i'm looking for a mini cooper/clubman with a engine conversion and thinking of importing one from either the states or the uk as they are posing difficult to find here (if you don't have the skills to make your own). Does anyone have any advice about if this would be too much of a headache or a reliable supplier. thanks.

Prepare for and budget for the Border Force, Customs, Registration/Engineering etc pile-on once you land such a device...they will want to tear it apart looking for nasty's that may or probably do not exist. Try and find someone with recent experience through further research within and outside AUSMINI...

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"Show me the Mini!"

Does anyone have a sydney garage they would recommend for something like that

Had a look into this a while back and made a note that if you imported a finished conversion they can be classed as a newly manufactured vehicle, probably a lot more hoops to jump through rather than importing the parts and doing an engine conversion of an existing mini.

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Nick

http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=86675

I doubt that many "garages" would be geared up for import and customs clearance...one Mini business that may be able to advise/assist is...

Australian Mini Cooper
3 / 8 Ketch Close,
BERKELEY VALE, NSW, 2261
Tel: (02) 4388 9059
Fax: (02) 4388 4201
Email: ozcooper@primus.com.au
Website: http://www.ozcooper.com.au

Google: "import vehicle customs clearance" for much info...

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"Show me the Mini!"

I've seen two VTEC minis for sale in the last 6 months - both sold now though.
If you wait long enough I'm sure one will pop up. Possibly even quicker than finding, buying and complying one from overseas.

Biggest issue with overseas ones is quality of work - could prove to be a headache if anything needs to be engineered here.

Just for my curiosity though - suppose I had a vtec mini for sale - what would it be worth as a local car built and engineered here vs your estimate to import one? Maybe I'll do that for the next project myself!

You can buy a pre-assembled kit with a VTEC, (from USA) which should almost just bolt in.

https://www.minimania.com/part/MTK20A3- ... ne-Package
You probably also need their right-hand conversion kit.

There are also UK companies that provide conversion kits but I don't know about fully assembled.

That would allow you to fit it to a local car (or an older japanese import), so this get around the fact that an overseas car age is when the conversion was done (eg supercooper https://www.supercoopers.com/)
https://prestigemotorsport.com.au/impor ... ifications

Neil.

Dutchy has his listed for sale. The build thread is here and it’s a very clean and nice car!
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=89636

For sale post
https://www.facebook.com/25665206117764 ... 13100/?d=n

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You beat me to it Timmy. This car is beautiful in the flesh and possibly one of the finest examples of this type of conversion you could find. Deff worth a look if you have the $$

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1972 Leyland Mini Clubman
2000 Honda CBR929RR