dandy,   feel free to email me direct, i would be more than happy to help you find what you are after,  i know a fellow in roseville has a nice  mark 1 s for sale and i am selling my high performance woodie wagon as well.     i live in the cities also.

Although, the original poster has not said so publicly here. In a private email he has told me he walked away thanks to our advice.

He also praised all our honesty and boldness....

Deb

This is NOT a tribute. The engine bay alone screams SPI...everything there is 1994 and the A/C is Japanese. NOBODY would spends tens and tens of thousands of dollars to upgrade a 1979 into a 1994. This is not a Rolls or Lambo...it's a Mini. Where I live, if you are caught with a car that has an altered VIN, or the incorrect one installed, the car is legally considered stolen property. The Criminal Code says YOU must PROVE it is not stolen. One of the few reverse-onus legal situations here. You seem to want to ignore all our warnings because the car looks great...and it does. But you are volunteering for a pile of trouble for no other reason. Buy a legally registered car....

To me that seems like alot of money to spend on a car that is not legit.  I'm no export and i know people re-vin all the time, but i wouldn't gamble that kind of money.  

 

I feel like there are some nice legit cars in that price range, maybe someone can chime in with a suggestion if you let people know what kind of mini you are looking for

 

 

 

 

I have not read the entire thread so forgive if this point has already been touched on.

It is also possible the VIN was changed to hide the fact it was stolen from another country (or state as well I guess) and brought to Florida to retire with the snowbirds. If that is the case and the true VIN is discovered at some point the Mini could get confiscated and given a one way ticket back home (or crushed).

It is a handsome Mini.    

dandy.. might contact Jim Fai.  here on MM.  he is ST Paul , MN. and join his local classic mini club.. best to buy in person. NEVER buy sight unseen.. ( on any car)  so you can check rust issues and  title ..  you have been warned.. you can NOT fix STUPIC.. later bc

I will have to take a closer look at it.  

I wonder if there is a chance that someone did a "tribute" to the '94 including a re-power.  I know this was very common about 15 years ago with Mustangs to create an "Eleanor"  or a Shelby GT500 Tribute/Clone.  

I guess I am just positive thinking and trying to find the good in people and maybe a reason to get the car.  

Even if it was a 79 that VIN would still be wrong for a mini of that year. So It's NOT a VIN swap. Just a made up number to title it in Florida.
In California the CHP will give you an assigned VIN number on a special VIN plate for a missing VIN number after a due proccess, maybe florida does a similar thing? It's still a risk to buy it knowing it is a 94 titled as a 79 and now the whole world knows about it!!

If you stand at the front of the car and look at the back of the engine compartment, there would have been a number stamped into the gutter on your left side. Sometimes folks smear something over the top to hide it from US Customs so you may use a mirror to find it, that is, if it's still there. Anyway, check that number against the VIN they have on the car and see if they match. That's your first step toward legitimizing the Mini. Good luck!

Wow, thanks for the reply everyone.  

I have noticed that there seems to be alot of people that have imported Mini's and have them registered as an earlier year, I am guessing so that they can get around SMOG or to register as a classic car.  

The dealer is a consignment dealer, so essentially they are representing the buyer.  Yesterday the dealer scanned in and sent me a copy of the current FL title.  I took this to the local DMV office and they did not have any concern.  Since it is registered as a pre 1980 car, it does not require the 17 digit VIN and stated it would not be an issue, granted it does have to get through the state.  Our VW Squareback only has a 9 digit number for the VIN.  

I figured it was a newer car, based on the seats (which would be an easy swap), the dash (which again, is an easy upgrade from what I have seen) but especially the motor, unless it had been repowered.  I am really torn on this.  

On one hand, yes it is not the correct VIN, but I am seeing several other cars that have been registered with just the chassis number that are for sale.  Maybe, just maybe that is the correct chassis number.  That seems to be one of the tough things with the Minis, with all of the parts from gen to gen being quite interchangeable a lot of these are now modified from their original form.  

The car is very solid, runs great and from what I understand, the SPI is a good engine compared to the MPI.  I have not found too many Mini's in this condition and if they are they are actually asking quite a bit more than this one.  

Decisions, decisions!  Thanks again for all the input!

//www.roblightbody.com/1994-rover-mini-cooper-monte-carlo-special-edition-brochure.html

As Malcolm said, it's a 94 Monte Carlo Special Edition. 200 built. Missing the stripes and side decals but still has the one on the boot. As long as you're not planning on moving to California I'd buy it. Don't know if I would try and register it with that VIN. Perhaps you should try and check the original number in the scuttle/gutter and see if it has the same sequence number as on that plate. Knowing its original VIN may help get you a proper title when it is legal to be here...2019. I'd still buy it!

The concern on this mini is the choice of digits do not add up to that car.

I'm from MN too, and while we have no smog tests here (currently), MN has some pretty scrupulous DMV clerks who catch any non 17 digit VIN, 'specially when you're trying to title and register an out of state vehicle here. The clerk says "Just a minute, sir" and disappears and after what seems like an eternity a couple big guys in uniforms with guns come up behind you and say "come with us, sir" as they pat you down for weapons and Miranda you. Makes for a really unpleasant day at the DMV...

malsal.. if your remember crazy art mckenize imported two of these in late 90s..  he had both of them at Chateau elan ..  remember when he hit that palmetto tree on the golf course behind MME in charleston in 02?? .. RUN for this as 1979.. later bc

It is a Japanese spec 1994 Monte Carlo special edition. It was produced in low numbers for each of the markets usually around 200 units for each market. 
It was produced to celebrate the 1964 Monte Carlo Cooper S win and the interior is a throwback to the early brocade interior of the Cooper S's.
Not worth close to what they are asking especially with that phony vin number.
The car looks nice but is missing the bonnet and side decals probably due to paintwork as red fades easily. It could be a real headache with that vin number i would run away from it.

From the fine print department on their website.."Our description of the vehicle including options and all documentation, provenance have been given to us by the current owner and we make no claims or misrepresentations as to the condition of the vehicle or the options as listed on the ad including the description and documented with the photographs and video for this vehicle. All vehicles are sold AS/IS Where Is with no expressed or implied warranties. Just Toys Classic Cars, LLC represents this vehicle and all vehicles in our inventory solely based on the information and documentation provided to us by the current owner or owners representative. We assume no responsibility or liability based on the current condition of this vehicle or any repairs or modifications or changes you make to bring the vehicle to your standards. I hereby agree to hold harmless Just Toys Classic Cars LLC and their agents, owners, officers, and managers, or employees, and all other persons or entities acting in any capacity on their behalf collectively referred to as Just Toys Classic Cars LLC. Upon review of this disclaimer and purchase of this vehicle, all sales are final "

This is a mid 90s Japanese export model SPI. The AC vents and air filter, electronics, power brakes etc are a dead giveaway....as is the modern dash. It is very clean and looks great but if you buy a car with a fake VIN then you are in a lot of trouble. There are others here who can tell you the locations of other VIN plates, including thew boot lid. IF you are serious about buying it the dealer needs to explain why he is trying to pass off a mid 90's JDM as a 1979. I've owned 2 1979's and neither looked even close to this one. My current one is a 1995 JDM SPI.