I would not buy a car from anyone in Europe. I bought one from David Ellison of Mountain Minis after he said he could ship it to the us. He could not!!!. I ended up losing about $17,000 and had to give the car to customs. Ther are plenty of Minis in the US. Look around, and you will find them..

Good luck

I agree it's best to keep ones mouth closed about the actual year just stick to it being restored and upgraded with later parts! they will find any loop hole they can to avoid the big payout. remember it's not a VIN swop thats illegal it's a rebuilt and totaly restored vehicle just keep saying it

Do Insurance companies have the internet?

 

It is not a smart move to tell the insurance company anything more or different than the way the policy is written. The most you want to tell them if asked is the engine is from a later car (if you have fuel injection) and only if it is asked, keep it simple while it is being inspected and hit them hard afterwards when negotiating a settlement. My Son wrecked his car as a tenager (not his fault) the first offer was $2900 three weeks later i got a $7100 settlement after showing receipts and he kept the Honda.

I know that the insurance is going to give me a hard time, because this was updated to 1994 specifications but they will be covering it as a 1978, but I have found a few other rover minis, and minis from the early 90's that are listed online as 60's cars. I plan on showing them these.

 

Also,

Would stating that the car has an upgraded engine (1275cc) help or hurt my case?

Thanks!

Mike.

Sorry if there is some misunderstanding. The color of my current car, the one involved in the accident is Metallic Arizona Blue. Color code JAM.

I am keeping my eye out for a surf blue mini to purchase. I love this arizona blue color on my car that was in the accident. Its super beautiful and had a slight green metallic flake to it, but My very favorite color is tiffany blue though, and the surf blue mini looks really close to that color. There were some rover minis in 1998-2000 that had a matching surf blue interior and i LOVE the look of them.

 

As for insurance, I've generally had pretty good luck. I have itemized lists of the upgrades done to this car and have been looking for minis in similar condition and seeing what they are priced at. Thanks for all the advice guys!

I only see one problem with getting tough with the insurance company:

They were paid to cover a 1978 Mini. What got wrecked isn't.

OOOO good one. HAHA It is always just a matter of time. 

Courtney, I feel your pain, but yes buy back from the insurance company and sell here. At least you will re coup some of the cost. Perhaps even enough for a paint job on your next mini. Generally you can negotiate on these things long enough for them to give you what you want. There are plenty of great options out there for a replacement. Find all of the most expensive, oldest ones you can. Show them to your insurance, then say they are not even as new as mine. If all else fails demand more! Good luck

and again Air2Air, thanks for the plug! 
 

my 2 cents for Courtney.

If you think the payoff from the insurance company doesn't reflect what you need to get for it,or replace it, DON'T CASH THE CHECK. Once you cash the check, you've accepted that amount and the deal is closed from renegotiations.

You should find similar cars, make printouts, and put together a group of comparible cars showing the

average selling prices/listing prices.  That will give  you leverage to get a good price to replace what you've lost.

 

sorry you've lost this car. Nice to see that the mini's crumple zone worked.

BTW, surf blue is not the color of your present car.

I stand corrected and apologize Courtney, now I have seen the pictures.  Most people, although small, see me in my Mini.  However, the clown that simply stops sharply in front in traffic doesn't understand the panic caused in hoping the Mini will stop in time!  I just plan ahead and brake even further ahead! Sorry for your loss, take the $ from the insurance company after refusing their first couple of offers and at least see what it will cost you to put it back on the road.  Then you can make an informed decision.  Yours tino.

dont let insurance company take it. buy it back from them and sell to a forum member. you will help build good will pick up a few friends and keep the mini from disappearing into never never land.

Such a shame Courtney! was a fine looking mini. I hope you find what your looking for. It does show how strong out little tin boxes are though!!!

Courtney, when you do decide to sell please send me an email with your information as I may be interested. I have fixed much worse in my shop (MPI that hit a concrete barrier on the freeway). So I would say there is still lots of life in that old car. 

Air 2 Air,

I have no idea where you got the idea that I want a BMW mini... I would like a rover mini. one of the mpi 1300 cooper sport models. Particularly a surf blue. I have sort of given up on that idea since I first made this post, because the people who DO have information on importing these cars don't necessarily want to provide any, and I have been convinced (for now) that importing one is perhaps TOO big of a headache. Don't worry, I won't ever have a bmw. As for my mini that was in the accident. It is a total loss. I think it is a great potential for someone to put a hyabusa or vtec motor in. The frame is bent, the engine is destroyed, the car is messed up. It will take MANY MANY months to fix, and since I am down on my luck at the moment (lost my job in august, got divorced in september, got into this car accident in october) I simply do not have the resources or time to fix this car right now, but I want her back on the road for sure. I am not going to allow the car to go to a crusher, nor to a salvage yard or anything else. I WILL buy it back, and give it to someone who can fix it and give it new life. I just dont have that ability.

 

Keep in mind, team, that I am not here for you all to convince me this is fixable. Anything is fixable. it's about having the time and the funds to fix it. both of which I don't have. I also don't have the ability to use this car as a daily driver and have insurance on a classic RHD mini cooper with a salvage or rebuilt title...

 

If anyone knows of any blue Rover minis for sale, let me know.

 

Courtney, there is no reason to give up and settle for a @$&^%! BMW MINI.  

A lot of people here have had accidents, and there is excellent talent around to fix your car or get a replacement and it will be as nice or nicer.

The paint color is a lot easier to change than on a new car.  Buy a nice car and have it painted by one of the people on this forum.

Do you know any of the guys in AZMinis?  If you don't, you need to.  

 

 

I think we've been had,  until I see the photos of Courtney's car!  Call me Thomas!

Courtney here is a very good car to look at and the seller just had a baby.  He has a stellar reputation here.

As a Honda-powered car, a lot of money was showered on it.  As you may know, you would get a huge upgrade in power and reliability.  

I think a lot of people here would agree you should give wevebeenhad an email:

//www.minimania.com/msgThread/114275/1/1/Due_to_recent_events_UPDATE_on_PRICE

 

Aloha Courtney,

Thank heavens you're alright! Sorry for the loss of your "friend". I agree with all the above. Buy from someone in the States to save you from heartache's and surprizes from abroad. Take care.                                                   Mini Estate

Hello. I am in the UK and used to sell minis to the states. I am American and used to source from the UK

Over ten years ago I said the future of the mini market was in US sourced and not imported minis. Soon that became a reality as the UK stock of cars dried up. I went out of the business when I could no longer find decent cars in the UK. The quality of minis in the states beats most of the UK stock. I would not even look in the UK. I would do as above an source stateside

Best of luck in your hunt.

Peter