Question: Is your car a private import?

Before you go any further read the government regulations, here:
http://www.getrouted.com.au/documents/DOTARSRegsVSB10_07.pdf

To quote: "Vehicles built before 1 January 1989 may be imported to Australia without restriction.
An import approval is still required and the enclosed application from should be used."

To answer a couple of your early questions, while Mini production in Australia ceased in October 1978, there was still stock at the factory and in dealerships and cars were being sold well into 1979 - at least to May. Compliance plates were fitted, and dated, when the cars were sold to the dealerships and I have seen and heard of compliance plates dated up to April 1979.

No Australian-built Minis had anti-intrusion bars in the doors.

If your Mini is a 1979 English-built car, then you should not have to meet the current ADR requirements. Oz Mini Cooper is the only place in Australia, as far as I know, that is certified to comply post-1995 Minis, but read the DOTARS regs thoroughly to determine what is required for a 1979 car.

Cheers,
Watto.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

Bit off topic, but what would happen in the case of the compliance rules changing between when the car was built and its sale to the dealer and fitting of the compliance plate.

Did the factory just make sure they were well ahead of the rules so they were not caught out?

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

The factories all know what design rules are coming up and the implementation dates well in advance - these are not suddenly sprung on anyone. The cars built in late 1978 would have to meet the ADR requirements at whatever date they had stamped on their compliance plate - that's the whole point of the plate. If they failed to meet the requirements at the time they were dated on the plate - so in April 1979 for example for a car built in October 1978 - then the sale of the vehicle would simply be illegal and hefty fines could ensue.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

Thanks Watto, thats what I thought. Was just wondering if they would have ever come close to being being caught out with non-compliant cars in stock. As you know there were times when the factory had very large stocks of unsold cars around the (Zetland) factory.

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68 Morris Cooper S Mk1 (*ex 78 1275 LS 4th last built, 70 Morris 1500 OHC & 70 MiniMatic)

I am confident that the factory would have been aware of the changes well in advance - at least a year or more to ensure all new models and facelifts met any requirements. Although on a number of occasions BMC-Leyland did have loads of stock, it was not more than about 6 months' stock - which is still a heck of a lot.

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Watto .
Photojournalist
Mini historian and enthusiast
http://www.theminiexperience.com.au

Watto, his other thread is here:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=89365

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