yep well im no import/export specialist, but he is... he says its stuff under 10 years old that gets more complicated. also said he can get them pre MAF treated at that end so no quarantine hassles this end (cleaned and sprayed). like Anton said, i was looking at this option as a source of every part i need, and a load i dont. I just tell him what i want he finds a car with those parts on it. IT was his idea as i started out asking about front cuts. But if you get good seats, trim, dash, wheels etc it could be more economical to go the full car for spares route...If i just wanted to buy a nice mini I could have done that easy. I actually enjoy scratching around on a well worn car and bringing it back to life.
there is no shortage of these minis, or the auctions.. these were just sent to me as they were two examples that are being auctioned today.

Oh crap! my next overseas trip will have to be Japan!

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Lillee - 1969 Morris Mini K

As for the SCHNAZZY yellow skivvey.. i think he's one of the Japanese Wiggles, moonlighting at an auction yard..LOL

...could be Jeff (the wiggle, not you)

Unless the import rules have changed it used to be illegal to bring in a whole car and wreck it for parts. When you import them you have a lot of paper work which states that the car will be complied and you have to have it signed by the people that are complying it. That is for a car under 15 years old.

I know that over 15 years old is much easier but at the moment that means that no fuel injected Mini qualifies as that age Mini are all carburettor. Can't see the point in bringing in one of those. Might as well wait till the fuel injected versions reach the age that they qualify.

It all sounds very easy but believe me it isn't. There is a website where you can read all about it so I think you should all read it well before you jump to conclusions.

If it was as easy as it sounds everybody would be doing it.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

Apparentlt they are trying to scrap the 15 year rule and replace it with a 30 years.

Well looks like we'll never get a cheap Spi Rover then Harley.

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mutant mini 1380cc '73 UK imp-Chroma Lusion-leather interior-8 x 300W Diamond Audio Dual Voice Coil 8" subs, Phoenix Gold 4 chnl amp, Pioneer 7550 DVD, 2x Phoenix Gold A1.800d MonoBlock Amp, Focal Utopia splits, 14" chrome rims 195/40/14 tyres

People rebirthing 96 Cooper as a 72 Leyland is precisely why they have clamped down! That red car took ages to sell because it had a dodgy numbers job. Every time I saw it for sale he conveniently covered the rego label so potential buyers could not see the "72 Leyland Sedan"

I pass a shipping yard where they unpack and pack containers oin the way to/from work. It the highlight of my trip, as sometimes they are unpacking Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevy's, Winnebagos etc. Saw a blue Mini with a white roof being packed into a container once.

A couple of times I have seen late model Jags come in from Hong Kong (still had the number plates on them) cut in two. Probably so the car can only be used as parts.

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Brett Nicholson
Greendale (near Ballan) VIC.
1971 Morris Mini Moke
1966 Austin Mini
1965 Morris Mini Traveller
1973 LR Series 3 88
2007 LR Freelander 2

I don't know how reliable my sources are, being Ozcooper and Nortthern mini parts.