BradonGehres.. you might add your email / phone number so someone can help you with this in your profile..  Who did you buy the mini from in PA/ NJ?/

Dan. the non title US states. are Vermont, New York. Georgia, Alabama. Ky,. NH. Maine, might me one more?/Nevada?? but you would get a registration card  which can be titled in any of 50 states.. some states require title bond to do this. which costs about $250.  PA and NJ are title states on all years

To "complicate" the question about a car title, some jurisdictions do not have titles per se. In Canada (Ontario for sure), when you buy a car (new or used), you enter into an agreement of purchase and sale. You get your copy of the sale agreement. It would list the make, model, year and VIN number. If you are buying from a dealer (new or used), they register the change of ownership with the province, which then provides license plates and the registration card. Part of that card includes a tear-off section you use to transfer the ownership when you sell the car, which is submitted at your local license bureau. No separate "title" document.

(Land titles here are a whole other ball-game, especially when you live in an area of "un-ceded first nations territory" - an area where no treaty exists.)

Why did you buy classic mini with no title? Did you buy it from Amanda Lease by any chance. ?/ I know who sold here the car in the UK and she got UK V5 with the sale. it was Flame red. 1990.. 

All good no harm done. I know maybe it was a little confusing/deceiving as that pic showed the plate-style VIN on the right side on a different gen Mini. 
Cheers

Thats OK Markiss.
I was trying to make a general reply as well to cover all options.

I know in some Scandinavian countires, the authorities dont like the rivetted on alloy plate.  SO the VIN is stamped directly into the body usually the LH inner fender (as you look at the engine).

I was replying with a general Google image. Those cars pictured, aren't mine. I tried to load some of my multiple-attempts-of-resized-photos (according to the photo restrictions of this forum), but they still wouldn't load, so I gave up and grabbed a couple off of Google. 
I had one of those plates as well, although in a different location.
With Brandon stating that he didn't have the VIN or know where to find it, I was assuming that plate wasn't there, and was pointing where the VIN would be stamped in two locations on his later model Mini.
That plate could very well still be there somewhere on his car. 
All kinds of options on where to find it. Like an Easter egg hunt.

Markiss.

The VIN plate in its original location is shown in your b/w engine bay picture.  Its the oval alloy plate next to the radiator cap.

But that bit of bodywork (the radiator shroud) was deleted in the 70s, so later cars had the alloy VIN # plate and commission # plate on the slam rail near the bonnet catch.  

As these plates were screwed (earlier) or riveted (later) on, the number was then stamped direct into the body panels as you show.

Great that it was there somewhere. Got off good. Would have sucked not to have one on it AND not have the title. Would have been only good for a track car at that point. Now you can carry on living the Mini dream

Thank you for sharing ideas where I can locate the VIN plate. I couldn't have found it without all of your help. It's located right beneath the bonnet, on the rail. 

I have an 1987 mini.   My vin is stamped in the gutter of the engine compartment too.    Mine is more in the middle than that far to the right.

You might be able to read it from the underside of the gutter (the distortion in the metal). Of course it would be inverted, but if you use a mirror, it will come out right. Chances are the exterior of the car was repainted, maybe more than once and the engine bay left as original, or fewer coats. My car was originally silver, got an exterior re-spray in black with a white roof and a second, good exterior respray when I got it.

If all else fails you could strip down the paint in the gutter with a small abrasive wheel, read/photograph the number and touch up to match your car colour. It would not be noticeable in the gutter.

Jeepers. The car has been repainted.

In case a visual is more helpful. Look where the red arrows are pointing. 

Now to add another interesting part to this, if it's a Jap-spec Mini it'll have two different VINs. It'll have a separate Jap VIN that starts with "99XA........" stamped into the inner boot floor close to the spare tire well towards the hinge for the boot hatch.
If it's not, it'll have a Brit VIN that starts with "SAXX........" in the gutter drain-rail under the bonnet along back edge where it meets the windshield surround piece, like already mentioned. 
If it's a Jap-spec, it'll have both the Jap and Brit VINs.
I have a Jap-spec car and have asked about this. Some cars have been registered under the Brit VIN and the Jap VIN during its life. Makes it complicated. So if yours has both on the car, there may be some extra steps to take to get it all done. Depends which one was used in its past. If everyone else prior to you used the Brit VIN, and then you come out and use the Jap VIN, you may have to get the car inspected, properly documented, proof of landing, Jap history report, etc before registering. 
Another way to go at it if it has both, is to run both VINs at the DMV (or elsewhere) for a history report. See if both come up, or just one. If just one of the two come up, you'll know which to use. If both come up,...pick the better looking one.
Now the locations of these are all dependant on any possible previous bodywork that was done. If any of those areas/pieces that have the VIN(s) were damaged and replaced, it'll be impossible to find. Unless someone that replaced them did their do-diligence and re-stamped the number into the corresponding piece with a stamping kit that can be purchased. 
Happy hunting

To add to what Dr. Mini said, if the car has been repainted it may be hard to find and read the VIN.

On a 1990 Mini the VIN would be stamped into the gutter along the front edge of the cowl. It's on the RH side of the car as sitting in the driver's seat. It may be hard to view from the top, but if you use a mirror under that panel you should be able to see it.

If its got AC its a JDM car. Maybe British versions have the VIN in a different place.

Many thanks. The next time I see the car—it's at an auto shop—I will check that area.

Does the car have air conditioning? If so then the number is on the passenger side under the hood (left side as you are looking at the car from the front) behind the small air conditioning rad unit right at the front of the car. I had the same problem here in Alberta that they needed a picture of the actual number.......it took me a bit to get the rad unit moved in order to do so. Randy