Hi im looking at a what i think is a 85 mayfair mini however i have questions on it. The car was previously registered as a 77 but is deffinatly not. I have an assumption that the car was registered as an older car and was illegally imported. My biggest concern is that the vin tag is hand etched it looks like a 6 year old did it. I have read multiple times that the person who imported the car had to create a vin plate co comply with DOT regulations but im not sure how the dmv will feel about a hand written vin tag. Has anyone delt with these problems?

 

varies a lot from state to state ...

but IME, if the car was previously registered (correctly or not) you are probably OK ...

IME Cali is the hardest

OTOH if you bring a dead cow to DMV in FL, and have your checkbook, you will get a tag

there are places that will engrave a new VIN plate for you - it will be done "correctly" with nice block letters
http://www.7ent.com/products/vin-pla...8-smi0081.html

and I've seen a place that will make a PROPER vin plate for a Mini - this is stamped from behind resulting in a raised letter/number on the plate. For this they require a document that verifies the VIN IS accurate or the old plate.

http://www.minimania.com/part/VIN001...-Tag---Stamped

 

Bear in mind not all the vin tags were embossed, some were stamped.....mostly early cars but not all. I agree tho that if I were going to buy one I'd get an embossed one.


My old E-Type (1969) was stamped - poorly - right from the factory.

 

on my 79 ... a KNOWN 79 as I have the original papers and the "secret marks" match ... it is stamped from behind resulting in raised letters/numbers. Mine has been relocated since my front clip is now glass ...


btw OP .... an easy way to check the year ... the week - year of production of certain parts is stamped on. The easiest one to check is usually the boot latch. On the top, you'll find a set of numbers. Two digit week, two digit year. This part is seldom replaced .... highly probable this is original



A similar stamp appears on the wiper motor, but IME you need to release the motor and move it around to find the number.

A similar number also appears on the Dizzy [distributor] but these are more frequently replaced . . .

 

So I'm gonna call the DMV in the am because it know falls under the 25 year old exempt rule being an 85. But because it was once an illegal car is it always an illegal car?

Here is a pic it is not stamped or embossed it is literally done with an engraving pen! And illegible

 

Hi Lissa!

Here are some good background articles on Classic Mini VIN and Commission numbers, as well as plates if you need them. Please let us know if we can help!

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