50 replies to this topic

[pusb]

Its potentially legal owner (if it was stolen) may have already been paid out by his insurers.  If it's been 'ringed' with any sense, there'd be no trace of the original ID anyway.

 

It could still have distinguishing features that could identify it. The fact that it appears absolutely no attempt was made to check such things is what I think is wrong.

 

If the insurance company have paid out on it, then it is their property.

 

All this just says to me is if your car gets stolen no effort will be made in reuniting you with it.

[The Matt]

I dunno whether they did try to reunite it with its legal owner (possibly the insurers).  It does say that it was under investigation for some time.  Maybe part of that investigation was an attempt to identify the car properly?  As I say, if the scuttle ID was ground off, what are they supposed to do? Contact every person that's ever had a RHD black MPI stolen and see if there's anything on there that points to it being their car?

 

I personally think people need to be made aware of the consequences of ringing, and of buying stolen goods too.  I feel very sorry for the buyer if they genuinely didn't know it was a ringer.

[Spider]

I just don't understand doing that. I can understand a desire to make an example and discourage others, but surely that could equally be achieved by a large fine? Just seems unethical to carry out such a wasteful act of destruction - not exactly environmentally sound either. I say that not just because it is a mini, but regardless of what type of car gets crushed as result of something like this.

 

Gotta say, I agree. I don't understand why they don't - at least to a small degree - break them up and action them off.

 

I was doing a job once at a scap yard a few years back and I saw a flat bed truck pull in the yard with what looked like a brand new BMW 7 series (of some type) on the back. I couldn't work out what he was doing there, the car was immaculate. About 10 minutes later the story came together when a Customs Car with 2 officers also pulled in to the yard. The car was then destroyed with the yard's crane while the customs guys photographed it, when they were done, there was dead set nothing on that car worth salvaging, sucked in, chewed up and spat out.

 

I found this a wanton waste, aparaently it was some type of illegal import, but seriously, why not action it off, then they (Customs) could also stand to make a small return for it instead of nothing.

[mab01uk]

Even if the UK and USA authorities involved could have identified the original cars ID or owner......I very much doubt the cost and hassle of shipping the car back to the UK would have been considered worthwhile by officials.

The UK scrappage scheme in 2009 could also have exempted or recycled many classic or low mileage cars in good condition for heritage or enviromental reasons but the authorities went ahead and crushed them anyway despite protests, sadly logic does not come into the equation........ie. the computer says no !

 

Note the USA authorities have also destroyed about 40 Land Rovers for similar reasons (25 year USA import rule?) so I suppose the same thing is happening with them as with Mini's? Any Land Rover enthusiasts on here who can explain that one?

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2014 - 10:01 AM.

[Spider]

Well, I guess one way of looking at is for every Mini (and derivitive) that goes to the scrap yard in the sky, it does increase the value of those left. Personally, I'd rather they weren't scrapped.

[Ethel]

I suppose one issue is there's cost involved in doing much else with it. Terrible waste though, with 2 potential victims if it was stolen and bought in good faith.

A bizarre rule, if it was what it claimed it would have worse emissions and be less safe.

[mab01uk]

USA Importing Laws and Contacts for 25 year old classic Mini's:-

"It is not easy for US citizens wanting to bring a Mini into the US. Depending on the specific situation, can range from a mild hassle, to hard, to very difficult, to impossible. You will have to deal with Environmental Protection Agency emission issues and Department of Transportation requirements for safety equipment and standards. Of course, you will have to pay duty on the vehicle as well, 2.5% for a car.
This page provides information for importing a vehicle into the U.S., including requirements of the U.S. Customs Service and those of other agencies.

As a general rule all motor vehicles imported into the United States that are less than 25 years old must comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS), or be brought into compliance with the FMVSS by a Registered Importer."

http://www.northamer...d-contacts.html

 

Reactions here on the NAM (North American Motoring) USA Mini/MINI forum:-

http://www.northamer...ni-crushed.html

 

Amusing quote from the NAM forum:-

"With economic woes, Ebola, threats from terrorism, it is good to know that our shores are being protected from alien Minis. Good work government guys/gals!!!

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2014 - 10:12 AM.

[mab01uk]

Update below on the Land Rovers.........

 

The Feds Just Seized 40 Land Rovers Imported To The U.S.

"Some 40 Land Rover owners across the U.S. woke up Tuesday morning to police and federal investigators knocking on their doors and demanding they hand over their trucks. Officials say it's part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the illegal importation of Land Rovers into this country, Jalopnik has learned.

But that will likely come as little consolation to the 40 owners of the Land Rover 90s, 110s and Defenders, many of whom contest what federal authorities claim about the legality of their cars.

