roll call!!
all of you sw classic-old-original mini guys, let me know you are here

 

I'm in Vegas and grew up driving classic Minis. Had 5 in Australia and learned to drive on one. I don't currently own one, but if I run across the right one for the right price, my wife is already on board.

 

Hi
How can you tell a mini is old (like 1960s) and not a newer (1990s) European model? Is there anything that is a giveaway? I saw a Classic one for sale recently and my friend said it looked like the ones he saw driving around France or England.
Joy

 

Very good question, but very hard to answer in that there are many different aspects that make a 60's Mini different from a 90's Mini. But yet at the same time from a distance they are very hard to tell apart. There are many books out there that go through the history of the Mini as well as local Mini clubs. Check out your local Mini club, I would guess that there are members that have 60's model Minis as well as 90's models.

 

Wheel size is a dead giveaway (but can be changed). Old Minis had 10" wheels. Look kinda like a modern donut. The 90s Minis came mostly with 12" or 13" wheels. If it has bigger than 10" wheels, look closely, most likely a Rover.

 

Ya basically got two versions ... on the exterior anyway ...

The Mk.I (1959-1967) vs. the Mk.II and newer; most of the Mk.II changes were only tweaked from then on ...

The Mk.I had sliding windows, small tail lights, a smaller grill with 'whiskers' to the side ... Mk.II's had roll down windows, largers rectangular tail lights, a taller grill (with the top piece of chrome on the leading edge of the bonnet, instead of just under it).

The boot lid depression for the license plate changed size and the plate light changed shape ... the door handles twisted/turned on the first ones, but had a push button on the later ones ... stand a Mk.I next to a Mk.II and you'll see that the rear window (and hence the roof line in back) got taller. The older ones had exterior door hinges, the newer ones put the hinges inside ...

... just a few things to look for ...

 

i had a '61 austin mini. i agreed with 8ball's description of the differences. of course, we are talking about original 60s minis an not the reshelled or revin-ed minis. i have found out that most of these so-called dealers of classic minis actually revin-ed the newer minis with the old vin so these cars can be legally imported into the usa. i heard of someone from the classic mini forum that his mini was a '61 but has airbags, seatbelts, ac and the kicker is that it was an automatic. the actual car is an 89.

 

I'd take that. I really wanted a 90s Mini, but they weren't imported to Australia or the US.

 

Regarding the re-vined Minis. Where do the dealers get the old vin? Are they really "legally" imported? Does the government know the cars are newer? This sounds weird to me.

 

>>
>>Regarding the re-vined Minis. Where do the dealers get the old vin? Are they really "legally" imported? Does the government know the cars are newer? This sounds weird to me.


Re-Vin'ing is, simply, taking the vin plate out of a basket-case junker and putting it in a newer car (to make it appear to be an older car that doesn't require all the extra paperwork). Dealers don't (or shouldn't) do it: it's done by individuals wanting to sell their cars to Americans.
Most Customs officials don't seem to care, or if the do know the difference, they look the other way, but if you get an inspector that's had a bad day, he can send your newly imported car right to the crusher.

As long as the paperwork and the vin plate match, once you get it through Customs and your local DMV, it's 'legal' ...