2018 BAC Mono W

Number 81 in the series and affectionately known as The Pink Panther, this Mono W has been in the Debbie’s care since 2021, joining an Ultima GTR, which she laughingly refers to as her “winter car!”

But then Debbie has a long history of driving quick vehicles; an ex-motorcycle instructor, previous four-wheeled transport has included a Brooke 250 RR and an Edge Devil. and it’s worth Googling the registration number of ‘B5 MNO’ to appreciate just how popular they both are; the Internet can be a strange place at times but it’s heartening to see so many people celebrating this unique sportscar and its owner.

She’s the second keeper and has invested around £35,000 in keeping it in tip-top condition – but that sum does include a full engine and gearbox rebuild plus a new rear wheel, as they handed over a bill for £8,000,on top of engine and gearbox rebuild /overhaul costs.

Mind you, given so much of the bodywork is exposed carbonfibre the final bill probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, and when you factor in the Mono W’s 18,000 miles, a great deal of which was run up during the three European tours she’s undertaken in it – plus the odd track day and domestic road trip – we can only applaud her for maintaining it as faithfully as it has treated her.

BAC Mono was the first company in the world to develop hybrid carbon-composite wheels. Now well-proven after a decade in use, they reduce unsprung weight to the benefit of steering, handling, braking, and overall performance.

How light are they? Made by Dymag, the 7.5-inch wide front wheels weigh 5.7kgs apiece and the nine-inch wide rears only a little more at an even six kilograms.

Mind you, they should be light because each one costs £3,600 and comes with its own instruction manual.

(The titanium wheel bolts also weigh just 30.2gms, which saves another 212.5gms per wheel.)

And the fact we can write four paragraphs about the wheels before we even begin to describe their condition tells you everything you need to know about owning and driving a BAC Mono W.

An obsession doesn’t begin to cover it.

Hell, it’s even got a titanium towing eye, which was fitted in January 2024 at a cost of £156.12.

And yet, for all its track focus, this is very far from being a well-worn competition car; with slick Hot Pink paintwork, satin black carbonfibre, and a suite of carefully curated decals, this is a car you could rock up in at your local classic car show and drive away with a bootful[2] of prizes, including People’s Choice.

Even the wheels are impressively free of scuffs and scrapes, which is quite a feat given how low-profile the tyres are; the Mono W might have been used as the engineers intended but it’s been looked after as they wanted too. 

The design of the wheels allows passersby to enjoy the sight of a road-going car equipped with carbon ceramic brake discs, an exotic feature that was a £30,000 option when the car was new. Still, when you’re as obsessive as the 

The cabin is every bit as focussed as the bodywork – but do you really want anything else when BAC provides everything you actually need?

In Debbie’s case, the answer is yes but then BAC probably didn’t have inter-continental touring in mind when they designed it.

So, she had them fit a motorcycle TomTom unit to the offside wing mirror. Held securely on using a RAM mount and completely waterproof, Debbie believes hers is the only Mono so equipped.

And, while they were at it, she had them fit upgraded arms from the Mono R to prevent vibration.

Returning to the cabin, you might be surprised at how well finished it all is, and how tactile; this is a car you will enjoy just sitting in, never mind driving.

The carbonfibre seat, which is strategically trimmed with leather and Alcantara, was commissioned by the first owner. Debbie commissioned a second seat as she wanted an F1 style seat that was suitable for someone of 5ft tall as she discovered the original one placed her too far away from the steering wheel.

The seat is fixed and although the pedals and steering wheel are adjustable there is a limit as to how far they can accommodate wildly differing drivers and at just five feet tall, Debbie had no choice but to invest in a new seat, deciding to have a Formula 1-spec seat, fireproof and all, created for her. Both seats come with the car.

It’s still in a fine condition, with only moderate wear to rubbing points such as the headrest. The original seat is also staying with the car, and she suggests this could be adapted to suit a range of heights from perhaps 5’ 7” through to lofty six foot plus.

Used in conjunction with the python-like seat, the Mono-branded Willans harness ensures there is absolutely no chance of you slippin’ and slidin’ around the cockpit as you explore the new levels of G-force that have been unlocked for you.

Reach out and you’ll find the sides of the cabin have been beautifully trimmed, and then reach forward to discover the delights of a race-spec, oval carbonfibre steering wheel that puts all the major controls within fingertip reach.

Including the screen, which is inset at the top of the hub; like everything else in and around the Mono W, it is perfectly positioned and a masterclass in packaging.

The steering wheel can be easily removed via its quick-release mechanism but beware; leave it lying around and it’ll cost you more than £25,000 to replace it. This one shows the usual wear to the rim, but it’s gentle enough to be chalked up to a developing patina and left as it is.

