Dedicated to the Mini 40 Anniversary Limited Editions built in 1999
In 1999, MG Rover produced the 40th anniversary year limited edition Classic Mini and throughout 1999 various different special editions were launched on a similar theme. The Mini 40 Register was setup to trace and record the details of these limited editions and give the opportunity for like minded owners to get together and share experiences, help each other and generally enjoy the cars as a common interest.
The Mini 40 Register concentrates on the limited editions specifcially designated as Mini 40 models, for which there were two variants, the Mini 40 and Cooper 40.
The John Cooper LE models were also a Mini 40 variant, being launched for the UK market in August 1999 after the UK Mini 40 models had all been built. These were like the other UK 40's with Sports Packs and 13" wheels fitted but unlike the Mini 40's these were only available in Brooklands Green with a Old English White roof, and desginated a Cooper by the VIN Prefix of SAXXNN, where as the UK 40 model were a Mini VIN prefix of SAXXNW. We have another register for these 300 John Cooper LE cars which is separate to the Mini 40 register, but the summary table on the 40 Register page covers both.
UK Mini 40 Model
In the UK, the Mini 40 was a limited run of just 250 cars, with 150 being in Mulberry Red, 50 in Old English White and the other 50 in Island Blue. These cars came with a letter, presentation case with a model car and were given specific numbering from 1 to 250. We have identified all 250 by VIN number, but an anomaly has appeared which suggests there may have been 251 made, with an extra Mulberry Red car made, although its not clear why that would have occurred.
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Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) Mini 40 Models
In Japan, a similar range of Mini 40 limited edition cars were offered, but unlike the UK cars these were non-sportspack versions on 12" wheels. The same three colours were offered as per the UK market, with exact numbers of each colour made unknown at this time. There were believed to be 150 JDM Mini 40's made in total. These were not given numbers or any presentation cases. They were available in Manual or Automatic transmission options, all with factory air-conditioning as standard which was always the case with all JDM Minis of this era. The cars were also single point injection but using the later 'MPi' era engine block, coil pack, alternator and other MPi related equipment. They were not fitted with immobilisers though, but did have a drivers seat belt fastened indication on the intrument panel binicale as well as the SRS warning lamp for the driver air-bag and seat belt pre-tensioner systems installed.
JDM Cooper 40 variant
Also in Japan, in the later half of 1999 a further Mini 40 was released known as the Cooper 40. This was a Sport pack version with 13" wheels, and was only available in Solar Red or Brooklands Green (often referred to as Epson Green but colour code is the same as Brooklands green), both with a White roof. The number of these cars produced is not known, but possibly is around 100 cars in total. Again these cars came with air-conditioning and were available in Manual or Automatic gearbox versions. These cars typically had the round Mini 40 badge on the bonnet, but Cooper Laurels on the rear quarter panels as opposed to the 40 logo that the Mini 40 has.
European Mini 40 Models
There are believed to be around 400 left hand drive mainland Europe Mini 40's also made, and these were sold in various numbers across France, Belgium, Germany and Italy, with further distribution to other countries also.
There were a range of options, some appear to be country specific, and a wider range of colours were also available.
In Germany, four colours were offered, Tahiti Blue and British Racing Green which came with full length electric sunroofs (known as the Open model), and Silver and Black without Sunroofs. These were all Sports pack fitted cars with 13" wheels.
In Italy there appears to have been a mix of Sports pack and non-Sports pack variants, and Mulberry Red features strongly as the main colour option.
There are also some Old English White and Metallic Grey (possibly Anthracite) cars also found in Europe, although details of which countries these were sold in is less clear, but possibly France is likely.
John Cooper LE (UK) Model
The John Cooper LE model was a UK right hand drive limited run of 300 cars, all Sportspacks in Brooklands Green with Old English White roofs. These cars were built after the UK Mini 40 models, with the last UK 40's built in June 1999 and the John Cooper LE's built from August 1999. This model was launched to pay homage to the 40th anniversary of the Cooper F1 World Championship.
A limited run of 25 numbered S Works conversions (90BHP) were reworked by John Cooper Garages having been bought as new stock from MG Rover for conversion. These cars have the usual John Cooper S Works decals, plus they have a small oval shape plaque on the glove box lid stating the number out of 25. There were also an number (believed to be 10) more S Works from new conversions carried out by John Cooper Garages, but these 10 were not given numbered oval plaques on the glove box lid.
