:) No problem. I only know that because I had been researching and looking and reading Wikipedia on the history and all that good stuff to find what year I really would prefer to find while I was searching. They changed to the MPI in 1996 or '97. The guy I bought mine from said he was happy it was an SPI because it run better then the MPI....? I've never heard that before but ok. No carb is a major plus for me, but it is not the end of the world. I like being able to just start the car whenever I want, no bending into the car to set the choke if I am outside and just walking up to start.

Canada is very fortunate to have the 15 year law vs the USA 25 year law. It opens up a whole lot of cars before they go out of date or out of style. Of course, other cars like the Mini or Nissan Skyline will always be in high demand even when they are 25yrs old or older.

Don (aka Bluebox) and I are good. He is a gentleman and a scholar!!!!

Thanks for the re-education (had a senior moment).  I could not remember the exact year they starting making the fuel injection but I am almost certain the SPI went to MPI.  I always have a hard time reading the Japanese calendar.  The years are incremented each year and you have to remember what year the emperor came into power.  My wife is Japanese and she has a hard time remembering what year is what.  In any case, having a SPI or MPI has its advantage or disadvantage.  Plus--no choke to mess with, Minus--Computer and throttle body.  Can get expensive to replace.  Myself, I like the dual carb setup.  My 62 Countryman has the original engine therefore I cannot (or I do not know how to modify) use dual carbs.  For the person looking for a mini, there are minis for sale throughout the US or UK, Japan, South America, Australia, the list goes on.  You shouldn't have an issue importing a used mini from overseas as long as you do your homework.  One dead giveaway for a revin is to look at the body style, rear tail lens, engine, interior.  I saw an add for 1982 mini and the engine bay showed fuel injection with a computer and the interior was only offered for a certain model which was only offered in the 90s. One good thing though...I think in Canada (15 year rule) all classic minis are eligible for import since the last mini was made in 2000?

This Mini is in Yakima WA about 140 miles east of Seattle. I haven't seen it, but it has a good price and seems to be in decent condition. Says the engine is an 850cc, so it would be a good project for you to do a swap to a larger engine like a 1275cc, or Honda swap if that is something you would like to do. There is a member on here that likes to drive around the country and pickup/deliver Minis and Mini parts. Maybe someone knows his screen name or he can jump on and you could talk to him about setting up a delivery?

//yakima.craigslist.org/cto/5781600593.html

As far as the fuel injected ones, yowzaa is incorrect. They started making the SPI (single point injection) Mini in 1991 which is 25yrs old this year. Next year 1992 becomes legal.

Last bit of info I have is RHD Specialties. They are an importer based in Kent WA and they have imported lots of cars from Japan. I was talking to them about importing a Mini, but I wanted (needed) it faster than they were working so I looked on craigslist out of state. They have been really nice to talk to as far as my dealings with them. I have also seen a couple of the customers they imported cars for driving around.

//www.rhdspecialties.com/

No Robster I meant you. Wrong again.

Yowza,
pls pardon bluebox, sometimes he misjudge other people's capabilities. And if he get caught , he wlll say he is referring to someone else and not you. Im sure he feels sorry for what he said. Just a spur of the moment i guess.  And i know he's a nice guy...  (Im just guessing.)  
 Ok lets just comtinue with the original topic.

If someone was referring to me as ... as I do not know what I am talking about ..... My first mini was an auto and I'll never go back.  The only advantage a auto transmission has over a standard is you don't have to shift but (in my opinion) shifting through the gears is part of the fun driving a mini.

I tell everyone who asks the same question you have asked, get the best body you can find. We're not likely going to find a cheap MK II. But you can make a MKIII look almost like a MKII. There is one for sale in the cars for sale. Sure it's RHD but that can be changed , sure it's a 998  automatic but that can be changed. You don't need more motor than a 998. You just need to keep it tuned and learn how to drive it. You will have lots of fun. You might even like the auto box. Please don't listen to ......... he has no idea of what he is talking about. 

With mini's fetching 40-50K $$ for Mk1's. The majority of other sellers think their junk is gold too. Sadly the day of cheap mini's are going away. Sure you can find em cheap = but what will they need?

 My friend did buy/bid on a 79' 20th special = 998 from ebay and won for  5200$   It showed up with Rust holes in the floor (not horrible but not expected) and with 4 HORRIBLE tires and some other Mechanicals in bad need. Its not a horrible project but more than he bargained for = he in the end tho, got what he paid for.  You can ask for anything and everything = but in the end. you have to comprimise somewhere.

Goodluck!

Thank you sir(or ma'am)

Specialist, this is why I like forums, you get the honest advice.  I'm not in it for speed, I'm in it for handling and just a fun car to drive as well as work on.   I'm 29 on Tuesday (I imagine that is considered young around here).  This is for a weekender car just as you say, take the wife to get ice cream on a Sunday or the dogs to the park (tiny dogs).  Take it to the local hardware store for some parts for an at home project.  I do love to drive, pretty much anything.  Combines, semi trucks, fork lifts, if it's got wheel and a motor, I'm interested.  Minis are the most fun thing I've ever driven. Now I sit behind a desk pretending to "engineer", when engineers should be in shops building or repairing real things.  I've rebuilt a lot of engines, and made a lot of mistakes problem solving in the wrong direction, but that's ok with me.  It will run, it just takes time and research(and $).

