Minitopia and Ivan the Mini says… Just say NO!
The More Legal Minis the Better! Just Say NO to ReVIN Minis.
Minitopia/IvanTheMini is a website dedicated to the classic Mini made by Austin and Morris and to its creator, Sir Alec Issigonis. Minitopia’s author and Ivan the Mini’s caretaker, Dale, now 47, a staunch advocate for legal Minis in the US, has owned this 1960 Morris Mini Minor 850 “Ivan the Mini” since 1972, the longest relationship he has had besides his own father, mother and sister. This car, originally titled in California in 1963 (still have the plates) has seen a lot of the country and many mishaps that only can happen in a Mini.
Many stories and pictures will follow. I hope you enjoy the site and will post many of your own stories. If you remember me from the 1984 Mini East meets West in Denver Colorado, please stop in and say hello. I shouldn’t be too hard to remember as you will see from the first story. Relax, enjoy and reminisce with me if you are an avid Mini fan! Ivan has his own MySpace page and can be found at www.MySpace.com/IvanTheMini
Even though we are dedicated to the Original Mini, the newer larger version that BMW made is the second coolest car on the road and BMW enthusiasts are more than welcome here!
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I want to commend you for your unwavering position on the ILLEGAL, COUNTERFEIT, FRAUDULENTLY imported and etc. Classic Minis! I have been howling about this pathetic situation for over 30 years. Most of these people are stupid enough to think that it doesn’t effect / hurt them bringing these cars into the country but it has severely impacted the value of their cars, they should be worth at least twice what they are worth today especially for what it cost to TRULY RESTORE OR TRULY RE-BODY a Mini or for that matter any classic car these days! I am not pointing a finger at anybody but when someone buys a new (less than 100 miles) Classic Mini say 2000 MPI for $10,000 or less (I know of several of these cars bought at this price in the past years) it makes you wonder a little - could the cars have been stolen last week for example - purchase a registration certificate maybe $500 and shipped to the US for maybe $1500 and giving a net profit of $8000 - pretty good profit! I have been legally restoring and constructing (new body shells) Classic Minis for over 30 years and have found it virtually impossible to make any kind of profit on the projects much less the kind of profit I have suggested above. I have no credible proof to support the example above but the numbers scream VERY loudly especially with no real way, hidden VIN numbers, of tracing the REAL history of the cars stolen or not! With the acceptance of these fraudulent cars and the mentality of many of these ‘Mini People’ the values and prices of Classic Minis will remain depressed indefinitely I’m very sorry to say having 3 of them myself!
Comment by Jorn — September 6, 2008 @ 9:05 pm
You said here:
Even though we are dedicated to the Original Mini, the newer larger version that BMW made is the second coolest car on the road and BMW enthusiasts are more than welcome here!
But you said on NAM:
Ha, that from someone who drives a wanna-be 06 BMW who has no clue. Your car has already depreciated from the time it drove off the lot and wont ever be worth what you paid for it.
That’s not very welcoming. I don’t expect this post to be up here very long if at all but at least I know you read it.
BTW, I own a classic Mini.
You may not be an ass but you sure are acting like one. Maybe pick up a copy of how to win friends and influence people
Comment by classic mini owner — September 22, 2008 @ 3:49 pm
I don’t mind your comment being up as long as you like. I apologize for upsetting you, I don’t expect to win too many friends on the NAM or MM boards with my attitude toward those who try to sell cars that are obvious frauds. What set me off was someone on eBay selling a 1960 Mini, when I asked what part of the car was a 1960, he just went off on me. I took my fight to places that when you Google specific words the posts would come up. It really had nothing to do with the local community. NAM is a far reaching forum that many come to seeking answers, my posts are mostly for those folks. Talking about the subject of re-VIN no matter how I approach it sets someone off. As far as my comment about your MINI, again I apologize. The thing that makes the BMW a MINI in my mind is the fact that it envolks the same type of community and brings people together like the old Classics have done for almost 50 years. No other car does it quite the same. As far as being an asshole, well I try not to be, but calling a Mini a tin can was the straw I guess.. No worries. LOL.. I guess I am a freak, call me all kinds of names, threaten my family and I don’t react, call my Mini a tin can and watch me snap:)
Comment by admin — September 22, 2008 @ 4:40 pm
Glad I stumbled upon this site. Just out of curiosity, how recently was the 1960 Mini on eBay, and what color was it? Thanks!!
Comment by Mike — October 2, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Looks like our ‘friend’ has another Mini on sale at eBay.
Comment by Mike — September 24, 2009 @ 6:39 am