Illegal Classic Minis - Would you drive one?

[Minitopia]

Would anyone knowingly buy a car with an altered VIN? I have woken up to a Classic Mini nightmare. After confronting this issue head on I am flabbergasted by the response and the thumb your nose attitude of Classic ReVIN Minis.

I cant imagine anyone in the MINI world buying a 2004 MINI passed off as a 2008 or visa versa.

But in the Mini world it is common place in this country and a travesty to the integrety and heritage of this car and a felony Federal law that if caught these classics can be crushed and importers, exporters and owners can face stiff fines and jail time. All over a car and a thrill? I just don't get it and why risk your livelihood let alone the potential of destroyed cars.

Feels like I woke up 12 years after being in a deep slumber to what I consider the biggest threat to the Classic Mini since it was conceived, at least in this country. What a nightmare.

[BlimeyCabrio]

I understand your point of view, and feel your pain. When I first heard of this a year or so ago, I went "huh?" and scratched my head. I understand the issues this creates in potentially devaluing legitimate "antique" autos.

That said, if I were to get a classic, it would be to do a VTEC conversion. And, for such a purpose, it would seem a shame to waste a properly preserved "antique" Mini. And IMHO it's pretty silly that some bureaucrat establishes an arbitrary date and says "if it's older than this, it's OK to have in the US, even if it meets no modern safety standards... but if it's newer than that, NO WAY".... the point of re-VIN'ing isn't to pass these cars off as antiques for collecting or valuation purposes (at least, that's not the point of most who do it with MINIS IMHO) - the point is to end-run the bureacratic BS that says that I can't import a relatively new car that's just as safe - or safer - than a similar car built decades earlier. And that was deemed sufficiently safe and clean to run in quite a few other countries legally...

So, with those caveats, YES, I would drive a re-VIN'd car. And I'd drive it faster than those same bureaucrats would suggest as a "safe" speed. bwahahaha ;)

[Minitopia]

Well that is honest anyways..If you are making a car that is a mix of other cars(like a Vtec) I think it would better suit the heritage and integrity of the entire fleet of remaining Minis that are considered classic, age will make them all collectible as long as their original heritage isn't taken from the car, is to title the car as a kit car or some type of salvage title if it is a re-shell. If your BMW was wrecked or reshelled because it was in a junkyard for a number of years you would get a salvage title and that would deem what the car is worth, so the re-VIN practices in the classic Mini circles aren't just to make newer cars available it is to dupe the unsuspecting public into believing something that is not true. There are a number of reVIN minis on eBay right now, all stating a false year to circumvent a federal law. I am all for MORE Minis, and available Minis in this country but it is a slap in the face to those who have spent a lifetime protecting and preserving not only our own cars but the entire fleet from 1959-2001 including those we cant even get our hands on legally. I would love a 2000 MPI but not at the risk of having even one smashed or me going to jail over, the risk is not worth it. I can wait another 17 years and I think the country should to get any Mini we want. A custom Mini like a Vtec can be made of any of the cars from 1959-1983, that's a lot of cars that are legal for import and adding a year to that every year is 10's of thousands of cars each year added.

I do agree with you that the laws are silly and outdated and should be possibly addressed and this might be a good time with the price of fuel and the economy of these cars, but to break federal laws that could land you in jail for 5 years and having cars crushed makes me ill to think about. You are more daring than I am except I will use Minitopia as a sounding board to try and stem the tide even if its just a little bit. Someone in 2025 might appreciate the fact that they are still able to get a 2000 MPI with its original heritage! I know I will!

[wildcrazy442000]

I used to drive the crap out of a 1965 Mustang, with the drop in gas tank. It's considered legal to own and drive and as unsafe as a Pinto. So I don't understand why we can't buy a 2000 Mini legally.

[Minitopia]

Nothing more I would like to do than to organize a Mini March on Washington!

[Catseye]

....the point is to end-run the bureacratic BS that says that I can't import a relatively new car that's just as safe - or safer - than a similar car built decades earlier. And that was deemed sufficiently safe and clean to run in quite a few other countries legally... ...

The point is that most of these cars are not as safe, nor are they as clean.

[Minitopia]

Yeah.. I do understand that point well. Heaven knows I would love to have a 2000 MPI mini, one so I could relax and drive it and not worry about it breaking and having to work on it all the time. Not to say they are more reliable, I suspect they are. My point is there is a finite number of Minis and every single one that has it's heritage changed changes the value of those cars, and in 17 years when a 2000 MPI is finally legal to get one that has its heritage in tact will be very hard to do and very costly. We are taking a rule/law and no matter how good the excuse is or how stupid the law is, we are destroying the legacy of thousands of cars. I want my children and theirs to have legal opportunities to have a great car. I never have to worry about the value of mine unless someone gets ahold of it and makes it a race car or a radically modded car.

I think that if these cars are going to be "upgraded" and brought into this country that it be done legally, if it is outside the law then dont and wait till they are legal, and if it is done legally and it has had something changed on the VIN or the car that it be given the salvage title it deserves or if it is a VTEC conversion that it be considered a Kit title.

If it is a race car just for the track, then you can import anything you want.