Mike Cooper Revives the Mini Cooper Grand Prix, a Cooper Family Tribute 35 Years in the Making

[DimON]

For MINI fans, “GP” has always meant something special. Long before BMW created its modern JCW GP models with carbon arches and Nürburgring lap times, the Cooper family defined what a Grand Prix Mini should be with a 1990’s special edition. Now Mike Cooper, son of the legendary John Cooper, the man who created the Mini Cooper and ran a championship winning Formula One team, is bringing that spirit and the car back to life.

Thirty years after the original Mini Cooper Grand Prix became a cult favorite, the Cooper Car Company has reimagined it for today. The result is a hand-built classic Mini that blends performance, craftsmanship, and a second-to-none provenance in a way only the Cooper family can deliver.

How the New Grand Prix Started: “We Built a Car and Realized… This Is Cool”

When I asked Mike Cooper how this new project began, he did not talk about nostalgia or limited editions. He talked about parts.

“We thought we needed to update and add some new Cooper Car Company tuning kits and accessories… So we built a car to show all these new GP Tuning parts,” Mike told MotoringFile.

The Cooper Car Company has been preparing a new line of performance upgrades for classic Minis. Engine kits, suspension and brake upgrades, wheels, fuel caps and other components are part of a new line called GP Tuning. To show the full range, the team built a demonstrator car.

While that first car was coming together, something clicked.

“While we’re building the first car, we thought this is so cool, why don’t we celebrate 35 years since dad and I launched the original Grand Prix.”

That realization tied the story back to the moment the original Grand Prix began.

“35 years ago I suggested to my dad we should bring out a special edition… why don’t we call it a Grand Prix and he thought it was great.”

So the plan changed. Instead of one demonstrator, the Cooper Car Company committed to 35 new Grand Prix cars. Each will be individually numbered and hand-built.

What Is New, What Is Familiar, and What Makes It a True Cooper Car

The new Grand Prix is not a recreation of the original, and it is not a typical restomod. It is a modern interpretation shaped by the Cooper family’s performance instincts and the new GP Tuning hardware.

When asked what sets this version apart, Mike explained it simply.

“Outside looks like a Cooper Car Company works car. Inside is pure luxury with modern additions like Apple CarPlay and a big screen.”

Under the bonnet, the car showcases the full GP Tuning program. The A-Series engine receives a substantial power increase, the suspension is reworked, the brakes are upgraded and the wheels and hardware all carry Cooper Car Company branding. The goal was to create a classic Mini that feels familiar yet sharper, smoother and more usable.

This approach captures the way John Cooper built performance Minis decades ago. It relies on clever engineering, honest feedback through the chassis and a focus on driver involvement.

A Family Story as Much as a Limited Edition

More than anything, this project feels like a continuation of Cooper family history. It has the raw mechanical character that defined John Cooper’s work along with the craftsmanship that Mike Cooper has championed for decades.

Mike made that emotional connection clear.

“I’m really excited about the project and the effort we have put in has definitely been worth it. Oh and I know my dad would have loved it.”

Anyone who knows the Cooper story can feel the weight of that line. This car is not just a tribute. It is a family member carried into a new generation.

Naturally, we asked if this opens the door for more Cooper Car Company special editions.“No plans!” Mike answered emphatically.

True to Cooper tradition, the Grand Prix exists because it felt right, not because it fits in a corporate strategy.

Our Take

The new Mini Cooper Grand Prix may only exist in a run of 35 cars, but the significance goes far beyond the number. It continues the Cooper family approach to performance, which has always been personal, focused and deeply mechanical.

In an automotive world filled with touchscreens, autonomy and efficiency targets, Mike Cooper has created something refreshingly analog. It celebrates the character of the original Mini and the tuning culture the Cooper family helped define.

This is the Cooper legacy, alive and very much in motion.

Mike Cooper summed it up best. His father, Charlie Cooper’s grandad and the creator of the Mini Cooper, would have absolutely loved it.

If you’re interesting in grabbing one of the 35, you may want to be quick and express interest at Coopercarcompany.com.

The post Mike Cooper Revives the Mini Cooper Grand Prix, a Cooper Family Tribute 35 Years in the Making appeared first on MotoringFile.

View the full article