I have recently purchased what I hope may be a 30th anniversary mini 30. It is Burgundy in colour with the half leather interior, push out rear windows, i believe all the right chroming and black wiper arms and an automatic transmission. I know this vehicle was imported from Japan by a previous owner.

Was there a version of the 30th anniversary model made for the Japanese market?

Discepencies i have noted include painted white roof and racing stripes, (maybe original), it has air conditioning, a Japanese wheel well auxillary radiator fan, and a Rover bonet badge and no pinstripes or 1969-1989 crests.

I am trying to confirm the its place in Mini history and decide whether to restore or modify.

Are they a common model in Australia or is somewhat rare?

Your info and or opinion is gratefully received.






Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

This is the brochure for the mini 30 http://www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rove ... 201989.pdf

It should also be 1959 to 1989 (not 1969). We are limited as to the models we can import to Australia, and Minis from 1989 are not currently eligible?

There was a Japanese Cooper 35 edition, but that was 35 years of the Cooper model, so it’s a 1996 model

It looks like a similar trim was used on other cars
http://www.minipassionmini.com/pdf/Rove ... 91%20J.pdf

_________________

Cheers.





Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Nice machine

[PS put your location in so that people can tell you where to go! ]

_________________
"Show me the Mini!"

I think the A/C and aux radiator fan give it away as later than 1989, A/C was only on the injected models - post '94 ? I'd suggest it's just a run-of-the-mill Rover in a similar colour... What year is it registered as?

Doesn't look like it needs any 'restoration' though

_________________
did I tell you that I won a trophy?

Looks like a 1989 model to me.
998 carby engines were able to have AC way earlier than 94- im sure ive seen some 87 models with it fitted. My 87 mini had the aux radiator fan so nothing special there.

Body number or a BMH certificate may be the only true vlue to what it is.
Its easily possible the roof and stripes and foglights were applied to a mini 30, but I’d be more thinking its not a true 30 LE but made to look like it.

Cheers for the post.

It does have a 998cc motor with a SU carby, but has an automatic transmission.

I have the import approval and vicroads assessmant and approval certs stating it is a 1989 manufactured vehicle.

I am puzzled by the air con, the auxillary fan and the dashboard which look different to the brochure and research I have done.
I have been told that there are mods neccessary for the Japanese market, is it possible that this vehicle was imported and complied for Japan, then it imported here?

My former mini was a much easier Leyland 998cc Mini Clubman, 1976 built here in Australia.


Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

Thanks.

It is currently getting me around in Victoria. My kids call her 'Cherry II' as it is almost the same colour as my last Mini, A 1976 Clubby I had in Tasmania. We are not members of a club yet as I have little time at this point due to work, but I am considering the join Victorian Mini Club.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

In 1989 they were sold new into Japan. They had a different spec list to the UK cars - many were auto and had air con. Of course it's possible that many things have been swapped out during the last 29 years, minis are always being modified!

I have a book with a list of the Japanese market cars, I will see if they have any info on 1989 cars

_________________

G'day Timmy

Much appreciated.


Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

There are a few issues that are not as they would be 89... The mirrors were body colour, no white paint, no extra lights and different flairs, decals and stripes... But who knows what has needed to be done over the years.

Japanese cars did have extra specs.. it was around this time that JC was selling Cooper kits as aftermarket accessories and they (the Japanese) pretty much kept the Mini afloat..

Somewhere I have some original 30 brochures and models. One I won as part of the victorious Pit Stop Competition team. The apprentices who came second received an engraved crystal decanter set. The amateurs were not supposed to win so the best prize went back to the winning dealer...

I'm sure Heritage would be able to give you the correct chassis identifiers even if the actual build records for your particular car are not available.

If it is a 30 then its definitely worth keeping original... even though any real market will be in the UK.

Cheers, Ian

Cheers for the information.

I had the mirrors put on as the originals were removed for unusable wing mirrors. I put white ones on to match the roof. The spots were a demand of my lovely wife given the night driving conditions in rural Victoria. I have had the original red leather steering wheel, recently recovered which is why it is sporting a black one in the pics.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Cheers

I intend to do a ground up restoration in the future, but for now I just enjor driving and washing it..

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I have looked through my book a bit and yours looks very similar to the Mayfair II model. The Mayfair II had the red steering wheel and the same seat trim as the Thirty. Aircon was definitely available on the carb models.

Here is a Mayfair II for sale:
https://www.tradecarview.com/used_car/r ... /23180037/

There might be a mini thirty register out there that you can confirm with?

_________________

Are you on Facebook at all?

I suggest becoming a member of one of the Japanese mini pages there. There is a fella there by the name of David Ainley. He is a pom living in Japan who specializes in minis with foreigners.

He should be able to tell you all you want to know as well as source things missing and find a jap spec brochure for you if you want.

Goodluck.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

_________________