Hi all...

Does anyone have any info on Minis made for the Japanese market? I'm currently living in Japan and found a few that I'm interested in. They are '94 and '95 models, selling for about $4500 US dollars.

Here's a pic of my favorite one:






Thanks.

Marcus

 

If you are thinking of importing to the US or Canada, they are illegal. They must be 25 years old or older for the US. Otherwise, they are very nice...

 

simply get a vin and title from one older than 25 years

 

Yeah, I have a friend looking for an '81-'83 for me. I probably won't be returning to the US until around '07 or '08 so if I can find one, I may try to get it back to the states with me.

But these are pretty nice.

Marcus

 

A car does not have to be 25 years old to import it in, at least in Canada. It must be 15 years old. thats the reason why you see 91 skylines ect being brought in.

 

Hmm, why can't i see the pictures? I want to see what they look like! I had a vehicle shipped up from Japan and it is 15 years old for Canada.

 

Where do you find old Mini's in Japan nowadays? I've bought 2 in the past and I can't find anything in the auctions these days.

 

I know that has been done before but not really legal.

 

i am in the US with a late model Mini cooper with AC problems, I please need som help finding out what are the AC freon spec pressure numbers for a fully charged MINI AC for year 1999, also if somone can help locate where is the relay that turns on the AC compressor. At the moment my AC works intermitant, when I accelerate it turns off the compressor. Any ideas?

 

Bernardo,
Contact Malcolm at http://www.classicminicoopers.com/
He deals in Japanese Minis and can probably help you out.

 

??

 

Just my two cents (CDN) worth on re-vinned classic minis; I hear what Mercy says about re-vins being illegal or at the least being kind of shady, but the real problem I have with imported re-vins is the fact that they are 99.9% right hand drive. Besides being weird to drive and maybe a bit scarey while passing another vehicle, there are rumours (Canadian spelling) that in the province of Quebec, it will soon be illegal to drive a right hand drive car. If you are considering buying a re-vin, for a few hundred bucks, it might be worth the trouble to have have the boys in jolly old England switch it to left hand drive before it gets shipped over here...it could save you a LOT of grief and extra expense later on IMHO. Good luck and enjoy your classic Mini!