[eye30]

 Cars which are less than 25 years old and which don't have airbags are banned from the USA.

So while a 1988 Mini Cooper is allowed to be driven on American roads, a 1990 model is not - despite the cars being identical apart from an airbag.

As a result, there is a lucrative black market for importers who ship certain British cars into the States and lie about their ages.

Classic Mini Cooper crushed in transatlantic sting operation - BT

[Mike SX]

  What a waste 

[Dazzler]

What a waste 

 

[Johnno]

Total waist, would it have been better to say to the importer that he could not sell the car till its 25 years come's up rather than crushing it.

My first car was a 997 cooper which my old man bought me back in 72 when i passed my driving test. just to give you a idea how much it cost to insure it, it was £360 per year and if i remember it the time it cost £1 for 4 gallons of fuel and my wage was £7.50p as a apprentice motor mechanic and that was good money in them days for a 17yr old apprentice in the motor trade. Had to do a lot of overtime and foreigners to keep it on the road

[The Gonz]

... Had to do a lot of overtime and foreigners to keep it on the road

Were they Eastern European? Did you leave them satisfied? This thread needs pictures.

[CraigB]

  $500 would have installed the airbag steering wheel to the mini or they should have sent it back to the UK "total waste"

[diablo]

$500 would have installed the airbag steering wheel to the mini or they should have sent it back to the UK "total waste"

True, the airbag could be retrofitted, a minor change to a supposedly classic car.

If the car had been fitted with one on this side of the Atlantic then it would probably have been accepted. Though the crooks didn't bother with that and met with US officialdom -  destruction of the car was supposed to act as a deterrent.

[CraigB]

Being charged and jailed should be the deterrent, their not so smart government could have made money from it "senseless waste"

[Surferdude]

Being charged and jailed should be the deterrent, their not so smart government could have made money from it "senseless waste"

What's the bet if it had been a "classic" American car, they'd have found a way.

[CraigB]

Being charged and jailed should be the deterrent, their not so smart government could have made money from it "senseless waste"

What's the bet if it had been a "classic" American car, they'd have found a way.

I'd bet you're right

[Johnno]

... Had to do a lot of overtime and foreigners to keep it on the road

Were they Eastern European? Did you leave them satisfied? This thread needs pictures.

yep, i serviced them well with my shiny big end, but some would argue it was a actually a small end 

[Surferdude]

... Had to do a lot of overtime and foreigners to keep it on the road

Were they Eastern European? Did you leave them satisfied? This thread needs pictures.

yep, i serviced them well with my shiny big end, but some would argue it was a actually a small end 

So you cranked a few out?