+1

great save!

congrats

 

more 2005 Challenge edition

it seems that some didn't get the checkered strip,
but only sponsor decals . . .




then found this near-mint bad boy

the want is strong ---

https://www.ewagen.es/detail.php?id_car=1501

interestingly it also includes the JCW paper certificate numbered 18377 but could not discern actual rocker cover plaque number because no zoomed close-up,
might be the case that the previous owner purchased from that Italian seller who had a whole bunch of these up in the 18,000ths?



.

 

these don't pop up very often!

sellers descrip:

"For sale is my mini R53 JCW225 John cooper works/ JCM challenge John cooper motorsport 4-2-1 exhaust manifold. This is a genuine mini item, not to be confused with the later PIPER copy or replica. The genuine mini 225/ challenge manifold has a completely different runner,collector & flexi design to the piper and it’s extremely obvious when they are side by side.

This manifold is extremely rare, and I haven’t seen any for sale for many years. They are like gold dust.

At some point in its life, probably when it was racing, it has had EGT bungs professionally welded in each individual runner. These are now capped off, but can be utilised if the new owner would like.

On the underside of the manifold by the collector, there is a small dent as seen on the photos. From what I’ve seen of the very few previous manifolds I’ve found online, this is a common occurrence and is nothing to worry about (this won’t affect performance at all). The flexi is original, and I do not know if this is blowing or not, as I never fitted it to my car. The new owner should buy this knowing it’s likely 20 years old and may need looking at / attention before installing. But I’d imagine whoever buys it will likely put it into storage and not use it, as they are so rare."




here's a couple more tidbits
from recently closed auctions

another thing not often seen are the cloth variant JCW Sparco seats




S805 cover fetched
a fairly handsome sum




bonus
advert !

 

more Challenge stuff

all those 2005 Challenge Edition cars were fitted with the fascia start button & just noticed that the same seller who has the JCM manifold also is offering up one of those





i don't think they sold many of those

it's one of those rare-but-not-really-sought-after parts

the Challenge decal strips also fall into that category as i don't think many were actually sold



altho did find one person on NAM
who had fitted them . . .

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ml#post1322730



while researching the Challenge Edition

came across Let's Mini 2005 gathering in Loreley Germany but sadly can't seem to find any pics, but reading the comments on this MF post makes me think it was when JCW debuted the carbon fiber bonnet, or at least had the prototype on display, probably was too ungodly expensive to develop as an actual production part?

https://www.motoringfile.com/2005/08/23/lets_mini/




it would be so cool to see pictures from that event,
especially the JCW booth

 

The rare start button option kit!!

 

was just browsing ebay & noticed this pack of cards amongst some other memorabilia

thankfully the Library of Motoring still exists, otherwise i don't think could have found an answer

https://libraryofmotoring.info/2010/...rks-card-game/

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