After six decades of collaborating with the “Cooper” family, MINI celebrates its 60th anniversary with the launch of special editions, the MINI Anniversary Edition , for its Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works models, limited to 740 units.
John Cooper was a British engineer, who ended up having a big impact in competition and especially in Formula 1, when he decided to put the engine behind the driver, which guaranteed his single-seaters the championships of 1959 and 1960, with Jack Brabham at the controls.
Cooper's friend Alec Issigonis also revolutionized the automotive world by placing the engine across the front of his greatest creation, the Mini, in 1959.
Cooper immediately saw the competitive potential of the little Mini and it didn't take long to start assembling a small series of the modified model with bigger brakes, while increasing its power from 34 hp to 55 hp. Thus was born the first Mini Cooper.
His creation quickly gained fame, and the “Cooper” brand, surrounded by a red ring, became known among all enthusiasts. Two years later, he launched the most powerful Mini Cooper S, which would reach glory by winning three times the Montecarlo Rally (1964, 1965 and 1967), against rivals that were much more “equipped”.
Since then, modifications carried out by John Cooper have continued to gain fame and, in 2001, the “John Cooper Works” brand would be created together with MINI, now in the hands of the BMW Group. Collaboration with the Cooper family would thus continue with John Cooper's son, John Michael “Mike” Cooper.
Since 2008, the MINI JCW (John Cooper Works), the “spicier” version has been the top of the range, with modifications in terms of the engine, suspensions and exhaust, making it also one of the most fun to drive.
60 years later… what has changed?
To celebrate 60 years of collaboration with the Cooper family, MINI has just launched a new limited edition of 740 units of the MINI Cooper, Cooper S and John Cooper Works, the MINI Anniversary Edition.
Compared to the MINI John Cooper Works we know, for example, the differences are cosmetic, equipping the same 2.0 liter turbo engine, with 231 hp and 320 Nm of torque.
On the outside, the MINI Anniversary Edition comes as standard equipped with the color combination by which John Cooper's first race cars were identified, in this case, the British Racing Green Metallic color (metallic green) and white elements, such as the roof, mirrors and hood strips.
Alternatively, we can still choose the colors Midnight Black Metallic (metallic black) and Rebel Green (green), in combination with some elements in Piano Black High Gloss (glossy black).
In memory of the MINI Cooper that won its first race, this special edition comes with its number 74 on the hood and doors. In addition to the number, we also see the “Cooper” logo on its sides and on the C pillar.
Interior "Cooper"
Inside this iconic model we find some specific elements of this limited edition, with the application of the “Cooper” logo on the base of the steering wheel and on the door sills.
The red ring that accompanies the original John Cooper logo is still visible on the tailgate, as well as on the decorative surfaces in front of the passenger seat.
Making this edition more special is John Cooper's signature on a numbered plaque to show the exclusive character of this version.
