In the world of custom, one-off cars, you’ll typically find moneyed collectors paying exorbitant amounts for Rolls-Royces and Bentleys that will spend most of their lives garaged. So, it’s quite refreshing to find a one-off project for something a lot smaller, simpler, and driver-focused. The car in question is a Mini John Cooper Works Convertible, and a longtime Mini fan in the U.S. decided they wanted something more unique than what’s available from the factory. Mini Plant Oxford was tasked with bringing the customer’s vision to life, and the end result is one of the coolest and most unique drop-tops you’ll see.
An NFL-Inspired Look
Mini JCW Convertible One-Off Matthew I van Howell/Mini
The customer wanted this JCW Convertible to be themed according to their favorite U.S. football team, which is where the custom Midnight Black and Metallic Green two-tone exterior comes in. The colors were hand-sprayed and clear-coated, with a distinctive diagonal color split across the exterior that works well with the retro design cues of the latest Mini. On the soft-top, there’s a tonal Union Jack graphic.
Moving inside, the same green colorway of the exterior is mirrored here. Over 50 details have been individually specified, including the green-trimmed speaker surround for the Harmon Kardon sound system, custom door armrest overlays, and personalized floor mats. The customer chose to apply “MINI.01” badging to this one-off creation, which appears on the sill plates and steering wheel.
Mini JCW Convertible One-Off Matthew I van Howell/Mini
“Our owners see their MINI as more than just a car, and for many, it becomes a canvas for self-expression shaped into a true reflection of their personality,” said Kate Alini, Head of Marketing, Product, and Strategy, MINI USA. “This project gave us the opportunity to explore creating a unique custom-crafted MINI specific to customer preferences. With a vision this distinctive for a one-off car, it was exciting to see our customer’s vision come to life.”
Being a JCW, this particular Mini is equipped with a 228-horsepower four-cylinder engine that can get it from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds, half a second quicker than the Cooper S Convertible.
Related: I Drove The Mini Cooper JCW Here’s My Honest Review
Autoblog’s Take
Matthew I van Howell/Mini
This one-of-a-kind Mini showcases the design expertise of Mini’s product and design teams. It also demonstrates that the level of customization typically reserved for high-end luxury cars could be replicated on smaller, more affordable models like the Mini. That being said, we’re sure this customer paid top dollar for this one-off Mini, which already costs $44,600 in standard form. With all the extras, we wouldn’t be surprised if the final cost exceeded $60,000 or more. That could buy you a genuine sports car, but for many, you can’t put a price on a bespoke vehicle like this one.
