Mini Cooper JCW Lucky 13 Edition celebrates Bathurst win

Key highlights:

• Just 26 Lucky 13 Edition cars will be built for Australia
• $71,990 price celebrates Mini’s 1966 Bathurst victory
• Production cars retain the JCW’s 170kW turbo-petrol engine

Mini is marking 60 years since its famous 1966 Bathurst victory with the Cooper JCW Lucky 13 Edition, a limited-run hot hatch built exclusively for Australia, and just 26 examples will be made. It is priced from $71,990 before on-road costs, $10,500 more than the regular petrol-powered Cooper JCW.

The special edition pays tribute to the Morris Mini Cooper S that conquered the 1966 Gallaher 500 at Mount Panorama. Mini beat larger, faster and more powerful cars that year, claiming the first nine positions. The Lucky 13 Edition will arrive in Australian showrooms from the first quarter of 2027, between January and March.

Racing-inspired exterior

The Lucky 13 Edition draws heavily on the colours and details of the 1966 Bathurst-winning Mini. Its exterior treatment includes:

• British Racing Green paint
• Gloss white roof and mirror caps
• White bonnet stripes
• Circular number 13 decals on the bonnet and doors
• 18-inch John Cooper Works Rallye Spoke alloy wheels in Frozen Midnight Grey
• John Cooper Works branding on the front, side skirts and rear winglets
• Carbon-fibre exhaust tip
• Red branded tow strap

The car shown at the Lucky 13 Edition’s unveiling is a concept, so the production version will differ slightly. Mini says production cars will feature black Vescin synthetic upholstery, black winglets, a red JCW tow strap, a standard Glazed White roof and mirror caps, and accessory bonnet stripes. The position of the number 13 decals may also vary slightly, while roof rails will be deleted.

Engine and performance

Mini hasn’t announced any mechanical changes for the Lucky 13 Edition, and it uses the same powertrain as the regular petrol-powered Cooper JCW.

The special edition’s appeal comes from its limited Australian allocation and Bathurst-inspired styling rather than additional engine output.

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Cabin keeps the regular JCW’s equipment

Inside, the special edition retains the standard JCW’s basic cabin layout, including John Cooper Works seats, a black headliner and dashboard and door-card trim made from recycled polyester knit.

• John Cooper Works steering wheel
• 9.4-inch circular OLED infotainment display
• Head-up display
• Ambient lighting
• Heated, electrically adjustable front seats
• Driver’s seat massage and memory functions
• 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system

The production model’s black Vescin synthetic upholstery will distinguish its cabin from the concept shown at the reveal.

Why Mini chose the Lucky 13 name

The name comes from Australian driver Bob Holden, who teamed up with Finnish rally legend Rauno Aaltonen to win the 1966 race.  Before the event, Holden drew the number 13 from a hat and claimed it as his lucky number, having used it earlier in his racing career.

Holden said in a media statement that Mini’s tribute was a great honour and that he hoped it would introduce a new generation to this important chapter in Australian motorsport history. Mini has chosen the current John Cooper Works model for the tribute because it is the fastest petrol-powered Mini Cooper available today, just as the Cooper S held that position in the 1960s.

Only 26 cars for Australia

Mini Australia general manager Alexander Brockhoff told Drive Australia that the cars will be allocated to dealerships, and depending on demand, dealers will sell them on a first-come, first-served basis.

Australian deliveries are scheduled to begin between January and March 2027. At $71,990 before on-road costs, the Lucky 13 Edition commands a $10,500 premium over the regular Cooper JCW.