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JCW GarageInterested in John Cooper Works (JCW) parts for your 2nd Generation MINI? This is where JCW upgrades and accessories for the MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S (R56), and Cabrio (R57) MINIs are discussed.
I'm equally amused and bemused, and seek no joy in dream crushing
The WC 50 owners are more than welcome to believe in whatever they wish
Apologies for trying to correct any misinformation,
I'm equally amused and bemused, and seek no joy in dream crushing
The WC 50 owners are more than welcome to believe in whatever they wish
Apologies for trying to correct any misinformation,
I have nothing more to add to this thread
So assume you are; a current employee of BMW with knowledge of manufacturing techniques at the Oxford Plant in 2009 to 2010, a past employee of BMW at the Oxford Plant during manufacturing of the WC50, or, as your IP is Coventry, that is nearby to Oxford, know individuals with first hand knowledge of the WC50 process?
Above I posted an article from Motoring File - a long standing contributor to our MINI community. It states information pertaining to the WC50 and it being hand built. I've always read their articles and have found them to be credible with interesting facts and news about MINI's over the years. I contacted them today as an individual in this thread does not think the information was true and that Motoring File is not a credible source. I received a quick response from the founder about his information and how it is derived. Attached is his response about his news letter and the information contained within. I also attach a photo and his biography:
I would say that his information is "dead on" accurate given the sources for his MINI newsletter - that only being MINI of Munich as well as MINI USA.
That would mean that the information he provides is from direct contact with MINI. They trust him due to his longevity and his accurate reporting of MINI news since 2003. It would also mean that according to MINI that the car is hand built. No questioning it now.
Interesting, but, true - My registration does say that the car is black but it is actually Connaught Green. I knew the story behind the color. It's interesting to see this from an industry expert though. Motor on!
Last edited by mini coop; Jan 23, 2018 at 04:17 PM.
I'm equally amused and bemused, and seek no joy in dream crushing
The WC 50 owners are more than welcome to believe in whatever they wish
Apologies for trying to correct any misinformation,
I have nothing more to add to this thread
I have nothing to add either.
Indeed, the WC50 was a very nice LE fully assembled at the Oxford Plant as other regular and LE models.
I've spoken to the owner of a WC50 and am reliably informed that they were made on the line as a fully loaded JCW, pretty much every option apart from sunroof, all in black. The documents still state they're black.
Then they were shipped over to Germany where they were stripped down to be painted Connaught green and pepper white, before being shipped to US, UK etc. Presumably in Germany they got their number, badging etc.
I've spoken to the owner of a WC50 and am reliably informed that they were made on the line as a fully loaded JCW, pretty much every option apart from sunroof, all in black. The documents still state they're black.
Then they were shipped over to Germany where they were stripped down to be painted Connaught green and pepper white, before being shipped to US, UK etc. Presumably in Germany they got their number, badging etc.
Hand finished seems better.
I'd agree.
That would seem to be the more accurate terminology in this case.
I absolutely love the Connaught Green color,
total classic.
This pic from an old NAM classified highlights how beautiful it is...
...amongst other examples of classic darker BRG,
it reminds me of old Bentley Blowers or Jag D-types!
Such a lovely color!
Major congrats mini coop!
Lucky duck you to find such the rare bird!
Thanks Oldboy Speedwell. Love the car, the color, and the significance associated with the car. Mine is pictured below and also shown is how my car has been used in dealer ads and liked up MINI USA.
Last edited by mini coop; Jan 27, 2018 at 12:29 PM.
First person "Lets build a car in England and then put it on a train or a boat so that we can ship it Germany."
Second person - "Why do we want to do that, we going to sell it there?"
First person - "No, so that we can strip all the paint off and then repaint it a special color."
Second person - "Ahhh, why don't we just do that here?"
First person - "You trying to be a trouble maker?"
Second person - "You must have heard me incorrectly, as I was clearing my throat and then said - Why you are genius."
First person - "You have a great career in front of you . . . . . .
Too true!
Odd the way it all works.
With the GP1 they sent 'em in white to Italy.
One of the main reasons was because the BMW C1 failed and stopped production, but Bertone was still getting paid while idle so might as well give 'em sumthin' to do!
Strange indeed, but it worked out well it seems.
November 28, 2005
Italian contract coachbuilder Bertone is preparing to build a limited-edition Mini that will have a huge rear spoiler and an equally huge name.
The Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works GP will feature a 218hp engine. It will seat two people instead of four because designers removed the car's two back seats to reduce weight by about 40kg.
The Bertone-built Mini will be priced slightly above €30,000. The coachbuilder will make 2,000 units of the car, which goes on sale next July.
Bertone will receive bodies in white from Mini's plant in Oxford, England, and complete final assembly in its plant in Grugliasco, near Turin.
By awarding Bertone the contract, Mini parent BMW is compensating the Italian coachbuilder for ending production of the BMW C1 motorcycle, BMW sources said.
Bertone installed capacity to build 27,000 C1s a year but BMW stopped production three years ago after the motorcycle sold only about 10,000 units a year.
MF misidentified that scooter as a C4,
but gets to very good gristle regardless...
That the first GP existed in the first place was mostly luck. Head of MINI Design, Gert Hildebrand, and MINI boss, Dr. Kay Segler, both championed the car personally. Unfortunately, MINI Plant Oxford did not have the production capacity to handle the GP in the hand-built, bespoke manner in which it was intended. In the end, the MINI GP was made possible by the sales failure of another BMW product. That failure was the BMW C4 enclosed scooter that BMW hoped would revolutionize urban transportation. The production capacity that BMW had bought from Bertone for the C4 was going un-utilized. The workforce was idle, yet still getting paid. Suddenly there was a solution to both problems. Instead of attempting to build the bespoke R53 GP at Oxford, MINI would ship 2000 unfinished cars to Italy where they’d be assembled by hand at Bertone.
