Eagle-eyed blog reader Hans Mertens, owner of a first generation 2006 GP1, sent me this unicorn. Had no idea the GP package was something special for the diminutive hot hatch, but read this Car and Driver review that echoed Mr. Mertens enthusiasm for the track package that turns the Mini into a street-legal race car. Not terribly fast – only a handful more horsepower, but handles like hell.
Among the many suspension tweaks, the car is lowered, with six piston brakes vice four on a normal Mini Cooper John Cooper Works, diffuser, wing, and a cool brace in the rear hatch that I thought was for hanging suits and shirts for an I-95 trip to Florida.
Car and Driver moaned about the high purchase price (about $40,000 new) but you can have it for half that at $19,998 here in Los Angeles, California, and be one of 500 owners in the US! It’s non-transferrable, but select CarMax locations can override that (my guy Si Sultan here at Dulles is one of them!). 