Sounds like my '87 1275 from Japan would be perfect for you. Just had all the minor rust issues repaired over the winter last year, so the paint/body are pristine. Unfortunately, it's not for sale…but good luck with your search!

https://sanantonio.craigslist.org/cto/5854932038.html

Sorry for hijacking your thread sir...

I'm not a pro at this I admit. Someone messaged me and asked if I'm willing to sell or do a trade that way whatever I've done to the mk1 will be preserved or improved. I'm open to trades but probably for a different mini variant like a van, countryman, truck or something. If I have one I'd probably turn it into a vintage BMC work van with 1960's typography. I think that will be a cool project.

Loved the video...BUT all I could think of was R.U.S.T.!!!! All that lovely salt and sand ready to munch the body and corrode the wiring.

Damn Cooky! I've been trying to find the time to put my front end back together (replacing all the usual suspects) but I keep switching which coils I'm going to use (red or black) and 8.4" vs 7.5" brakes... - for at least a year now....Your car looks great

absolutely!

It's been fun and I enjoy it a lot getting busy and productive with my time. I'm always up to something new anyway. Whichever route it's good for the car and whoever is seeing it on the road. I do drive this a lot and influenced a few already online so I guess I'm doing something good for the car?

The Mini has been called the 'Mr. Potato Head of cars' because of what people add to them. Is Armycook starting a new trend... 'the Barbie Doll of cars' .... he dressed his up really pretty and now wants to re-dress it in white?

The famous #52 by Timo Makinen and Paul Easter won that 1965 Monte Carlo Rallye and Paddy Hopkirk and Henry Liddon's #56 placed 26th  

im im reworking the whole dash. Trying to convert the RHD works dash into a LHD. Then while removing a lot of the old crap out, I took the super crusty old leather off from the whole dash and there out comes the original old English white and I really like it. Now I'm torn between committing to a Works BMC Monte Carlo rallye replica or turn it into how it originally was according to my Heritage Certificate which is old English white and black roof.

Army: I forgot about the "56" on Paddy's Monte Carlo car. I chose "56" because I thought that particular pair of numbers looked good together. I'm amazed how many people ask me "what's with the 56?" Now I can tell them they were Paddy's numbers—everybody knows that, right?. BTW: Nice build and attention to detail. Like the way you "faux distressed" the GB badge. The cockpit is killer! Thanks for the Serpentine vid. I usually keep up on all things Mini on YouTube, but missed that one.

My story was all over the forums lol. I traded my Australian clubman and got this nice California Mk1 almost 2 years ago and didnt know what to do until I saw this short film, "The Serpentine"
 




to this 





Then a year later it became something like this lol















I replaced the 63 into 56 because I want it to look like this car P.H. drove in the '65 Monte Carlo Rally. It was easy because I have access to a plotter and Im a graphics designer too so I found this photo and did the measurements of typography on Illustrator and cut the vinyl.



Little by little im adding more small nice elements like this embossed steel GB badge. I wanted it to look old so I wet sanded it a little to give that old look. Im happy with the results.





Currently Im redoing the dash again. Then I have a works roof rack that is being built then look for snow chains for my spare 10" wheels and put them on top of the roof rack. Then maybe Id be content and sell it or trade for a mini traveller or van.



I talk a lot sorry.

I was hunting for my first Mini a few years back and had similar requirements as you; Mk II - IV, RHD with as little rust as possible. I wasn't concerned about the color or interior condition as I had planned to repaint and redo the interior. Most of the cars I saw on the internet had owner mods that carried a premium and were not to my liking anyway. I finally found one on a business trip to Kansas City Mo. Clear title, no rust (really, no rust), a few dents, ratty interior and good mechanics w/ 34K miles on the clock. I contacted an auto transporter and it was on it's way to the west coast. 

I sent the car to the shop for bodywork and paint and swapped the motor/trans for a heavily modded 1380. Meanwhile, I was still doing a lot of business travel. Most evenings found me in a hotel room with a laptop, WiFi and a credit card, all the while fantasying about my new Mini. Should've gotten the MacBook w/ the breathalyzer option—I got a little carried away. Coulda' had a new Porsche for the same money. On the other hand, I had a Porsche and sold it to pay for Rosebud. So I guess I'm good. Good luck w/ your project. Keep us posted.
[Hey armycook. I'm #56 too. 55 wasn't enough and 57 was just too many.   What's your story?]

Might be useless info to the experts but I'm new at this and I don't know your skill level so take whatever you can on the info.

I don't know Texas old car laws but you may be able to get away with  a later model with whatever upgrades it will come with but I'd really start with a very solid body/ shell since you haven't done any body work. For the amount of years spent here you should be able to have yourself be familiarized with how a classic mini supposed to look like especially at important areas like subframes, structural foundations, floorboards, suspension system etc...) A lot of people get by with going to different mechanics doing their own hacks and avoid them if it looks jacked up and dangerous. (I've done a few and learned my lesson) Research on how to inspect classic mini body for bad weld jobs, very thick bondo work (I have some on my mk1..  ), rust and where they usually start and can be hidden by the sellers. I pulled my engine and decided to paint the engine bay and boy that was really hard. But if you're that type that likes to keep busy then you can do it on little hidden sections at a time. I went through 5 cars in a year last 2014 with a starting budget of $900. 3 of which were classic minis. The last one was a big jump from an OZ clubman to a mk1 997 running car from a straight trade deal. Just keep being patient because "good" classic minis are harder to find these days especially with a your starting budget but it can be done.

Uhhh. I'm not selling my car.... Yet. But everything has a price. And I'm really interested in a truck or a van.

Not trying to Pi$$ on your thread but $6 to $7k may have bought you a good daily driver 10 years ago when you first started looking at Mini's but it does not buy you much of a mini anymore unless you want to spend the next few years restoring it.
As others have stated buy the best body you can and as stated they are the Japanese cars that you can now legally import. To do this you will need to spend $9k plus. Good luck with your search.

Buy the 1990 Japanese market car listed here in the for sale ads. I don't know the guy. The price is a bit high but only a small amount more than I could buy and import the same car into Canada. Still, it is close to what you could sell the car for if you found you weren't really that into it.

I am, as usual, horrified at the nonsense "specialist" has posted. He has no knowledge of anything, yet he attempts to speak with authority on endless topics.

Here is the car:

//www.minimania.com/cars4Sale/13879/1990_Rover_Mini_Cooper_Sedan

A 998 of that era can be a great performer. The car already has great brakes, a nice interior, and you can either make the AC work for you or sell it on to someone.

For maybe $8k to $10k more on top of your budget, you can make an offer to that San Diego dude who owns that nice red mark 1 rally racer. Heard he's interested in selling or trading for a different mini variant.

is that true bluebox? that you are a scholar?  so it means that you did not pay for your schooling? and it means you that you have high grades when you were in college?  In Asia, if you are a scholar, your school is free as long as you maintain a high grades.  hmmm, i'm starting to like sir bluebox... i like intelligent people.