FS:: 2004 R53 Cooper S MC40
2004 R53 Cooper S MC40 - Sold
Year: 2004
Make: MINI
Model: Hardtop
Price: $9600
Mileage: 42500
Color: Red/White
Private or Dealer Listing: Private Listing
Location (Region): SouthEast
Still enjoy this car, but car collection has become larger than storage space. Have chosen this car for initial offer to reduce size of the herd.
It is a special edition commemorating the 40th anniversary of winning the Monte Carlo rally. Known as the MC40, the package which added $7000 to the price of a Cooper S, included:
Chili Red body with white roof to match the winning rally car
Slick top (sunroof delete) for less weight
17” two-piece, Anthracite wheels with polished rims by BBS
Sports Package
Dynamic Stability Control
Xenon Headlights with power washers
Front and rear fog lights
Driving lights
The original car’s license plate numbers (33 EJB) on hood
Monte Carlo Rally number badge on hood
Monte Carlo Rally emblems on rear quarter panels
Magnetic number panels on the doors with the winning car’s #37
Chrome GB emblem on boot in European tradition
Chrome mirror caps and boot handle
Lounge leather seats in red and black, a pattern unique to the MC40
Rubber floor and boot mats with 40th anniversary logo
Satin chrome shift **** with 40th anniversary logo
Additional engine monitoring gauges
Three spoke steering wheel
Carbon fiber dash with John Cooper Works logo
Individually numbered commemorative plaque with Paddy Hopkirk’s signature
Some enthusiasts criticized the MC40 for being an appearance package and not including performance enhancements, as should be appropriate for a rally car. Current owner agreed, making a few streetable performance modifications, keeping the appearance stock, focusing on handling and braking.
Suspension
Aluminum trailing arms from R56 (less unspring weight)
Powerflex poly bushing in trailing arm (better geometry control)
Hotchkis aluminum lower control arms (less u/s weight, adjustable camber)
Hotchkis 25mm hollow rear sway bar (no understeer, flatter cornering)
Koni yellow sport shocks (better cornering)
TSW springs (better cornering, ¾” lowering)
Ireland Engineering front camber plates (adjustable camber, reinforces weak tower)
Braking System
Larger front rotors (R56)
Larger front calipers (R56)
High quality slotted rotors
Ceramic high performance brake pads
Stainless steel brake lines
Drivetrain
15% underdrive supercharger pulley
Less restrictive K&N air filter
Milltek resonated exhaust system (British designed/built)
This car is appreciated by other car enthusiasts, winning first place in its most recent car show - an all British show. Cars were not classified by marque, but by year, placing this MINI in the largest class (2003 - present) which included 6 Jaguars and 3 Lotus (Lotuses, Loti ?).
More photos are on flikr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/128678...57677442033362
VIN#WMWRE334X4TD88822
Located in northeast Florida.
Last edited by Green Flash; Mar 6, 2017 at 06:28 AM.
Underhood Paint
RB-MINI
Interesting that you noticed the underhood paint.
All Generation 1 MINIs have a problem with the paint under the hood and under the rear hatch. The color base coat was applied, but the clear coat must have been applied after the hood and hatch were installed - no clear coat is on that paint. Any strong detergent can remove the color base coat, leaving large areas of gray primer showing.
This MINI suffered that malady when I purchased it. I just could not take it to a car show and open the hood with it looking that way. It took 3 full days to remove parts under the hood and mask off what could not be removed. The area under the hood and under the hatch have been repainted with the color base coat and clear coat. The car is now like it should have been when it left the factory.
Interesting that you noticed the underhood paint.
All Generation 1 MINIs have a problem with the paint under the hood and under the rear hatch. The color base coat was applied, but the clear coat must have been applied after the hood and hatch were installed - no clear coat is on that paint. Any strong detergent can remove the color base coat, leaving large areas of gray primer showing.
This MINI suffered that malady when I purchased it. I just could not take it to a car show and open the hood with it looking that way. It took 3 full days to remove parts under the hood and mask off what could not be removed. The area under the hood and under the hatch have been repainted with the color base coat and clear coat. The car is now like it should have been when it left the factory.
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Enthusiast Owner
I do miss Monte, already. Beautiful car. Always felt good just to look at it.
Monte really captured the history of the MINI. Still have the sign on the wall of the garage celebrating the Monte Carlo win with the image of the 1964 winning MINI (the one collectible that I did not include in the sale).
And, it was fun to drive. The mods worked well to enhance the performance and driving experience.
Not sure I can invest the sales price in anything that will bring me more fun. But, I do have more room in the garage now. Three cars in a two-car garage makes for a tight workshop.
I bought this MC40
I just bought this MC40 and am wondering if the commemorative plate was removed or placed elsewhere. I'm glad to at least know the number due to you post, which has saved me probably weeks of effort.
The commemorative plate is NLA (as are everything else about this limited edition Cooper) because the MC40 package ($8,000 option) was dealer-installed on a slick-top, Chili Red Cooper S. Because of that even the VIN doesn't designate it as an MC40. You're lucky to have the number because then the only way to find out would be to know the original dealer who MIGHT have old paperwork. I would imagine a good graphic artist could take someone else's plate, change the number and regenerate it. It's silk-screened/printed onto an aluminum plate.
Thanks for the info, my coop is actually the one in this post. It's really the only reason I was able to verify. The vin matches up, same general area it was sold, etc. I might see about having the plate done by someone. Hopefully I can find a decent place.








