A favorite, beloved people's car that has dabbled in motorsport racing is unveiling a fifth special edition in honor of a women's rally competitor who won the first international race for the classic, adorable compact vehicle.
In a press release, MINI USA announced the Pat Moss Edition for its 2023 model year quite aptly in commemoration of International Women's Day.
A champion driver, Moss emerged victorious in the International Tulip Rally in May 1962 behind the wheel of a Morris Mini Cooper with navigator Ann Wisdom, who was pregnant at that time. The race began from Noordwijk in the Netherlands to the French Riviera and back. Moss and Wisdom won the event in record time.
Pat Moss MINI Special Edition to Roll Out Limited 800 Units Globally
Sixty years since Moss' feat, MINI declared that it was celebrating the "talent, courage, and passion" of the British female racer with the exclusive special edition in her name. MINI will roll out this special edition in May to a limited number of 800 vehicles globally in the form of Cooper S Hardtop 2-door, Cooper S Hardtop 4-door, and a John Cooper Works Hardtop.
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In the U.S., the Pat Moss 2023 special model will be exclusively available in the form of a John Cooper Works Hardtop 2-door.
The rollout not only marks the automaker's outstanding motorsport record, but also celebrates the triumph of women in car racing. The Pat Moss Edition offers distinct design elements and chic details that highlights MINI's racing history and the victorious careers of Moss and Wisdom. It features such innovations as the Multitone Roof, with new color variants such as Chili Red, Melting Silver, and Jet Black.
A stylized tulip shows on the C-pillars and scuttle panels of the vehicles having a "Pat Moss" inscription, The Drive posted. There are likewise wheel covers that features a tulip graphic that is exclusive to the special edition. Graphics on the vehicles' front panels will show the Tulip Rally route and its 2,500-kilometer distance. Moss and Wisdom's competition number 104 also appears. These design details are also repeated on the aluminum-made door trims.
Pat Moss Mini Special Edition Design Details: Racer's Autograph and Tulip Graphics All Over
Other design details include a horizontal white bonnet stripe placed in tandem with the "737 ABL" registration number of the Mini Cooper that emerged victorious in the 1962 event. A signature mimicking what Moss wrote on car's hood is also shown. Her autograph is also presented in the interior, together with tulip graphics appearing on the steering wheel and M and W monographs honoring Moss and Wisdom throughout the vehicle.
Multi-color fading roof designs are likewise available, with the car's production process having slight deviations allowing a unique look.
Moss's victory at the International Tulip Rally was not her only feat. The record time she held at that time made Moss one of the most accomplished female rally drivers in history. She scored three more wins in international rallies, along with seven podium finishes. She was part of several rally teams over the years, and triumphed in the European Ladies Rally Championship five times from 1958 to 1965.
The Pat Moss Edition MINI will be available in U.S. dealerships in August, with pricing to be announced in the coming months.
