stripes on the hood decals, red brake calipers, and a classic Cooper Company badge on the side vents.
The car also features the number 74 on the doors and hood, paying tribute to the starting number of a classic Mini Cooper that won its first race in the Snetterton Lombank Trophy.
Inside, there are more classic Cooper Company badges on the threshold plates and steering wheel, with the rest of the interior adorned with Dinamica upholstery and piano black trim. The dashboard has also been given a special touch, featuring signatures from John Cooper, his son John Cooper, and his grandson Charlie Cooper.
As a nod to Mini’s sporting endeavors, a badge with John Cooper’s signature has been added to the door frame.
The Anniversary Edition comes equipped with MINI’s Navigation Plus package (featuring an 8.9-inch touchscreen with navigation) and Comfort Plus package as standard, and it is only available in a three-door version.
