Cheleker,

I am excited and it's not even gonna be my Bakkie. Scott was with me when we got involved in the accident last summer with his 64 (Which we still have yet to go to court on). I told him if he truly wanted a pup, he had to go with a South African one. I worked on one last summer and absolutely fell in love with it. Roll up windows, and had rear sliding window as well, and a bunch of nice little unique features to it. This one has a south african 1275 in it, which is a nice upgrade, and I felt he would enjoy that more than a 850, especially coming from a worked over 1293 cooper s motor. It will be staying with me for a while till we figure out a full plan where he wants to go with it. 

Meet.. just starting on my pick up.. it got front SMASHED in container as CBP did NOT tie down properly after doing VASIC intensive exam last year..  it has all new panels.   will make nice daily driver..   you might get lucky with CBP if they do NOT open the bonnett / hood..  but you are screwed if they do..  50/50 chance.. later bc

"meet..." so you will soon have a Bakkie (back' e) as they were called in South Africa. Less than 2700 were made. About 1700 used the English 848 and the rest ran South African 998s. There's more to learn from Ryno Verster's book, "A South African Mini Story." Contact me if you'd like to make contact with Ryno. Good luck on the importation.

Ironically enough, I have a Mountain Minis - Mini here right now I am working on for the 4th time. Its a 1990 Mini Special. I don't even know what to say about it really. It's come a long way since it landed, but the original buy in was high! 

I guess we will see how the South African pickup does coming into the port. Should know soon enough. Can't wait to start checking it out in the flesh.

no..  all classic minis and land rovers must be BONE stock and have OEM engines.. only way is the take the v tec engine OUT and ship as motor vehicle parts. and then ship engine  on pallet  on different bill of lading and different boat.. later bc

It's been about 3 or 4 years since I last imported a Mini from the UK. About 6 years ago I wanted to import a Classic Mini with Honda Conversion using a Allspeed frame or the likes. I was nervous back then, even though my Clubman Estate I bought breezed through and they never checked the engine plate, etc. But it was essentially stock. Is this pretty much impossible to import a engine swapped mini even if it matches the v5c? I had my eye on a few converted Minis over there, and for the price I could justify tweaking it to my standards. What about fiberglass space frame minis? Again, impossible or are there loop holes, etc to get them through.

I think I know where the usual people stand that do this more often that most casual importers.