I see a few older classic Minis driving around the islands but was wondering why I don't see any newer ones. I have seen a few "Japan-only" cars driving around and was wondering if it would be difficult to bring a late model Mini from Japan (maybe like a 1993 - a ten year old or older car drops in value drastically there because of inspections). Any thoughts on this?

 

Import laws are pretty tricky. I looked at bringing in one from canada, new zealand, or australia and it is not an easy process. Oftentimes the shipping costs are on par with the price of the car. It is actually cheaper to ship a car from new zealand to oakland and then from oakland using separate shippers than to ship from NZ to HAwaii. (about $2300 from NZ to HI, $900 from NZ to CA and $900 from CA to HI). Its a little better from canada depending on how close to the west coast the mini originates from. Shipping from Europe is really exensive too. On account of strict standards for autos in the US, the newest min you could import would be 20 years old (so a 1984 build or less). Some less than ethical people choose to retitle minis built in the 90s as an early 80s or late 70s build, but i dont suggest going that route. In your search for a classic mini, you will notice that people in the US double the price they paid for them, so buying from a foreign country is quite attractive. On the other hand our economy has devalued the dollar so much that buying foreign classics could be just as expensive. I hope this is not an overwhelming amount of info, but I researched it for about six months before deciding to bring an old truck in from oregon instead.

 

I know which JDM cars you're talking about. I think we have around 4 or 5 Skylines in the state. Most are GTRs, but I believe one is a GT. There are also a couple of Toyota Hi Ace vans running around and a Levin and maybe even a Soarer.

As for bringing in a Mini, I'm not sure. Check with mini-t as baronious brought in his Innocenti and was studying up on those cars. Ebay has some nice ones, but I'm sure the real late model ones are going for quite a few ducats. A trick that some of them do is to register it as an older model. Not sure why, but it may have to do with emissions regulations.

 

peterwhit,

Great info. - thanks. So you say the newest classic Mini I might be able to bring in would be a 1984 or older? That's not too bad. A buddy of mine in Japan's Dad owns a used car lot, maybe I'll get him to look into it.

the-beastmaster,

Yeah, I've seen a Ska-GTR, Ska-GT and a Levin.

 

I would say always double check with the customs dept before you make a final decision. The worst thing that could happen would be for you to buy the car have it shipped over then find out that customs wont let you have it. My truck was originally titled in the U.S. but since it was an old military model and not really designed for civilian production, I had to get it weighed oficially for tax purposes. However it was made in 1952, so it was pretty much exempt from every thing else. I think the gov't web site has rules on importing and I believe it says the threshold is 20 years. There are always exceptions though. You probably also want to make sure the car is a left hand drive, though conversions can be done pretty easily.

 

Ah ha! So that is why they re-title the Minis to reflect an older model. So why can't they bring in newer Minis? I remember back in the 80's there were a lot of grey market importers and they woudl bring in current models. I thought the 10 year rule had to do with emissions compliance. i.e. If your car was 10 years or older, it would not have to meet the EPA emissions standards, however, DOT standards for safety must be met. That is how my euro 635 was running around in full euro spec tune (no cats).

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I also think that Ford, Chrysler, and GM probably have something to do with the fact that they have to be 20+ years old for competition purposes. There is probably a requirement to have a dealership or factory in the US to be able to sell new cars in the US. Considering that changing the emissions output of a car can be as simple as installing a more restrictive cat, the regulations most likely reflect a successful lobbying attempt by domestic manufacturers. Crash testing is also an issue because I remember Bill Gates trying to import a porsche not sold in the US and he ended buying two of them, one to crash test so the other could be driven on US roads (that could be a myth though). You would think that importing a car that gets 30+mpg would not be an issue, but then again goernment decision do not always make sense.

 

Another possible source of classic Minis with upgrades would be through Randy at Webbmotorsports.com I don't know if his arrangement on getting those upgraded classics are any better than when I checked into it at the end of last year. He was looking at adding Honda VTEC engines into classic minis at the time plus beefing up the suspension, subframe, wheels, etc.

 

Peter - I'm trying to place the name with the face and the car. Are you the one that lives in the Aina Haina/Niu Valley area?

 

From what I've heard the problem of getting a newer Mini into the US is because it doesn't adhear to modern safety standards. They used to sell the Mini in the US for a number of years, but stopped doing so when safety became an issue, so I think the thinking is that if that year, make and model of car used to be sold legally in the US, then importing one shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure emissions testing also has something to do with it as well.

 

>>From what I've heard the problem of getting a newer Mini into the US is because it doesn't adhear to modern safety standards. They used to sell the Mini in the US for a number of years, but stopped doing so when safety became an issue, so I think the thinking is that if that year, make and model of car used to be sold legally in the US, then importing one shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure emissions testing also has something to do with it as well.


I was just on the Roadfly Classic Mini board and read something like you just said. Also found this Classic Minis in Japan. :smile:

They also talked heavily about the illegal date changing practice - registering '90s models as '70s ones.

 

or buy one of latka's true classics.
or buy one that's already been imported into the states.
then you can join the classic, 100% free of BMW parts, crew and cruise around town with us

 

I thought Latka sold the little red monster. His car is a much better deal than the orange monster that was for sale last year.

btw, I think the biggest problem with English cars is that they are made in England.

