# Minis in the US

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899>\
**Category:** The Show\
**Created:** [March 10, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899 "2013-03-10T03:06:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![linmalki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@linmalki](https://community.cartalk.com/u/linmalki)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899/1 "2013-03-10T03:06:39Z")

</div>

Today a caller asked about possibly bringing a 90’s European Austin Mini to the US. Strictly speaking, they are not US legal (they were not imported by the manufacturer since 1967, when the safety and emissions regulations went into effect) but there is a dealer in the Los Angeles area that is bringing in 90’s Minis. I have a British car repair shop in Southern California and we have several customers with these cars.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899/2 "2013-03-11T06:46:49Z")

</div>

That dealer must be doing extensive/expensive conversion work. Maybe they’re skirting the regs by putting very old vin plates on them.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![mshakar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@mshakar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshakar)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899/3 "2013-03-11T08:59:44Z")

</div>

I saw a pretty late model one on the road in Providence back in 2005. I don’t know what’s involved in either upgrade or what the requirements are. Would any 1994 car need to meet 2013 safety regs if being brought here? Is 20 years old enough to earn it historic plates? Requirements would then be relaxed.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899/4 "2013-03-11T15:48:24Z")

</div>

Older than 25 yrs and it doesn’t have to meet safety (DOT) regs, but all cars have to meet the EPA regs applicable on the date of manufacture. That’s very hard and expensive to do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/minis-in-the-us/77899/5 "2013-03-11T18:27:27Z")

</div>

Switching to propane enables them to pass EPA requirements I believe.