Allowed on eBay???

Below is the description given for a Mini. Does eBay not allow certain years of cars?
Bruce

Here is your chance to own a "as new as it gets" old style Mini that is legally registered in New York State as a year 2000 Mini. This is in fact a year 2000 mini...listed as 1980 to allow posting on ebay.

Been awhile since I sold a vehicle on eBay but perhaps when presented with choices of make and year they only offer what they consider viable combinations. There are 3 Minis out there right now (2000, 2000 and 1998) all listed as '1980'.

I think it's so their "classic" style Mini dosen't get grouped with the new Minis. maybe it has to be older than 80 to classify it as a classic Mini on ebay.... possibly.

There are always issues with importing a car that "new". I've never heard of it being an issue with eBay, but it is an issue with most states' DMVs. There are exclusion and exemption clauses that you can apply for to bring something that "late" into the U.S. but you'll find a LOT of rebadged and re-VINed Minis on eBay. I chose not to go that route and went after an honest-to-God Mk1. There are a lot of questionable Minis out there these days.

It is also possible that the cars are registered as 1980 so they are easier to register. ive seen a brand new 2000 mini with less than 100 miles on it registered as a 74 so it didnt have to meet modern regs, probly not legal but it worked.

ValveFloat... be careful where you post such information.

I am interested in buying a mini and have been looking on ebay. In fact, made a couple of bids. Where can I go to read what I need to look for and look out for when buying a Mini? I don't really understand when they say upgraded to 2000 Mini or a later year than what they are advertising the car. Where is a good place to look for a honest Mini Cooper?


Thanks

Mike

Hi Mike,
Start by visiting and registering for the message board at Mini Mania.
https://www.minimania.com/msgthreads.cfm
There is a thread pinned to the top of the message board that discusses things to look at/watch out for when buying a Mini. Mini Mania, Mini City, and a few club sites around the U.S. have "for sale" pages with cars and parts.

As for an "honest Mini Cooper", there are Minis, Mini Coopers, and Cooper-S cars with increasing cost/value respectively. In the U.S. Minis in only the Mk1 and Mk2 configurations were originally imported here. Mk3 cars, with the first roll-up windows, are also fairly common. Beyond that you get into the cars you describe which are either re-vins (illegal) or re-shells which are legal... but questionable.

You can read up in detail on this at MM. Succinctly, the re-vins are the transfer of an older VIN plate and its title to a much newer car for tax and importation purposes. A re-shell is the installation of a new shell/body to an older car to make it mechanically sound. The truth be told... the re-shells often (but not always) involve the same swap described for a re-vin. That said, roll-up windows cars with their more comfortable interiors and better ventilation can be desirable if you live where it's hot or humid. However, going to a year 2000 or so car with it's fuel injection and electronics is a gamble as service "over here" is going to be hard to find.

[ QUOTE ]
ValveFloat... be careful where you post such information.

[/ QUOTE ]
Since states laws vary so greatly, I highly doubt he's in any danger...
In fact there are some state laws so silly, you'd hardly believe they're serious.
There's one here in Utah that states that a car may be titled as the year it resembles...that opens up a whole new bag 'o cats for my car, being a 62 with a mk3 shell, but also makes it totally legal to import a final model classic mini and title it as a mk3. The truly asinine part is, here in Utah, they make so many bloody laws regarding this type of thing, and not a dern one of them is enforced! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

this is what they allow on ebay. https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mini-Clas...sspagenameZWDVW

The hood ornament is rather special.

Yes I think I will bid only because of the girls.

Are there really people who are influenced by this? I mean enough to make them bid when they really had no intention of doing so?

Bruce

The manufacturers do it with new cars at shows and pay good money ... this was probably done for free and "fun"....

my thought is that she was specifically posed to appeal to mini owners. She has that "come hither in your mini" look. no? Actually, while it seems a tad sexist today to make such an overt play, the fact is that there are a lot more men buying classic cars when women. On the other hand, the photos here remind me of some 1960's Playboy effort. In a strange way, appropriate for that mini.

its the first time ive seen a women wearing sun glasses and smileing while giving birth!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif

[ QUOTE ]
my thought is that she was specifically posed to appeal to mini owners. She has that "come hither in your mini" look. no? ... In a strange way, appropriate for that mini.

[/ QUOTE ]

I suppose the seller likes her AND the car (not necessarily in that order, of course) and thinks anyone else that might like the car would find the ladies a suitable promotional effort....

I always get a kick out of some poses in ads etc. A very natural stance???? Elaine Boozer did a bit on this once that was quite funny.

For awhile and even a bit still, scuba wetsuit ads would have women in the most bizarre positions to show off the suit. Same with blue jeans I suppose.

Bruce