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do it right the first time and just buy a vtec'ed mini from randy. yes, it is crazy expensive, but when you think about all the modern tech, reliability and performance. there is no other option. does a classic mini need to be powered by mini? answer that after your car doesn't start or runs like crap or starts blowing smoke. just my guess after years of drag and scca'ing honduhs, the classic mini with a b16 cheap vtec motor will get you about a 13 flat quarter mile @ 40 mpg? time since my old civic with b16 and bolt ons did 14.3 weighing 1000pounds more annd 27+ mpg. imagine your gas bill, 40+ mpg would not be out of the question, plus a subframe ready for coilovers, bigger brakes = safety. the list goes on and on. if i didn't have an inno export 13, i would be joining latka.....and it still isn't out of the question as the kits are beginning to minimize the alterations needed to the body.

b

 

hmmm ... interesting timing on this post. I am currently considering just shipping Lucy to my mom to babysit for a few years, and buying a classic Mini in England, then shipping that back when I transfer back to the states. Of course, everything is wicked expensive now in England, and I'm not sure I'd have the stomach to pay, say, 2000 GBP for a $2000 car (that's just an example, I've no idea what sort of car I'd buy).

MINIangelD

 

>>Peter - I'm trying to place the name with the face and the car. Are you the one that lives in the Aina Haina/Niu Valley area?


You probably can't place my face with a car because mine is still on the mainland. I just mosved here from DC las august and my mini was supposed to join me, but for financial reasons it stayed on the mainland with my parents. It was going to come over here with me in January, but when a rear sway bar was being installed the mini slipped off a jack stand which decided to go through the lower part of the rear quarter panel--I almost cried when I saw it. So I am waiting for it to be repaired and shipped out here hopefully by the end of may. Until then I live vicariously here on NAM through the other owners. I miss my mini dearly.

 

peterwhit - one of our members had a similar accident with a jackstand. However, it wasn't as bad as yours as it just tore through the rocker panel.

You must really be crying with our gas prices here and driving around that WWII beast. I'm sure it is not very economical.

 

Its not that bad, I am in law school and only live 1.5 miles away. I only fill up once a month or so. Gas prices are pretty horrid though (and I thought they were bad in DC). It costs me nearly $50 to fill up.

 

>>Its not that bad, I am in law school and only live 1.5 miles away.

Peter,
I think I talked to you a few months ago in January while you were on the mainland having trouble with getting your MCS to Hawaii. We had exchanged some emails about you getting a pulley upgrade but it didn't work out. Shall I put you on our list for the next pulley party??

Rules for importing vehicles
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...LIG102803.html

 

I don't have a definate arrival date for my car yet, so I am going to hold off on it in order to avoid taking someone else's spot. Do you know the exact dates off hand?

 

>>I don't have a definate arrival date for my car yet, ...

Sorry to hear about your delays.
Just let me know when you do get your MCS and we will take it from there.
No set dates at this time.

I just saw an Electric blue/EB JCW kit MCS with JCW wheels, Blue Magnecor wires, and sunroof at the dealership getting ready for the autoshow this weekend. Go and test drive it now. It's hot.

 

Old thread, I know--but, what about importing a Euro spec '03-'06 Mini to Canada or Mexico & then driving it across the border?

A. Is that legal?
B. Is there a way to make it legal once it is in the US?
C. What happens at resale?

Thanks.


Z

 

i also wonder if you could shipped it in parts (as if to be used as parts for the classic) but reassemble once all the parts arrive. tricky but i hear people sometimes do that with japanese imports.

 

--Hmm I'm thinking of the right word and I think it's.... Blasphemy!!!!!

 

cwlouis - it is possible to part the car and the reassemble it here as a "kit car". Shady, but possible.

The "re-vin" issue is a hot button in the classic Mini community. When I was visiting some mini friends in Florida I saw a few 1973..(cough cough) cars that just happened to have the late 90s Multip Point Injection engine, Airbags, etc, etc. "1970 Mini restored to 1999 specs" is language you'll see a lot there. The VIN tag on a Mini is, shall we say, quite easy to modify.

Pyratio - as for plopping a Honda engine in a classic mini - it's not blasphemy, any moreso than BMW owning MINI is. The best thing about a Mini is that you can do whatever you want to it - it's your car!

I haven't had the pleasure of riding in a "Vtec mini" yet, but I'm looking forward to it. The original A series engine was developed as a tractor engine if I remember correctly. 848cc capacity. Now if that doesn't scream excitement, I don't know what does. It's a push-rod 4 cylinder engine with only 3 main bearings on the crankshaft. The biggest engine they offered from the factory was a 1275 (1300?). I believe it put out 70hp. Guys have taken that all the way up to and over 200hp, but at that point you're driving a grenade that hasn't blown up yet. A Honda engine lets you keep the Mini cool but inject some Honda engine and transmission reliability into the mix. Oh, and it's 160-ish horsepower (b16) all day long.

To each his own. I plan on keeping my 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S with it's A series 1275cc "S" engine. My '71 on the other hand isn't going to have much "mini" left in it but the shell. "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing" comes to mind. Muhahahahahah. :D

The import rules are set to 25 years. It has to be 25 years to bring it in. If you want to gamble with your money and your car, be my guest. The newer Minis sure look nice... but if you want to avoid the hassles, stick to the 25+ year old cars.

If you're looking for a Mini, shoot me a PM or an e-mail. I can put you in touch with several well respected members of the Classic Mini community on the west coast (and elsewhere) of the US.

-Andy