Storage is, er, limited but there are zipped pockets on either side that would take a passport, your mobile phone, and a credit card.

We tested everything, and it won’t come as a surprise to learn that everything works perfectly.

The service history is very good indeed, comprising:

• 23.02.2026 – service by A&M Conversions including fresh brake fluid and coolant, new sparkplugs, and MoT preparation at a cost of £1,510. The firm is run by BAC’s ex-head of service, so he’s a man who knows his stuff and comes highly recommended
• 09.02.2026 – reset throttle and TPS settings, reflash mapping, and fit new sparkplugs by Double D Services at a cost of £416
• 25.09.2025 – change fuel level sensor and fit a lithium battery by BAC Mono at a cost of £1,168
• 09.08.2024 – service by BAC Mono including a new upper steering column, a heat shield, and a new Willans belt at a cost of £2,293
• 22.01.2024 – service by Double D Services including gearbox oil and sparkplugs at a cost of £660
• 20.07.2023 – miscellaneous fettling plus an oil service by BAC Mono at a cost of £964
• 23.09.2022 – service by BAC Mono including engine being removed and sent to Mountune to be rebuilt, the suspension being stripped down and the gearbox rebuilt, various upgrades being installed, and a service. All-in, the final bill came to £26,439
• 02.08.2022 – service by BAC Mono plus repairs to the nearside rear bodywork at a cost of *takes deep breath* £8,020
• 09.05.2022 – investigate and resolve coolant leak by BAC Mono at a cost of £1,381
• 17.03.2022 – repair to one carbon wheel at a cost of £2,340
• 26.10.2020 – pre-sales inspection by BAC Mono
• 13.02.2020 – miscellaneous fettling by BAC Mono at a cost of £947
• 08.11.2019 – miscellaneous fettling by BAC Mono at a cost of £474
• 31.05.2019 – oil service plus a new clutch and alternator by BAC Mono at a cost of £1,712

As you can see, it starts on the button and idles like your family SUV. It is also surprisingly tractable and quiet in traffic, but show it the open road and it comes alive; you could spend the rest of life developing your skills in a BAC Mono and it would still be one step ahead of you. 

You will not outgrow this sportscar.

The engine is as well-presented as everything else, and we struggled to find even a corroded fastener. Quite the opposite, in fact, as there is still a handwritten label from when a component passed quality control on the 8th of August 2017. 

Wonderfully, there is even space at the top of the engine to keep a can of engine oil and a thin rain jacket. How’s that for maximizing the packaging?

If you are looking for a small job there is a little paint loss from some of the suspension arms, but that’s about it.

Oh, and it also comes with the jack and two car covers, which we are told are worth well over a thousand pounds between them.

The BAC’s MoT certificate is valid until February 2027 – and it probably won’t surprise you to learn it’s only gained one advisory in its life and that was for worn rear tyres, which is more of a badge of honour than a cause for concern, eh?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

The history file also includes the Owner’s Manual, correspondence (and water bottles!) from the Owners’ Club, service and specification sheets, and instruction booklets for the carbon hybrid wheels, Lifeline fire suppression system, and the lithium battery.

It also comes with the original numbered build booklet, which is rare because owners tend to hang on to them when they sell their car. However, the factory produced two for each car, with the first going to the first owner and the second into its archives – but in a moment of generosity, the firm gave Debbie the second copy for her car as a Christmas present. 

It seems that buying a Mono makes you one of the family. 

“Mono is there for when the Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren, et al., feel a bit too quiet, too soft, too tame, too dull. And if they don’t feel that way now, they will after the Mono”. Ben Oliver of CAR Magazine

This is not a car with mass-market appeal. Most will find it too focussed, too edgy, too hardcore. Hell, it makes a Caterham Seven feel a bit wimpy, which isn’t something we thought we’d every write.

But for a few, a very few, this is the car you’ve been dreaming of; use it to commute in the summer and then pack the bare minimum and take it up to Nordkapp or Morocco to create the sort of memories that’ll live with you for a lifetime.

Or tour Europe taking in your favourite racetracks, or compete in weekend hillclimbing, or simply make a point of turning up at every exclusive motoring event of the summer. 

This is a car that’s tractable enough to do all that – and to do it in complete reliability.

As for the hammer price, we suspect it’ll fall somewhere between £90,000 and £110,000, which would be very cheap; Debbie tells us that no previous ‘W’ car has ever sold for less than our upper estimate, and the last Mono we sold fetched £115,000 last September.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET HQ in South Oxfordshire. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays (apart from Bank Holidays) between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.