looking for someone else with one in mind.

 

Not likely. If you are talking about the new BMW MINI, you can not (Although if you have lotsa of money and good contacts, you might) import a right hand version of the new car. Further you can not even import the Mexican version of the new BMW MINI (Although it is left hand drive) because the Mexican spec cars are more close to the European specs and therefore lack all the DOT requirements of Canadian and US spec MINIs, such as the side marker lights (In the wheel arches), the speedo scale readout in both Miles and KM/h, etc, etc, etc.

Maybe you'll have better luck importing an old right hand drive classic Mini but not a new one.

 

Cooper4us is right again! This has come up in at least one other thread. Can't be done. But that's ok, 'cause basically unless you're a rural mail carrier, or have a sick desire to make passing on 2 lane roads as risky as possible , there's no practical advantage to a right hand drive new MINI in the USA. May be cute, but it's also dangerous as hell.

 

I saw a Classic MINI the other day that was Right Side Drive. It had to be 30 years old, and was in good shape.

Perhaps you can find one like that, it looked way cool.

 

>>I saw a Classic MINI the other day that was Right Side Drive. It had to be 30 years old, and was in good shape.
>>
>>Perhaps you can find one like that, it looked way cool.

You can import into the US a 2 year old 2001 Rover Mini (The last year the classic design was made in England) with right hand drive and airbags with no problems. In the customs papers you need to change the year of the car to a "1968" or "1973" model becuase otherwise the DOT will force you to make costly upgrades to make it "Federalized". Also customs wouldn't know the difference between a 2001 Rover Mini and a 1968 BMC Austin Mini because (Aside from the front airbag) the cars look essentially the same.

A lot of people have been able to import post 1980 classic design Minis this way into the US, so I have been told.


_________________
2002 MINI Cooper CVT (Pepper White/Black Roof)
2001 Chevy Impala LS (For Sale)

On Order: 2004 MCS (Chili Red/White roof) September '03 production date, October '03 delivery.

 

Actually, if you go to some of the classic MINI importer sites, you can find left hand drive classic Minis available too.

I understand the appeal of the rhd cars (I guess its a anglophilic thing), but really, think about it... would you want to be trying to pass on a 2-lane road a truck, van, or large SUV in something the size of a Mini if you had to pull 1/2 way out into the other/on-coming lane before you could see around the vehicle you were trying to pass?? I think this would be scary enough in a full-sized, full-powered, rhd vehicle. In a little bitty classic Mini I think it'd be pretty mad. I know that folks do it (most of the classic drivers in the US), but I can't imagine that it's overall preferable to driving a lhd new MINI. I guess it comes down to motive. If you really want the image, then maybe it's worth the risk.

 

>>Actually, if you go to some of the classic MINI importer sites, you can find left hand drive classic Minis available too.
>>
>>I understand the appeal of the rhd cars (I guess its a anglophilic thing), but really, think about it... would you want to be trying to pass on a 2-lane road a truck, van, or large SUV in something the size of a Mini if you had to pull 1/2 way out into the other/on-coming lane before you could see around the vehicle you were trying to pass?? I think this would be scary enough in a full-sized, full-powered, rhd vehicle. In a little bitty classic Mini I think it'd be pretty mad. I know that folks do it (most of the classic drivers in the US), but I can't imagine that it's overall preferable to driving a lhd new MINI. I guess it comes down to motive. If you really want the image, then maybe it's worth the risk.


Driving a RHD car in a LHD country is not very practical but there are reasons as to why many classic Mini owners do prefer the RHD versions of these cars:

Increased resale value

Increased appeal

Nostalgia

Pure sense of fun.

I have many local classic Mini owners friends and most of those people would refuse to own a new BMW MINI (But unlike many others they do not diss it) because the old tiny car has the charm and the cool factor that they for some reason can not see in the new version.

I have a friend that owns one of the rarest classic Minis.... a 1968 Wolseley 2 door coupe notchback Mini. This Mini is not the typical hatchback design but it does actually has a trunk. The Wolseley was the BMC Mini version for the rich people. It had leather seats, heater (Some cases a real A/C unit), power windows, a Rolls Royce like front grille, side rearview mirrors mounted in the fenders and a host of other touches that separated it from other "Mundane" Minis of the time.

