To celebrate 60 years of collaboration with the Cooper Family, Mini has created a special edition vehicle. Meet the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition, and just a handful of units are coming to South Africa.

John Cooper was born 98 years ago, but the real history begins 60 years ago when he took his classic Mini to a legendary race victory. His expertise with Mini’s products resulted in the Mini Cooper in 1961.

To celebrate the partnership, Mini has created the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition and the vehicle is a tribute to John Cooper’s legacy. Sadly John Cooper is no longer with us, having passed away in 2000.

There’ll be just 740 units available globally and South Africa will receive just 6. 74 refers to the starting number 74 which was the classic Mini Cooper’s number during its first successful race appearance.

The Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition will be in British Racing Green metallic and Rebel Green, as well as Midnight Black metallic. All paint finishes are combined with a roof, exterior mirror caps, door handles and surrounds for the headlights and rear lights in white. Other exterior trim elements are offered in Piano Black high gloss.

It wouldn’t be a sporty Mini without the traditional stripes and these are white on the bonnet, with a red accent line. The 74 is on the bonnet and doors of the vehicle. The vehicle features John Cooper Works Trim with adaptive dampers, 18-inch JCW light alloys. Inside, the Cooper name logo is present on the door sill trims, on the side scuttles, on the C-pillars, and on the center spoke of the Nappa sports leather steering wheel.

The cabin features John Cooper Works sports seats in Dinamica/leather Carbon Black finish, an anthracite-coloured headliner, stainless steel pedal set and interior trim in Piano Black high-gloss. The red ring from the original John Cooper logo adorns the luggage compartment lid and the interior surface on the passenger side. On the driver’s side, the interior surface features the signatures of John, Mike and Charlie Cooper. The inside of the driver’s door frame features an emblem with John Cooper’s signature, the handwritten note “1 of 740” and the words “60 YEARS OF MINI COOPER – THE UNEXPECTED UNDERDOG”.

The Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition is available across all current powertrains, but the SA-spec units will come with the JCW engine. For the record, the 2.0-litre turbocharged 4-pot churns out 170 kW and 320 Nm.

When does the Mini Cooper Anniversary Edition arrive in SA?

Mini South Africa confirmed there’ll be 6 units with the JCW engine arriving in the last quarter of 2021. Pricing will be announced closer to the time.

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