News of the seizures first appeared on the Land Rover Defender forum Defender Source around 8 a.m. Tuesday, when one user posted to say that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security came to his home at 6:45 a.m. to seize his truck. That user was quickly joined by several others, who said their Land Rovers were confiscated by investigators who came to their homes with federal warrants.

One of them was Danny Harrington, who lives in Albany, New York. Last year he bought a 1983 Land Rover 110 through a friend in New York. He told Jalopnik that police drove around his residence looking for his truck, and then went to his parents' house 10 miles away to find it — a house where it wasn't even registered."

http://jalopnik.com/...-u-s-1605985758

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2014 - 10:11 AM.

[Black.Ghost]

My first thought was more that it was being done to flout the 25 year rule rather than being stolen. If it was stolen, no sympathy. But to say a car that is from 1990 for example has to be in line with modern safety standards is ridiculous. It's got nothing to do with emissions laws, or safety - after all there must be plenty of cars on the road that aren't all that safe. It's just a way for the U.S. government to control the import market and make US cars more attractive which makes it all less competitive.

If it's identity was changed for that, I do have a little more sympathy for the buyer. Stupid laws.

[mab01uk]

More background details on the story here

 

The U.S. Government Crushes a Mini – Video

http://www.thedailyt...s-a-mini-video/

 

Watch as feds rip apart illegally imported British car

"The classic Minis were built up until 2000. BMW Group, which now owns the Mini brand, introduced a new model to the United States in 2002.

When that new model was introduced, Don Racine, owner of Mini Mania in California, said that the desirability of the classic Minis exploded.

"The Mini stayed the same from '59 to the year 2000. The body design had changes but for somebody that wasn’t a car person, you can’t tell from one another," he said. "It’s still a Mini."

A Mini like the one ripped apart today often has a resale value in the United States of two to three times what it would have been sold for in the United Kingdom, according to Hayward. A Mini could be sold for up to $20,000 here, he said, adding that if that type of vehicle were sold for parts it could bring in up to $30,000."

http://www.nj.com/oc...ritish_car.html

Edited by mab01uk, 13 December 2014 - 10:35 AM.

[Shep76S]

Good, far many cloned cars stateside. Surely most of them are stolen to order.

Edited by Shep76S, 13 December 2014 - 10:39 AM.

[surfblue]

Even if the UK and USA authorities involved could have identified the original cars ID or owner......I very much doubt the cost and hassle of shipping the car back to the UK would have been considered worthwhile by officials.

The UK scrappage scheme in 2009 could also have exempted or recycled many classic or low mileage cars in good condition for heritage or enviromental reasons but the authorities went ahead and crushed them anyway despite protests, sadly logic does not come into the equation........ie. the computer says no !

 

Note the USA authorities have also destroyed about 40 Land Rovers for similar reasons (25 year USA import rule?) so I suppose the same thing is happening with them as with Mini's? Any Land Rover enthusiasts on here who can explain that one?

The landrover thing is well documented. Modern landrovers (defenders) cant be imported into the US because they dont meet legislation on crash protection or emissions. The exemption applies to 25 year old examples. Now because Defenders have been in production since about 1984 (Actually called 90 / 110 as well as Ninety and One Ten! back then) and have barely changed in design, they are rife for unscrupulous sellers and buyers trying to flout the laws and import newer defenders and try to pass them off as older examples. The US authorities are wise to this now and simply impound and crush such vehicles.

[The Matt]

Steal from South East, ring ID, load into a container at Dover, ship to US. All FAR too easy to organise. IF you had a logbook and VIN plates to hand it could be done in a matter of hours. Yet all the people that sell logbooks on Facebook groups and ebay see no issue with doing that at all.

THE reason this car got crushed is car crime, not the Police. Whinge at the criminals, not the people pressing the CRUSH button. Even if that car crime is "only" making a legitimately owned, late MPI Mini a 25 year old ringer for export purposes.

As for stripping and auctioning parts off, not really practical in cost terms. Nor is it practical to try and ID the original owner and ship it back to here (if it's even a UK car).

[Ethel]

Thing is, it doesn't directly hit the crims as they'll still have been paid before it was shipped. It'll only have an impact if it educates & discourages the buyers. Even then, they're likely to just switch to another market, or ship them in parts. Older Mins could become more of a target too.

[The Matt]

It indirectly hits the crims...by making people more wary of where they buy from.  If you'd bought a car from someone and it then got crushed because it was a ringer, you wouldn't go back to them if you wanted to replace it.

 

I do agree though, Ethel.  The issue that needs tackling is stopping people from ringing over here in the first place (which the UK Police ARE working on).