The original GP is one of the sweetest modern Minis ever made. Does it have future classic potential?
One of the first to bring together the layout with appropriately sharp handling was the original Mini John Cooper Works GP. Naturally, it had a people scratching their heads when it arrived on the scene in 2006, with the rear seats swapped out for a strut brace and a bit of netting to keep the contents of your shopping from being unleashed all over the cabin.
But the numbers speak for themselves. The original GP weighs in at just 1,090kg, marking a 50kg saving on the already admirably light. The upgrades don’t stop there, either. The suspension was stiffened up, the ride height lowered and a limited-slip differential was fitted to the front axle. Power from the 1.6-litre supercharged four-pot was slightly increased over the John Cooper Works R53, rising from 210hp to 218hp on the GP.
Given its lightweight nature, you’d think the GP would be a nightmare to live with. But, ultimately, this is a BMW-produced Mini at the end of day, so it gets the same interior quality that we’ve come to expect from the R53 – along with some neat touches. The gear lever is carbon fibre with the JCW logo displayed on top, along with Recaro sports seats and GP branding on the door sills.
So, it’s rather special – and that’s very much reflected in Mini GP resale values. The car we have here was registered back in 2006 and has covered 75,000 miles since. It’s priced at £17,995; admittedly quite a bit more than what a JCW of the era will set you back, but the Mini GP offers a vastly more focused driving experience than many contemporaneous hot hatches.
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