How Did MINI and John Cooper Become a Thing?

In this fascinating video, XCAR takes a look at who John Cooper was and how he became affiliated with MINI. Of course, Cooper’s name is all over the MINI line today, with the MINI Cooper and MINI’s sport-line John Cooper Works MINI.

From his start designing racing cars at the Cooper Car Company, John Cooper had a big impact on racing and car designs for many years. He designed his first MINI Cooper in 1961 and remained in production into the 1970s and the name was resurrected in 1990 with the return of the MINI Cooper name. John Cooper later founded John Cooper Works to modify the new, larger BMW MINIs and JCW was later bought outright by BMW.

XCAR also takes a car that is often considered the ultimate MINI, the John Cooper Works GP2, for spin and shares their thoughts on what it’s like to drive. Regardless of which JCW MINI you choose, it’s hard to find a small car that’s more fun to drive and we’re glad to see John Cooper’s name continue on.