The car is beautiful, is right hand drive and has a 4 speed gearbox. I think the engine size is only 1 litre.

I have 2 other friends that drive 'Innocentis', which in case you didn't know are the Italian made version of the British BMC Mini. They have interesting differences specially in the shape of the front headlights and of course they were only built LHD for the Italian market in Italy (Not the UK).

I have learn a lot aboput Classic Minis and as much as I like them, for everyday motoring I still prefer the BMW MINI, but for ocassional fun or weekend drives, I would not mind a '67 Austin Cooper S in my driveway...

 

>>Cooper4us is right again! This has come up in at least one other thread.

yeah but god forbid, people use the search function

 

I agree that the classics are cool, and I'd love one for a toy (should I ever be in a position to have pure toy cars...). But I chose my MINI for its mix of performancev (handling, speed) and practicality (size, mpg). To me, that equation adds up to new, lhd, MINI.

Still, those classic MINI wagons are pretty neat...

 

A freind of mine owns a MINI ONE and keeps it in the UK. He's been looking into bringing 'Zippy' into the US. Says that the sticker on the driver's door jamb is the big hold up. There is nothing on his that says "This vehicle conforms to all the applicable US Federal Motor Vehicle safety bumper and theft prevention standards in effect on the date of manufacture above." Even though they are built to the same standards, they all don't have that sticker on them. BTW I've been driving RHD Minis for over 25yrs. now. Taught my stepdaughter when she was 16 to drive a stick on my RHD Mini. Not dangerous at all! The big danger is that no one sees a car that small!

 

I remember a thread here a while back where someone took pics of a MINI someone shipped from the UK for a cross country type race. He said he saw them at a hotel in Vegas with a bunch of Ferraris and stuff... I dont remember exactly what race it was.

 

search function says.....

Gumball 3000

 

Thats it!

 

ooh well. it was really just a perk of having a new mini with it. not really desired.

thanks for the input

and the search function failed, so you sir, are a loser

 

Actually, it would be far cheaper to simply convert a US MINI to RHD. Cars are so modular these days and the MINI is a prime example. A couple of dash parts, a steering rack and some other miscellany could be ordered from the UK for maybe $1000 or so.

 

>>
>>and the search function failed, so you sir, are a loser

oh, I don't know about that... I searched on "right hand drive" and easily pulled up this thread.

 

 

>> Actually, it would be far cheaper to simply convert a US MINI to RHD. Cars are so modular these days and the MINI is a prime example. A couple of dash parts, a steering rack and some other miscellany could be ordered from the UK for maybe $1000 or so.

The hazard lights and bonnet opening latch are already on the right side. :smile:

 

>>
>>
>>and the search function failed, so you sir, are a loser


if you only knew how to read and use it

RHD mini topics have been covered before

dont compare my stupidity to your laziness

 

I looked into this back in Jan 2000 and only models prior to 1983 could be imported.

Now, that said, you can rent one over there or buy one and have it over here temporarly. Just the same for about 2000 bucks you can ship your car to Australia for your vacation and cruse around too!

Ches

 

sorry for my lazyness

i was referring to the 2003/4's *depends when i get enough for a decent down payment*, for the right hand drives. i HATE the look of the older version MINIS

 

You hate the classic Minis?!?!?!

 

it's not really a hate thing, but rather a hate of something old.

i know the classic MINIs paved the way for the current ones, but i just don't like the look. i have seen a few on ebay that were restored and for sale more then a 2003 mcs, but that's aside the point.

i fear the old and embrace the new.

 

>>it's not really a hate thing, but rather a hate of something old.
>>
>>

u hate old people too ???

_________________
RYAN Z.
Originally said by OmToast "I love red! Red everything: lipstick, shoes, hair... red03miniS..."
Originally said by shaskan
I think you have become the official "search function ****"

 

Just wait till the college kid bashing old folks see that post! But really, how can anybody hate the classic Mini? Why did you get a new MINI then? Whats wrong with old cars? Theres lots of old cars that would whoop a lot of the new cars out there. Sure the classic Mini may break down a lot but it would put the new MINI in its place on a autox track. Im not trying to start a New vs old battle, I love my MINI but Id also love to get a classic one too.