Hole in the floor. I was think of that. 

Great story, enjoy your mini! You did much better than me, I drove 2 miles with clutch issues, then was down 2 years replacing the engine and everything attached to it. Worth every minute in the end. 

What a great story!  Congrats on getting her down safely.

Would love if you keep us posted on how the CA DMV process goes for you.

Oh - and some pics would be cool!

You are obviously in love! The first time is always the most awkward.
Great story... you are already enjoying your Mini.
It sounds a bit like my first drive in my current Mini - 250 miles from Toronto to Ottawa, radio didn't work, hole in the exhaust pipe pointing up right under the handbrake providing a constant supply of CO and aroma, drove about 3 blocks into a torrential downpour (it didn't cough once!), sun came out, stopped for gas and couldn't get it into reverse to get away from the gas pumps and had to back out Fred Flintstone style - one foot out the drivers door. Happy ever since!

great saga/ story. thanks for sharing. enjoy your classic mini  ..btw  I picked up my first minis in dec 1997 in Halifax. NS Canada.  turned out it was New Years Eve.. a mere -30F.. and then snowed several feet few days later.. I spend a month at the SPLIT CROW Pub in downtown Halifax..  for the weather to clear.. I drove the mini straight off the RORO Boat..  from Nova Scotia to Ottawa to Robs at Mini Man..  without a hitch.  it was SO cold in the yellow mini. the BRANDY froze under the front seat..  my friend. the late PHAT Ricky was in the toasty Taurus towing the white mini..   as soon as  I got back to NC. I was hooked.. got my dealer lic again.. this time in NC. and 550 minis and mokes later  still importing cars..  word to wise. always buy a mini in person. and make sure the seller goes through the car before you pick up off the boat..later bc Monte Carlo Minis.. Ltd..

I made it home. Left N. Vancouver BC 1:30PM. Friday Oct.18th. I bought the car from Alex and he was great. Car died in 2 blocks on my trip and he came for first rescue. Traffic across Vancouver to border was bumper to Bumper. Arrived 5:30PM. 45 minutes in line. 40 minutes in office. Canadian and US working together. I lucked out and got CBP officer. I called the US customs at Blaine and got the agent from HELL. The CBP officer looked at the BOS and Origin Cert. Went out to the car to check VIN: stamped the paperwork and out. Told me to drive with window open because of really strong gas fumes. Gas dripping out of Weber stacks onto firewall. Leaving border. Dark, raining, no dash lights, speedometer stopped working, window fogging, couldn't see lane lines, engine dying every 15 minutes and backfiring. Dropped into 3rd and popped the clutch. cleaned out. run another 15 to 20 minutes. Using google maps to find my nieces house in Portland 500 miles. Arrived 1:30 AM and according to Google 70' from house with arrow pointing to house but Street wrong, number wrong, it's raining, engine died and won't start, phone battery died. All at the same time. I was able to leave a message before it did. They found me at 6:30 when they turned their phones on. I was froze and couldn't get out of car without help. After shower and sleep I walked around the block and retrieved my car. It was on the next street and the arrow was right but you had to go through a house to get to it. The car started and I drove it around the block. I attacked the car. Changed fuel filter, lines, gas additive to remove water in gas,. No weber or kit available. No shops open. I took the weber apart and looked great. After another good nights sleep I woke up early and started off. I made it to I-5 south and it died on the on ramp. I was rescued by the nicest ODOT that protected me and the car. He called AAA that got me to Salem Denny's south of Portland. Bus Bou at Denny's pointed me to Robertson Dodge dealer next door that sometimes has Car events, Parts manager spent 45 minutes finding someone that is good with these cars. He came to Denny's and got it going good enough to make it to his shop. He found the problem was a loose wire on coil. Carb was good. Ran like a top to Sacramento. 600 miles more down the road. Arrive 3 AM Tuesday. Met 5 great people. I had to use ear plugs to listen to music on my IPAD. loud like an old car because it is, second gear shot, No dash lights - had to listen to RPM to control speed. 3800 to 4000 RPM. Rides like a brick. I love it. I'm very happy with my second bucket list car. Had no problem at CA border. Asked if I had fruit. RHD was NO problem. Not sure if it was because of late hour. Everyone on Canadian side was GREAT. I did buy Canadian ins. 90.  plane ticket 194. Gas was 132. for 1200 miles. I offered the 3520-1 and HS-7 at border and they didn't want to see it.  Thank you for those that tried to help.