Highlights
• Great condition
• Full history
• Rarest MINI made, only 47 left registered of the 100 made for the UK market
• Low mileage
• Rare colour
• Distinctive 50WC Private number plate
• Distinctive 50WC Private number plate
The Background
The Mini John Cooper Works WC 50, standing for World Championship 50, was introduced in 2010 as the ultimate version of the model, celebrating John Cooper’s significant Formula One victories, 16 wins in just nine years. Painted in a new to MINI colour of Connaught green with a Pepper white roof, the MINI is based on a JCW with the option book thrown at it.
Every option is present on the WC 50, and it looks absolutely fantastic, the limited edition run of 250 cars in Europe with only 100 in the UK (with currently only 47 left registered) makes this MINI a rare and complimentary homage to racing royalty, John Cooper.
Every option is present on the WC 50, and it looks absolutely fantastic, the limited edition run of 250 cars in Europe with only 100 in the UK (with currently only 47 left registered) makes this MINI a rare and complimentary homage to racing royalty, John Cooper.
The History
The current owner purchased this car from its previous owner in Scotland, who was a big fan of the MINI. Knowing the car’s rarity, the current owner was keen to have the car as a MINI fan themselves. Having had the car now since October 2021 the current owner now doesn’t have a garage space to keep the car and considering its importance feels it’s better to pass it on to someone who has space to house the car.
Most of the car’s mileage was done under the previous owner’s time with the car, but the current owner has kept the car going with regular medium distance trips to keep the engine in the best health.
Most of the car’s mileage was done under the previous owner’s time with the car, but the current owner has kept the car going with regular medium distance trips to keep the engine in the best health.
The paperwork
The MINI comes with its original paperwork and manual package, the V5 is present and correct and the pack comes with a folder for all the MOT and servicing paperwork. The MINI, having low miles and low owners has its full history file which is all dealer completed and receipts for work done some of which are summarised below.
• Oil & pollen filter replacement, front shock absorber and front anti-roll bar bushes, O/S/F brake hose, oil change and brake/clutch fluid change, replacement top suspension mounts – Triggs Garage Ltd – 18/11/2021
• Clutch replacement, new battery, replaced fuel pump, new fuel cap, new turbo to air mass pipe – Klasse Series Automotive Ltd – 08/10/2019
Servicing completed at these dates and mileage intervals:
• 25/07/2014 – Sytner Mhead – 36724
• 02/05/2014 - Sytner Mhead – 33454
• 31/01/2014 - Sytner Mhead – 29587
• 14/01/2014 - Sytner Mhead – 29071 – (Oil service)
• 17/10/2013 - Sytner Mhead – 25159 – (Brake Fluid)
• 26/01/2012 - Sytner Notts – 11846
• 16/11/2011 - Sytner Notts – 9847
• 02/09/2011 - Sytner Notts – 8245
• 04/04/2011 - Sytner Notts - 6807
The distinctive "000 50WC" Private number plate is included in the sale.
The distinctive "000 50WC" Private number plate is included in the sale.
The interior
The upholstery inside the WC 50 is called ‘leather lounge – championship black/red’ a succinct description of the lavishly wrapped seats with black leather and red piping. The seats are in fantastic, if not near new condition with no rips, tears, staining or stress wearing. The driver’s bolster is the area that gets hit the hardest during regular use and is in good condition in this car. The door cards continue the Black/Red theme of the interior and have some nice carbon fibre highlights, the cards are in good condition along with the rest of the interior and match the dashboard’s red pad through the middle. The dashboard takes cues from the classic minis with the huge central dial with a multifunction display in the middle and the speedometer around the outside. The tachometer with the mileage counter is in front of the steering wheel and has a digital display of the speed underneath the needle.
The dashboard has carbon fibre details on top of the red padding, and this is matched in the steering wheel. Proudly displayed on the central spoke of the wheel is the John Cooper Works badge just above the steering wheels’ half fabric section with the other half being black leather. All buttons, dials and switches inside the cabin, and indeed on the steering wheel, are functional and in good condition, all still retaining the painted-on labels.
The rear seats as usual have seen far less use than the fronts and just like the front seats, present in great condition of the leather and padding. Black carpet is equipped throughout the car and again is in good condition, having been protected from excessive wear with car over mats. The inside of the MINI is in great condition and has clearly received love and respect from owners aware of the car’s importance and who want to keep the condition of the car inside and out looking its best.
The interior is very well equipped having the full suite of options from manufacture which includes,
• 6-disc CD changer
• Anthracite headlining
• Auto AC
• Bluetooth connection, DAB radio head unit, USB connection and voice control mated to a Harman Kardon Hi-Fi system.
