That's pretty common but thankfully only cosmetic. One of the problems is that when the reair is done people do not seal it on the inside where the bottom of the door and the outside skin meet which is a water trap so the rusting starts all over.

Almost identical to my 89.

I had no rust until fairly soon after geting it, a previous bottom of the door repair started bubbling through, both doors

If you're not wanting it for free.....then I'll have it. LoL.  You obviously have never owned, or worked on a Jap Mini. Utter BS to say you can't check the Oil Level easily....piece of cake. Alternator sits high, like the Mpi, so a doddle to work on. Rear and Lower engine bay tends to be cramped, but I'd rather have this than a Rotten UK example. The Red Mini in background on my Avator is the same age as this car.....and a Jap. Jim

The alternator is easier than a stock Mini to change and the dipstick is easy too. Hardest maintenance part is number one spark plug but is easy once you have the correct socket. Once you get rid of the smog pump and the lines it frees up a lot of space, like anything once you have done a few it comes quite easy and to have a/c in Florida it is well worth the effort involved imo.

I would not have that car if it was given to me.  Check the oil? or change the altenator?  How much disassembly does it need.

What a mess with the A/C clogging it up under the bonnet.

Tokyo has a few mini specialists. Use Google. Also, find the local mini club, again, use Google.

Your car has a carb which all 998's did, Fuel injection was not introduced on Mini's until 1991 on the 1275cc engines. The engine looks un molested and still looks to have the air pump in place. The front suspension may have Hi Lo's adjustable suspension fitted which is a popular option when cones collapse to get the car back up to the correct ride height. Owners also fit springs in place of the usual rubber cones also popular in Japan.

Looked green at my work's screen, looks black in my home computer.

If it's blue, and that's the original paint, then it is not a Racing Green or a Checkmate. Sorry about that. 

But Blue was a Color in the Mayfair,

//www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rover%20Mini%20Range%201991%20J.pdf

You can see the Mayfair specs and interior in page 9 and 10.

Regards,

Miguel

www.MinipassionMini.com
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Bog Standard 998, with 1997/98 Balmoral Interior out of a Mayfair. Moto Lita steering wheel. It has the early Emissions on the engine. There will be a Jap ID stamped on the floor of the Boot with this age of car. If it's a Tokyo car, then I wouldn't worry too much about Rust, far less Corrosion. The only places I would check are the bottoms of the Doors. People are so used to UK rustbuckets that they assume every Mini is the same.  It has a current Shaken, you can tell by it still having the Number Plates fitted, which is their version of the MoT.  The floor is guaranteed to be pushed up at the fronts of the Floor Pans, as they all try to jack them up on those flimsy "brackets". Careful bump with a Mallet usually gets them back into their place. Don't be put off by the fact it's a 998, a better engine IMO, and will cause you less problems. Have seen a few ropey exhausts on Jap Minis of that age, but an easy fix. Good luck.  Jim

ps....Another Bonus for you....This car will have genuine Clubbie Bumpers fitted.

Looks to me like it is a 998 with A/C.  As to the colour, etc.  I have seen quite a few Jap spec Minis that were that dark blue with the red carpet.  The ones I have seen were labelled "Mayfair II" on their quarter panels and were 998s and about 1990 vintage.  Good cars overall.

car looks blue to me not green?

best pic i have right now of motor. can you make anything out

The racing Green is a "Limited" Edition, I quote  Limited because they did a bunch of them. The interior was very plain and nothing very exiting.

You can see the brochure for the Racing Green, Flame Red, Checkmate Trio here: All three cars were identical except for the paint and decals.

//www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rover%20Mini%20FR%20RG%20CM%201990%20NL.pdf

The seats are from a 1996-1999 Mini 1.3, the seat pattern is called Balmoral, color is stone beige.

Steering is an afetrmarket one, but it suits the car well.

Not really worth replacing them.

Now about the rust, check the car yourself if possible, Poke the top of the rear fenders with a screw driver, lift the carpet and check for rust, bottom of the doors and dor jambs (inside and outside the car for rust. battery box, and truk, rear balance, all re prone tu rust.

As Cupkake said, this car will not be able to be registered in California as they have their own rules. You can certainly import it to USA as longa s it's 25 years old, but it will be impossible to register it in California, no ifs, ends or butts.  I believe the car has to be 1967 or earlier to be registered in California.  

One thing  can tell from the pictures, the front suspension cones are not collapsed, which is usually the case, so I guess someone maintained it.

Miguel

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It's legal to import into the US under the 25 Year NHTSA exemption. You just can't register it in California. 

Read this: //www.importavehicle.com/3.aspx

Take Cupcake's word for it, you won't be able to register it in California.  There are many threads on this message board telling the details of why you can't, but the bottom line is that California is not user friendly when it comes to Minis that were not built to US federal specs.  As far as Skylines go, I wouldn't try bringing one of them in to the US at all.  US Customs are very cautious of grey market Skylines.  But, at any rate, back to the Mini.  The interior appears to be from a newer Mini, perhaps a "Belmoral" or "Sidewalk".  Not too familiar with those, but I think they had the plaid interior.  As far as replacing the interior with that car's original seats, I wouldn't bother.  The Japanese owners change out so much stuff (including adding A/C) that it would be rediculous trying to reconfigure it back to how it left the factory.  Good luck with the upcoming inspection and hope all goes well.  BTW, does it have a carb or is it fuel injected?  Just curious. 

MiniCord  so the interior seats, door cards, steering wheel, steering controls and wipers are from another model...would these pieces be considered an upgrade, downgrade or equivilant to OEM?  (hurt the value?)

I asked about rust and he said there is a spot on the door but otherwise car is clean.

Broker said car started right up, no obvious smoke screeen but was not able to drive it either.  hope i dont have that issue.

there is a mini cooper/rover grave yard pretty local to me, should i try to replace these parts with used ones from the mini graveyard or keep what i have?  would it be worth the trouble?

Cup cake why would i not be able to register in california?  the car will be over 25 yrs old.  guys are importing skylines all the time from california-stating its legal as long as they are 25 y/o.  just curious.

Hopefully you're not bringing it to California because you won't be able to licence/register it. 

Hi

The Mini in the picture appears to be a 1990 Rover Mini Racing Green, however the interior seats, door cards and gera knob are from another model. The steering wheel is aftermarket and the steering controls for turn signals and wipers are from an older model.

This car came originally with a Series A+, 998cc engine, rated 41 HP

Yes, you can change it to a chrome grille very easily as long as it has the Mk.II on shape. Mk.I grille will require some bodywork and painting.

What to look, RUST, RUST, RUST, and engine burning oil. That to start.

Hope this helps you out.

Miguel

www.MinipassionMini.com
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I am will be working in Japan for the next year and wanted a cool car to take back to the US.  it was between the sky line a mini.  the mini won!!  i have an aquainance who is a broker and hired him to find me one. He located this one at the auction in Tokoyo.  I believe it is a1990 mini, right side drive, and 30,000km, 4 speed, and A/C.  It will have to pass through a very strict Japanese inspection next week and trying to prepare myself.  So couple questions.

Anybody have more detail on type/engine and model of car?

Where to buy parts for someone living in Tokoyo Japan..online or local.

what to look out for on these particular models/years.

can i change the grill to a chrome one, if so where and what model/brand.

thanks guys im sure there will be a ton more questions in the nest few days.