I am the second owner of a 2005 F50. I bought from a dealer and my MINI came with a cool grill badge. Problem is, I don't have contact with the original owner and I have no idea what the grill badge represents. It could just be somebody's initials, or perhaps a racing club, or something completely different. I thought I'd post a pic and see if you MINI enthusiasts can help me identify this badge. Thanks for your help!

 

I believe that's the Royal Automobile Club - http://www.royalautomobileclub.co.uk/

 

That's correct...The Royal Automobile Club is one of two established motorist organizations in the UK....the other being the Automobile Association AKA the AA

 

http://www.triple-c.com/

 

Wow, thanks Steven! How did you know that? Are you a member of the RAC? BTW, Mickey is beautiful. My Lady Chablis has a dual panoramic sunroof; however the back pane doesn't raise. Is that something that came along later after 2005?
Thanks again,
Joe

 

What a treasure!
That's a beautiful badge and so interesting.

 

Be interesting to know if the original owner was actually a member. That is the kind of badge you'd expect to see on a '36 Bentley roadster.

 

On a gen1 the back panel of the sunroof is fixed, on a gen2, when put in the vent position the front and back panels lift at the rear, but if you 'open' the roof, the back panel closes allowing the front (larger) chunk to slide back.

 

unlikely ... you don't have to be a member to get a badge anymore, just send coins to the vendor I reference

BUT

do note that several of my local British car clubs are VERY receptive to MINI owners .... in no small part due to the fact they have a large potential membership pool in us ... many more than those buying 50 year old MG's or classic Mini's this year!!

 

Not to pick nits, but I think you mean "R50" - Ferrari stopped making the F50 in 1997 and you don't tend to see many with grille badges.

 

Hello All:
The badge pictured is a replica (the kind sold by Triple C Motoring Accessories as linked and others). Real RAC badges of the period are very rare and very expensive each has an individual number stamped on it and you were "supposed" to turn it back to the club when you were no longer a member.
This type of badge would come from the 1930's or 40's. Over the years the badge has grown less detailed and today (sadly) is made of plastic with the initials RAC and not much else on it.

 

That makes sense.
I would love to see one of the real badges.
I couldn't imagine the former owners of the badge letting a treasure like that go with the car.
I'd love to have one of those replicas!

 

I don't know if this one is one of the "real" badges but I did acquire it from someone living in England. It appears to be enamel and chrome. This is my sweet little "Reggie", (Sir Reginald Stewart Rover) found on eBay.

 

The RAC grill badge has changed in shape and design many times over the years. In 1997 the Royal Automobile Club sold off its roadside assistance unit (keeping the London club headquarters and another country club facility outside of London). The motorist assistance company is now called RAC and uses a simple orange and white logo and grill badge or decal ("sticker" in British English). The website for the Royal Automobile Club gives a detail history and look at its very "posh" HQ in London. The now separate RAC site is basically a pitch by the independent roadside assistance company for membership services, auto insurance, etc. offered by the company.

 

I realized that as soon as I hit "send". oh well, thanks for the catch. I had been reading Motoring File and they were writing about the new line ups, which I belive have the initial "F", so I mistakenly renamed my 2005 Justa an "F50". wishful thinking? Thanks
http://www.motoringfile.com/2012/06/...he-first-time/

 

Thank you so much for the badge info and link. I also appreciate you explaining the rear sun roof difference between gen1 and gen2. Very helpful.