There's a guy in bastrop with a MKII i believe.  Body is in good shape. It's been garage kept and was running when he parked it.  Problem is he wanted $10k for it.  I Offered $7800 and he never responded.  That was 2 years ago. He had an extra engine and subframe i'd love to have(998) for my rat rod mini.  He hasn't had it listed for a while.  I was going to email him again to see if he still has the engine.  I'll ask him if it's okay to pass his # to you if you like.  

Rick,
 let me start by asking how old are you? Do you like speed? What is your idea of a fast car?   You need to asses yourself and this is the right time to do it.  If you are looking for a fast car, mini is not what you're looking for. Minis are for weekend coffee getter. Like me, i always go to starbux everyweekend doing my own cars and coffee meet up all by myself. 

You know listen, here's what usually happens, young people gets interested with classic minis, then they'll buy one, then along the way the mini starts to stall and they dont know how to fix, they will suspect that the culprit is the coil, so they will buy a coil only to know that it wasnt realy the problem, then they suspect its the carb, so they'll buy a new shiny carb again only to reaize that it wasnt the problem.. Then on and on (read the other thread with 4 pages) .

Another scenario is this, people buy classic mini then after few months they notice that they cause slow traffic on the road having mustang, v8s , camaro in their back honking at them at the traffic light because mini is too slow, so they will decide to switch to the almighty VTEC conversion, so it means he will install a $12k vtec on his mini while the old lucas engine and other parts gets dumped in the corner of his garage forever collecting dust( but he already paid for it)  Now my advice is this: assess yourself, if you want a vtec mini or not,, if you want a vtec , better get a low cost mini shell or some beat up mini with no engine for about $1.5k to $2k then install a vtec to it.  Or if youre ok with the 998 , there's a lot out there that very well fits your budget. Goodluck! 

Thanks for the advice Yow.  Is there any good import companies or is ebay a good place for importing from Japan?  I actually don't mind not having a/c, my first vehicle didn't have it either ('66 chevy c-10),  but I probably will stay off the road in the mini from june to september.  Those months are spent working in the garage on whatever toy I have, which will hopefully be the mini soon!  It was a '71 Honda motorcycle this last summer. Bought for $50 with a seized engine and clear title.  Now she runs like a champ after a rebuild.  Too bad I don't really know how to ride a motorcycle!  I would love a 1.3, that sounds like a lot of fun.  But I'll settle with a 1000.  I can always do a swap later anyways if I find a decent motor to rebuild.  I like the idea of the vtec, but that would have to be the second mini.  I always have grand ideas for customizing, but then try to go original as possible with bolt-on additions because I don't like a permanent change.  The originals are too good.

Rick,

If I were you, I would try to import a mini from Japan.  The Japanese Minis have AC (having AC in SE Texas during the summer.....You need AC.  As a kid, I grew up in Corpus Christi and I still remember how hot and humid the summers were) and there are a lot of models available that pass the 25 year import rule.  Minis from the UK....rust.  Have you ever watched the show Wheeler Dealers on Velocity?  The cars in England have rust issues.  The Japanese minis also rust (all minis rust) but in most cases they will be cleaner that the ones that you get from the UK.  Do not get an automatic, the manuals are a blast to drive.  Too bad the 1300 injection models are too new to import.  I lived in Japan and is had a later model...maybe 97 or 98 1.3 injection.  Driving that car was like driving a big go-kart.  Screamed around the corners.  I used to drive like a maniac while I was living in Tokyo.  I was amazed I never got a ticket (been pulled over but I pretended I did not speak Japanese.  Cops give up trying to talk to you after 5 minutes!).  There are other minis available in the US for sale by MM members or via Craigslist or other venues.  If you have a chance to view before you purchase....GO SEE THE CAR.  You might be saving yourself a lot of money.  Be careful of cars that have had the VIN changed on it.  There have been members on the forum who purchased a re-vinned mini and were unable to register their car.  Also, if the deals smells to good to be true....RUN away. 

Hello all!  

I'm Rick based in Houston TX.  I've been a member for quite some time but have never posted, nor created a user name apparently because I had to do that before posting this. I'm looking for my first classic mini (karted around a R53 for 9 years, "Stacey").  I've been casually looking for 10 years and kept up with a few forums since.  I keep track of miniguy, ebay, craigslist, etc.  but have not been fruitful.  I even had an offer accepted for a '86 in the UK but the seller was shady and after reading some reviews about him on here and other sites I decided not to move forward. Alas!

If any of you guys know of a car or have one sitting around, give me a shout.  I would like something that needs mechanical/engine work.  Rebuilding engines is a hobby. My wife gave me the Haynes manual for my bday last year and it's on my nightstand for some quality bedtime stories.  I haven't dove into body work yet, I'm an engineer, not an artist, so I'd like to not have too much of that right away. I'd like 1970s or 80s.  MKII or III.  I really like sportsback or sportsback styling. Color isn't that important, just don't want a lot of rust so it doesn't have to be done right away.  price range.. $6-7k?  Does that sound right?  Not a daily driver, just a weekend gokart.  Thanks for the help ahead. 
-rick