2011 Mini John Cooper Works WC50

The World Championship 50, or WC50,  is essentially a JCW that’s been taken off the production line and hand-finished. It is said that every potential WC50 left Oxford finished in black before getting the layer of Connaught Green that distinguishes the range. 

The original press release reported: “In the summer of 1959 Alec Issigonis presented his concept for a small car [and] that same year, sports car constructor John Cooper won his first Formula One World Championship title with Jack Brabham at the wheel. 50 years on, the MINI John Cooper Works World Championship 50 evokes both the start of the triumphal path of the classic Mini as well as victory in the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship for John Cooper’s racing team. It will have a limited production run of 250 units.”

This is the rarest of MINIs – this is number 218 of just 500 built worldwide, as can be seen by the badging – and the £33,000 it cost back new would have bought a bare-bones Porsche Boxster, which suggests it must be something very special.

Which it is. Pretty much every option box was ticked including unique 17-inch alloy wheels, a black honeycomb grille, and chunky body kit including a rear roof spoiler and, of course, lashing of carbonfibre trim.

The car has switchable traction control and four-pot Brembo calipers up front and despite the race-inspired chassis, contemporary road tests report the MINI remains reasonably comfortable.

With just 36,000 miles on the odometer, ‘VX60 JKK’ is being offered with a full service history and a long MoT to make way for the seller’s next car, a GR Yaris GR. 

Seems like the hyper-fast small car bug has bitten him hard…

Doesn’t it look terrific? The combination of the Connaught Green coachwork, a white roof and black 17-inch alloy wheels works perfectly. Throw carbonfibre trim and a discreet roof spoiler and you’ve got a MINI whose looks match its performance.

It’s still in great shape, too. With very good shutlines and panel alignment (it was hand-finished after all…) allied to careful curation over the years, it presents very well indeed.

Those 17-inch alloy wheels are somewhat vulnerable thanks to the low-profile tyres, so they do have a few small kerbing marks. But they’re fitted with matching 205/45R17 Hankook Ventus S1 Evo tyres, all of which were new in 2022 and still have plenty of tread left on them.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Twin exhaust pipes peep out from beneath carbonfibre, and the badges showing the car’s number are present and correct, as is the John Cooper signature on the bonnet stripe.

The lamp lenses, including the obligatory front spotlights, are all good, as is the window glass and windscreen. Both front and rear numberplates still bear the name of the supplying dealer too, which is reassuring.

As for flaws, a scuff on the nearside front wheelarch has damaged the paint and the plastic trim, and there are white spots on the offside front wheelarch and sill. There are also some marks on the rear ‘diffuser’ panel and a small dink on the offside and nearside rear wings. One of the bonnet stripes is slightly frayed from a pressure washer but there are genuine new stripes with the car that cost £170 for the next owner to fit if they wish for the perfection.

The interior is as extravagantly finished as the exterior with plenty of black leather and a hefty dollop of carbonfibre. The result is a winning combination of luxury and sportiness.

It’s still in a very good condition, too. With only gentle creasing to the driver’s seat, the rest could be only a few years old rather than thirteen.

The red piping to the leather trim might be a well-trodden path but it works as well here as it always does, not least because it’s supported by flashes of red leather throughout the cabin.

Some very good carbonfibre trim on the door handles, dashboard, and steering wheel reinforce the car’s exclusivity, while a high-end stereo and multiple Harmon Kardon speakers provides hi-fidelity music should you ever tire of that exhaust note.

Comfort is taken care of by heated front seats that feature an adjustable armrest between them. The MINI also has air-conditioning and electric windows.

The door cards, carpets, and headlining are all excellent, and the boot plays host to the warning triangle and the tool kit. The boot floor itself is solid and free of corrosion.

The MINI’s service history is peerless and is recorded as follows:

• 07.03.2011 – pre-delivery inspection by Benham Wolverhampton
• 06.02.2012 and 4,901 miles – service by Benham Wolverhampton
• 13.01.2014 and 17,846 miles – service by Benham Wolverhampton
• 09.02.2016 and 24,270 miles – service by Benham Wolverhampton
• 29.01.2018 and 25,914 miles – service by Rybrook BMW
• 31.01.2019 and 26,298 miles – service by Rybrook BMW
• 06.02.2020 and 27,243 miles – service by Rybrook BMW
• 26.01.2021 and 27,926 miles – service by Rybrook BMW
• 22.04.2021 and 28,219 miles – service by Rybrook BMW
• 05.05.2022 and 32,624 miles – new clutch, thermomstat, drive belt, and four tyres by Marshall Bournemouth at a total cost of £3,147
• 09.05.2023 and 33,908 miles – service by Wollaston Motors Ltd, MINI-authorised workshop
• 27.02.2024 and 36,006 miles – service by Wollaston Motors Ltd, MINI-authorised workshop

As you can see – and would expect given the authorised dealer history you see above - it starts well, idles as it should, and has a very un-MINI-like exhaust note and crackle.

And the seller enthuses about it, talking of an itch that has been well and truly scratched by this “really good car” that’s been “trouble-free” throughout his time with it.

The engine bay is well presented and the only thing we can see the new owner might like to do is to replace the few rusty fasteners that spoil its otherwise clean appearance. 

The underside, obviously, looks very good.

This WC50 has a full BMW Mini service history plus all its original manuals, two keys, and a printout confirming its status as a genuine WC50 along with the details of its build specification. 

The MINI’s MoT certificate, which is valid until February 2025, was gained with no advisories, something it’s been no stranger to over the years but then given how well it’s been maintained, that’s not much of a surprise, is it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and confirms it has had four previous owners.

With a guide price of between £12,000 and £17,000, we think you’re going to struggle to find a better example for the money.

If you can find another at all, that is. 

According to How Many Left, just 41 John Cooper Works WC50s are on the road, with a further seven being on SORN, which makes an already rare car even more so.

Which bodes well for its future value. We sold this very one back in July 2022 for £14,500, which means the owner may well have enjoyed 18 months of essentially free motoring – and may even turn a profit if it ends up being sold towards the top end of our estimate.

That’s good news for him – and you. Yes, you might end up paying a bit more than you’d like now but it should come back to you at the other end, which would make it a very cheap way to drive an ultra-rare British sporting icon.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.