NO. I have NEVER heard of them..  the best vtec outfit is Mini Tech.. www.superfastminis.com  Roysten Georgia..  talk to BJ.  phone.. 1.706.246.0072. later bc

Werewolf, I would love to find a project where the guy found all the parts and hasnt started hacking at the body or subframe yet. I prefer to do my own hacking and welding. 

Does anyone have experience with WildChild classics in AZ on here? Starting to talk to them about some possibilities but wanted to see who had first-hand experience. 

downingflames..  Vtec  are quite cheap here in the USA.. tons of unfinished projects. and guys with deep pockets buy them and then sell them for 50 cents on the $$$ are even less.. something to RUN FROM.. later bc

Everything in the mini family deserves its due, but Im looking for the classic mini look. No mokes, vans, or clubmans. All very cool but not my speed. I'll poke around and see whats available here for sure. Being in Darwin, there's not much in the northern territory--and I dont get a one free car while on deployment, unfortunately. I'm going to Sydney for a week in late June and that may be a good chance to check out a few cars, all depending on time and availability. Thanks for the heads up. External hinges, tiny tail lights, and roll down windows seems pretty awesome a collection of parts. Thank you all for the help and not flaming me for bringing up the VTEC possibility. I've had a bad habit of trying to get too much horsepower into tiny things for awhile now. This island is truly massive, and I just dont have a ton of time to travel. The lady is coming out to see me and if we spend all our time checking out cars she may not be my lady much more after its all said and done! 

whee..  mokes getting like hens teeth in OZ..  later bc

Ditto buy in Australia.Have you considered a Moke?

I wouldn't buy a  VTEC in Australia tho - too hard to import with a non-matching engine

spank.. aren/t all the leyland minis saloons. made in OZ after 1971.. all square nose Clubmans.. ??

The Fly and Buy this is fun. Done it many times. Changed more than a couple headgaskets in parking lots. Once drove 200 miles on 2 cylinders because turned out to be burnt valves and not bad head gasket. Took 8 hours. Fun stuff.

I second the suggestion to buy something in Australia. They have some cool features with what we call Ox Deluxe-- external door hinges like MKI and MK2 but roll down windows and 1/4 vent wind wings. They also have this feature on some clubman (square nose) saloons and vans/wagons. Very desireable to some, tough to find here. And wy not take advantage of your free pack out by having them move the mini from OZ to Hawaii on the govt dime as your 1 personal vehicle?

I'd be ALL OVER this one if I had the coin
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MORRIS-MINI-COOPER-S-MK2-1970-VERY-RARE-EX-POLICE-CAR/223503565962?hash=item3409d9c48a:g:6BYAAOSwxc5czNQq&frcectupt=true

That's one of my biggest headaches actually, unless it's older than a ('73?) Hawaii gets really really weird about letting it in the state. They don't do emissions tests, so I would have to go for a much older car than I was originally thinking of. On the other hand, if it's rust free and I have the opportunity to pick up a MkI or II, should I go for it? Thank you all for your time.

downingflames.. you are best to buy classic mini in OZ ..  try www.ebay.com.au  or andrew at www.miniandmokeworld.com.au   for the BEST site is www.gumtree.com.au    try using  www.cargoonline.com.au for RORO shipping to the west coast..  but I think the cheapest is to just ship direct from AUS.. by container. to Hawaii. as RORO from LA to Hawaii. is $2500 USD alone..  let me know IF can help with the import  ect.. later bc

Either is fine as long as you play nice.

Thank you for the heads up. I've been around some forums before which don't like to play second fiddle and I don't want to step on any toes. Do I mention minimania there? Or restorationmini here?

Thank you again for your time.

-Dustin

Another good site for this type of info is

//restorationmini.com/

Good group of guys there that are not afraid of Vtec minis.

Good Evening from Darwin, Australia...

I'm a US servicemember who has been lurking on this site for about 15-16 years. Back in 2003 I would wash classic minis and Jags down at British Motors in Orange County CA just for the chance to sit in em. Now, many years later, I will have the cash to buy my dream car after lusting for such a long time. I'm currently 'deployed' to Australia (I consider it more of a shindig than a deployment, the food is solid and everyone speaks English...and Ive yet to be shot at), and have been spending most of my time combing through here, ebay, and a few brokers stateside to find my next bad idea.

My last job was as a ship's engineer (mechanic), so I'm no stranger to wrenches and rust. The plan is to find the car (rust free, RHD, VTEC for 20k or classic for 12k), fly there after I'm done here, and drive it to the port of Long Beach CA to get it shipped to Hawaii--where I'm currently stationed. I have heard these cars can try a mechanic's patience, but if I were to build a kit of tools and spares for a cross-country road trip, is there a place to start? I don't need to take it to the crank, but I've done head gasket swaps on bikes by the side of the road.

Any and all help is appreciated. I'm youngish, dumbish, and newish. All heavy on the ish. Thank you for your time and consideration.