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 Posted: Feb 18, 2021 04:52PM
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Thanks

 Posted: Feb 18, 2021 04:12PM
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CA
A true 1275GT will have a VIN that starts with X-AD2_________

A 3 spoke steering wheel with a 1275GT centre logo The seats and door carts are similar to a Clubman, but the inserts are a waffle pattern vinyl 1275cc Engine 7.5" Disc brakes Triple gauges with 8000 rpm tach, and 120mph speedometer 1275gt logo on the boot lid GT logo on the grille

Sean Windrum

1996 MGF VVC
1970 1275 GT Racer
66 Austin Countryman
63 997 Cooper (Under Construction)
63 MG 1100

 

 Posted: Feb 17, 2021 01:36PM
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CA
Quote:
Originally Posted by tothefloor
How do you tell if it's a GT or not??                        
For starters, it might say "1275 GT" on the side in a stripe along the bottom of the doors, there would be a  "GT" cast emblem affixed to the grille. Maybe when Miguel Plano (MiniCord) gets home from work he can fill in real details.

.

"Hang on a minute lads....I've got a great idea."

 Posted: Feb 17, 2021 01:12PM
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How do you tell if it's a GT or not??                        

 Posted: Feb 16, 2021 07:19PM
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thank you for your help i finally ended up getting one. its a clubman 1275 rhd im excited about it. i dont know if its a gt or not

 Posted: Feb 10, 2021 12:04PM
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And join a local Mini owners club too. In the SF Bay Area we are Mini Owners of America San Francisco (MOASF). Check out our new website at moasf.com and find us on FaceBook at MOASF Friends. There is also a club FB page for after you become ONE OF US, ONE OF US... ehem... after you join the club.

We are a pretty talkative group and would most likely be able and willing to help you find a great Mini.

'72 Morris Mini - 1310cc, K1100 head conversion

 

 

 

 Posted: Feb 10, 2021 07:51AM
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Call around to British Repair shops and ask if they know of any classic minis for sale. There are several specialists repair facilities in CA that cater to Mini owners and may have their fingers in the car-selling pie themselves.

Don't forget this site's for sale section:
https://www.minimania.com/Cars4Sale_list.cfm

 Posted: Feb 9, 2021 09:39PM
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US
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrettfink
ok that makes sense. i called my local dmv and they told me that as long as i get a 1975 and older im good like you and everyone is saying.

Personally I would not consider a Mini newer than a 1968 model year here in California. And ideally one already registered and licensed in Cali (or at least with CA papers for a garage find). Calling the DMV was a good start, however will the person you spoke with be the same person at the counter when you arrive with your paperwork? Ask six DMV agents the same question and you get nine different answers. Search this forum for California registration and especially smog issues and you will find many forum members that faced huge issues trying to license classic Mini's. You are risking your hard earned cash if you buy a Mini in the grey area of registration.

Where to find a good candidate? All the usual places like this website, Craigslist, Ebay, Hemmings, Facebook and so on. You just need to be on the hunt. Do you know how to tell the difference between an early Mini (CA friendly) and later models (a gamble)? If you find a Mini in CA for sale that has roll up windows and "just needs to be registered" that is a big red flag. Most likely the seller could not get their newer Mini registered and is hoping to pass the problem along to the next owner.

 Posted: Feb 9, 2021 05:19PM
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ok that makes sense. i called my local dmv and they told me that as long as i get a 1975 and older im good like you and everyone is saying.i just wanted to verify because i know it varies by the county. so with that being said ive been looking for ones online for sale and its really hard to find ones for sale. it honestly doesnt even need to be in my state of close at all i dont have a problem shipping it. the sites i was looking at all the listings are really old and they dont show the dates i called people today and some of them said (that was four years ago). do you know of any sites or people selling classic minis?

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 09:52PM
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US
Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrettfink
so why am i not able to have a mini in the later years? for the crash test rating? might seem like a stupid question but i really dont know.
Emissions is the big issue. The Mini was never certified for California smog testing. And if there are no emissions standards to meet then there is no passing a smog test. Even a car that is no longer required to have a smog test (1975 and older) was/is required to have been certified when it was sold new.

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 09:27PM
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I thought it was bumpers but I'm not old enough to remember.

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 09:00PM
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so why am i not able to have a mini in the later years? for the crash test rating? might seem like a stupid question but i really dont know.

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 12:30PM
 Edited:  Feb 11, 2021 08:57AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrettfink
I have a question for anyone. I’m seeing some information about getting a classic mini legal in California and I don’t have one yet but I have money saved for one and I’ve been seriously looking for one I need to know what specific years I can get to be able to make it street legal here. 
All good advice but ask your local DMV officer to make ahem "100%" as I have heard some counties in CA have registered up to 1975 models.
If you have a question about a year model of one advertised post pics here.


If in doubt, flat out. Colin Mc Rae MBE 1968-2007.

Give a car more power and it goes faster on the straights,
make a car lighter and it's faster everywhere. Colin Chapman.

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 12:17PM
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Ian, do your research was meant for the original poster

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 08:46AM
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Its best to buy a Mini that's already registered in California to avoid any issues. Having said that, it is possible even a currently registered car in California is illegal, like Floor says. 

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 03:44AM
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?????

cheers, Ian

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 12:13AM
 Edited:  Feb 8, 2021 12:14AM
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ok ian but what is under the bonnet AND pre 1970 they all had seams. Do your research

 Posted: Feb 8, 2021 12:07AM
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".....or with roll up windows..."  Unless of course it was originally sourced from Australia where we had Minis with windup windows from the beginning of '65 (and hence are quite legal :)

Cheers, Ian

 Posted: Feb 7, 2021 11:36PM
 Edited:  Feb 8, 2021 12:04AM
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Pre 1967 but watch out for re-vins/ a modern car with newer updates advertised as a 1960 something. They or someone has changed the vin plate. Look under the hood basically there is an engine and carb. Anything with all sorts of air stuff is a re_vin, or with roll up windows the list goes on and on. Personally if I were you I would buy a book called "Original Cooper and cooper S" by John Parnell. Do your research.  Look up re-vins here but usually that happens when someone is talking about a new car they bought then in the thread someone will say that is a re-vin/  Do your research. I used that book to buy a Cooper S my second mini. It has all sorts of pictures and talks about what is on a mini.  I got lucky with my first--it was a cooper and I was real impatient. I made an offer (up to $1400) on every car, but 40 years ago there were not many re-vins just fake cooper s's but not many re-vins.  There are vans and mokes but your on your own there, but the original cooper snd S  will give you a clue.

 Posted: Feb 7, 2021 09:16PM
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I have a question for anyone. I’m seeing some information about getting a classic mini legal in California and I don’t have one yet but I have money saved for one and I’ve been seriously looking for one I need to know what specific years I can get to be able to make it street legal here.