Mini PH brings in one unit of the MINI 1965 Victory Edition, and it’s already sold

Mini is a brand that may be known for its petite vehicles and quirky interiors, but did you also know that it has a legendary motorsports history? This was especially true when the tiny Mini Cooper made a name for itself in the 1960s during rally stages, especially in the Monte Carlo Rally.

Because of this, there have been multiple special editions that celebrate the brand’s storied history, with the latest one being the MINI 1965 Victory Edition, of which our market was lucky enough to get a single unit, which has already been sold even before the vehicle’s official launch.

This one-of-one model harkens back to the 1965 Mini Cooper S that was driven by Timo Mäkinen and Paul Easter, who won the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally. While internationally available with either the Mini Cooper S or the Mini John Cooper Works Electric as a base, the model specified for the Philippines is based on the spicy Mini John Cooper Works variant.

This gets a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with a power output of 231 horsepower and 380Nm of torque, sending it all to the front wheels via a seven-speed Steptronic automatic transmission.

But being a homage to the 1965 Cooper S that won, this is specced in a bright red Chili Red finish with a Glazed White roof (that also houses a panoramic glass roof), alongside white trim stripes that extend from the hood to the roof and the rear end, alongside a special “52” graphic on both sides of the car, as a callback to the original rally car’s number.

It also has 18-inch JCW Lap Spoke two-tone alloy wheels, floating center caps, JCW tire valves in a matching red-and-white, and special touches like a sticker hidden within the door sill that references the original vehicle’s registration, a JCW color palette for the interior that matches the exterior, and “1965” all over the cabin.

As mentioned before, this model has already been spoken for. However, enthusiasts who are looking forward to more special editions should be excited, as Mini Philippines is bringing in three more special editions before the end of 2026.

^{Photos from Mini Philippines}