• Heated front seats
• Integrated Sat Nav system
The Exterior
The outside of the MINI is perhaps the most significant, with the colour, Connaught Green, being one of the rarest colours applied to a MINI and it being beautifully balanced with the black, red and of course white highlighting around the car.
The exterior is in good condition and has held up well during the car’s 11 years on the road but does have some areas to bring attention to. These areas are: some paint missing on the vent details at the back of the side skirts, minor bubbling underneath the rear number plate, minor curbing on all four wheels, a small scuffing on the front passenger side plastic splitter, small marks on the rear carbon fibre splitter surrounding the exhausts and a small section of paint missing from the passenger side door.
Despite these very small areas, which are all in keeping with the general wear and tear a vehicle, the outside of the car is in great condition and looks fantastic in the Green/Black/Red/White colour scheme and the number of the car (number 38) from the limited-edition run is displayed on the front wings. The front spots work as intended and the tyres have plenty of tread left for use.
Lastly to note is that the front headlights, which are the Bi-Xenon, have very attractive black coloured inserts which tone down the brightness of the units giving the front of the car a much more attractive look.
The exterior is in good condition and has held up well during the car’s 11 years on the road but does have some areas to bring attention to. These areas are: some paint missing on the vent details at the back of the side skirts, minor bubbling underneath the rear number plate, minor curbing on all four wheels, a small scuffing on the front passenger side plastic splitter, small marks on the rear carbon fibre splitter surrounding the exhausts and a small section of paint missing from the passenger side door.
Despite these very small areas, which are all in keeping with the general wear and tear a vehicle, the outside of the car is in great condition and looks fantastic in the Green/Black/Red/White colour scheme and the number of the car (number 38) from the limited-edition run is displayed on the front wings. The front spots work as intended and the tyres have plenty of tread left for use.
Lastly to note is that the front headlights, which are the Bi-Xenon, have very attractive black coloured inserts which tone down the brightness of the units giving the front of the car a much more attractive look.
The exterior of the WC 50 has been given the same treatment as the interior with the full book of options thrown at it including:
• 17” cross spoke Challenge alloy wheels in jet black
• Bonnet stripes
• Previously mentioned black insert Bi-Xenon headlights
• JCW aerodynamic kit
• Carbon fibre bonnet scoop
• Carbon fibre wing mirror caps
• Carbon fibre rear diffuser
• Carbon fibre tailgate handle
The Mechanics
The twin-scroll turbocharged 1.6L, 4-cylinder engine puts out 211 BHP and 260Nm torque, propelling the car from 0-60 mph in 6.5 second and on to a top speed of 148 mph, all of this whilst retaining a combined fuel consumption of 40.9 mpg. The powerplant is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and provides the driver with a direct feel and engaging connection to the way this car drives, a direct nod to the history and aspects that made the Classic mini a huge success. Another part of the car that is directly linked to the car’s previous counterpart is the suspension set up and the development of how the MINI transfers its power to the road.
This car has had some recent work in this area, with a new front shock absorber, replacement front anti roll bar bushes and new suspension top mounts, this car should now drive just as good as the factory intended it to when it rolled off the production line. There are no unwanted noises or worrying sights or sounds coming from the suspension set up of the car and the owner reports that the car drives superbly. The engine fires up without hesitation and idles smoothly and quietly, whilst the exhaust (which is in great condition) makes a fantastic deep roar when the engine is pushed.
Since this car was first on the road the servicing has been carried out by authorised MINI dealerships so it’s a safe bet to assume it’s been well looked after. A new fuel pump was installed in 2019 along with a new fuel cap, so the fuelling system in the car is in great health. There were some advisories from some 2019 works which specify the cam cover gasket but it was not deemed serious or likely to deteriorate further. In summary then, this car, mechanically is in fine health and should continue to deliver many fun filled miles to the new owner.
The Appeal
The rarest MINI John Cooper Works, the full book of options from factory thrown at it, a timeless colour combination and one of the best suspensions set ups for a class in its class. All these reasons and more should be appeal enough for MINI enthusiasts and hot hatch fans, the WC 50 is a celebration of the racing history Mini has amassed since it fell across the path of legendary tuner John Cooper.
This WC 50, being the rarest JCW MINI Cooper S, presents a unique investment opportunity as well which should not be overlooked. Plenty of reasons to buy this car then, time to consider making some space in the garage for a new addition to the fleet.
This WC 50, being the rarest JCW MINI Cooper S, presents a unique investment opportunity as well which should not be overlooked. Plenty of reasons to buy this car then, time to consider making some space in the garage for a new addition to the fleet.
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