New MINI Cooper editions celebrate historic rally win

The Monte Carlo Rally was at the top of the list when it came to our ‘Top 10 giant-killing MINI motorsport achievements’ in the lead up to the British brand’s 60th anniversary a couple of years ago.

At the 1964 rally, the original Mini burst onto the motor racing landscape with a thrilling victory, thanks to Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon using the agile handling of the Cooper S to head more powerful Ford Falcon V8s on the tight turns above the Mediterranean principality.

Now, to mark that triumphant occasion, a limited-run Paddy Hopkirk Edition of the 2021 MINI Cooper S 3-Door, 5-Door and John Cooper Works Hatch has burst onto the Australian scene, featuring a Chili red paint scheme and white roof inspired by the winning rally car, white racing stripes, a stylised version of the famous number ‘37’ on the doors (and side scuttles), and black auxiliary driving lights over the grille.

The original car’s ‘33 EJB’ number plate is embossed on the white bonnet strip, which also carries Patrick ‘Paddy’ Hopkirk’s signature.

The Northern Irish rally driver, who was 30 when he claimed the historic victory, has lent his signature to other parts of the car, including the tailgate, door sills and decorative trim strip on the dash, while various other decals and stickers adorn the special-edition model.

Cooper S Paddy Hopkirk Edition variants are fitted with special 17-inch John Cooper Works ‘Track’ wheels finished in black, while the JCW version gets unique 18-inch ‘Style 506’ wheels with gloss black paint. The piano black exterior package is also applied.

The 1964 race win was the first of three overall victories at Monte Carlo for Mini.

Timo Mäkinen won in 1965 and crossed the line first in 1966, with Rauno Aaltonen and Hopkirk also on the podium, only for the first six cars to be disqualified in controversial circumstances for alleged headlight infringements.

Aaltonen returned for revenge and the Cooper S won its third Monte in 1967.

Only 65 units of the 2021 MINI Cooper S Paddy Hopkirk Edition will be available in Australia – 25 for each of the Cooper S models and 15 examples of the JCW.

Pricing starts at $54,800 plus on-road costs for the special-edition MINI Cooper S 3-Door, $56,400 for the Cooper S 5-Door and $69,000 for the JCW. They can now be reserved via online deposit.

The Cooper S twins are powered by a 141kW/280Nm 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while the JCW ups the ante to 170kW/320Nm.

“MINI’s spectacular winning streak at the Monte Carlo Rally continues to inspire MINI fans all over the world to this day,” said MINI’s Australian chief Brett Waudby.

“With the MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition, MINI fans now have the opportunity to express their passion for the brand’s rallying roots in a particularly authentic way.”

How much does the 2021 MINI Paddy Hopkirk Edition cost?
Cooper S 3-Door Hatch – $54,800
Cooper S 5-Door Hatch – $56,400
John Cooper Works Hatch – $69,000
* Prices exclude on-road costs