I'm getting closer.  I got the Mini titled without any problems – given my experiences with the state Registry of Motor Vehicles, I thought it would be a complete nightmare.  The Mini didn't have a title (purchased from Connecticut, where they don't care about titling cars older than 1981), so I figured they would give me a big hard time, but I lucked out – I was at the counter for ten minutes – no fuss, no muss!  So now I just need to replace a rear view mirror and I can get inspected.  I'm praying for at least another week or so of good weather so I can put some miles on it before it snows and they ruin the roads with salt and sand…