Hey its actually ok to remove that tag from a mattress. If you read the fine print, it says that the tag must not be removed except by the consumer. I don't remember much else about the tag except some comments re: flammability.

Tag free since `03!!

Oh and I'm also against the practice of re-vinning. I remember reading several years ago about a shipment of Nissan Skylines re-vinned as Maximas that were crushed at customs and the importers went to jail. Does it hurt anyone? I don't think so but it's still a pretty big federal law.

 

I would like to apologize to my re-vin brothers, someone out there is silently praying for me or my Mini spoke to me as I adjusted it's brakes that my shouting from the rooftops doesn't make for quick friends. I suppose if I was running around in a car that I love dearly and who can blame you for that, and somebody was threatening that livelihood I would be quick to react to. We all break the rules, I have broken my fair share in a lifetime. I have been out of the Mini loop for about 12 years and it was taboo back in the 80's to have a re-vin at a meet, I see that times have changed and like many of you said there is no turning the attitude back. I will seek new subjects to talk about. Someone recently said to me about building the community and the more cars the better. Another comment was the newer cars are going to be by far safer than the 25+ year old cars. My beef was mostly with one man and one car and it was not fair without knowing the magnatude of the "trend" to import Minis that is filling a need to just go off without knowing you all better, I am such a fanatic over my Mini I find myself going to the garage just to look at it and if there are others that love their Mini like I do I would do my best to slap down anyone who compromised that relationship so I dont blame you for challenging me . With the onset of the new MINI there is obviously going to be a demand. And with the number of MINI/Mini clubs I would think together MINI/Mini owners could effectively call on our representitives to relax some of the laws for our micro cars. With the price of gasoline and the fact that the majority of classic Minis get 35+ MPG that not only is it energy efficient but puts less strain on the fuel supply making the Mini a "green" solution and a small stopgap in our need for fuel. I have 3 children and we go everywhere in our Mini, beats the hell out of any Dodge Minivan and takes less energy. I bet we could make alot of noise in Washington, and with the amount of Minis/MINIs we could fill the city in protest and a support to a bill.

Just a thought and I hope to smooth things over with anyone I might of offended or made nervous.

I dont change my postion but I can change my focus and work together so that I dont need to have a position to stand on, I would rather see SP Minis with their original heritage running all over the place and meeting their owners at meets here in the US. Wouldnt mind one myself!

Anyone with moderator authority can delete the thread I started and I will take a different approach and do my best to be more subtle.

 

Hi, I recently read this thread and it seems very few of you over in the US care much where your classic mini's come from. Well you should. As has been mentioned a good proprotion are in fact stolen from equally enthusiastic mini owners. Aside from this, you shoudl also care becuse the car to which the original VIN belonged is often not the rot box you may imagine, often it was a fairly tidy car in it's own right. And that car is scrapped, lost forever becuse the later spec car is worth far more in the USA than it is in the UK.

A tidy 70's mini with minimal welding work needed for an MOT (UK roadworthness certificate) will cost £200 to £300 then buy a mid '90s cooper for £2000. Ship it to the US and sell it as the '70s car, and send the original car to the crusher. Thats what they do rather than restore the original car as it wodul reducce their profits. The only way to stop this it to stop buying illegal revinned minis and insist on the real thing, For every 'revin' another often usable mini is crushed, and if at later date the power that be find out what has happend the 'revin' will be taken away and crushed, so that 2 minis lost becuse someone could not care less

 

No it's not, it's based on supply an demand like any other market. The relaint Scimitar was made in very small numbers, but there is also very little demand for it, so its not worth much. There is a huge demand for a 1960 mini though but very few have survived, so as a result it's worth a fair amount.

regardless what you consider, its a fake and illegally imported as it stands. If the 1998 Vin is not on the califonina papers it's illegal. If you wanted an SP you should have bought a real 25 year plus mini and then bought the parts to upgrade it, but you did not. If you are ever in an accident and the police look at your car you will find it one a very quick oneway trip to the crusher, and your insurance will be invalid.

 

Not our problem. If you feel that this is such a problem then do more to fix the issue where it starts, in the UK.

Once it gets here and clears customs it is fair game. It is not up to us to figure out whether the car was stolen or whether the VIN came from a salvageable car. There is nothing we could possibly do about either of those things aside from refusing to purchase a re-VIN and that's just outright stupid. Re-VINs are a good way for people to get access to a Mini that actually has airbags and a few modern amenities.

 

Can we just let this issue be......there have been good points brought up on both sides. Alright, you are not ever going to stop Re-vins, they'll keep popping up, and those cars are not only coming from the UK. They also come from other countries in europe that have them, hence the LHD ones. But like it was said once already once they pass thru customs and registered then the game is over.......So yes buyers should be aware of what they are getting and do some research if they are looking for a authentic year, if not enjoy whichever mini they end up with and just know what parts you are ordering for what you have. Thats is the point of owning a mini anyway isn't it.....and one more point, yes the car has to be 25 years old, but it also has to be 75% original...which means you got to watch those modifications to import it. Now lets let the issue go.............

 

this is a really old post and i think the subject was dropped due to the sensitivity.....i'll leave it up as long as there is no more heated discousions...we all know the goods and bads with a classic (PERIOD) do your homework is the best advise !!