Early Rover 75 - Pre-production?

[The_Equalizer]

There was a time recently that everyone and his wife on here seemed to want a Rover 75 citing the early ones to be the best. As I'm sure others on here do I was having a quick nose at the classifieds and found this advert for what claims to be a pre-production 75.  Thought it might be of interest on here. It states:

 

"Beautiful pre project drive (Pre production) car. Extensive history. In excellent condition inside and out. Leather seats in very good condition belts changed at 45k miles. Electric everything - Windows, mirrors, doors, seats and sunroof. No leaks.

As this is a pre project drive car it has higher quality finish than production cars. Very much a collectors car. Chrome door mirrors and chrome gearknob.

2.5 v6 manual. Motd until sept 2018"

 

It can be found here on Gumtree:

 

1999 Rover 75 2.5 V6 Manual - £1150 - Gumtree

 

Feel free to take me to task if it's not what it purports to be!

 

[adw1977]

It was registered June 1999, so certainly prior to Project Drive, but hardly pre-production, the 75 was launched in 1998.

[BorniteIdentity]

It’s not.

 

Pre production models have a black surround to those buttons south of the gear shifter. This car has the wood flavoured option:

[Pillock]

I think he's getting pre-Project Drive and pre-production mixed up in his advert. He's read something on a forum somewhere and then had a nap so he only remembers bits of it. Happens to me all the time.

[HH-R]

The first Longbridge cars were actually the best built. Unfortunately project drive cut in very early though. I don't like the colour coded sills either.

[Pillock]

vin RJZLLEXM103413

vin_sequence 103413

off_assembly_date Wednesday, 9th June 1999 @ 09:51:28

model 75

variant 2.5 V6 Contemporary

num_doors 0

paint_code JBH

brochure_model_desc R75 C3 Saloon 2.5 KV6 (177)

home_export HOME

country GREAT BRITAIN

exterior_paint Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent

interior_trim Ash / Light smokestone

engine 2500 NA 177Bhp

trimlevel Contemporary

bodytype 4DR

manual_auto M

hand_of_drive RHD

model_year 1999

sold_date Unknown General Information

• This vehicle was the 4,529th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381
• This vehicle was the 843rd 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214
• This vehicle was the 996th 75 in Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent (code: JBH) to be made out of 1,672 Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent 75s

Also born on this day...

• 207 75s
• 43 MGFs

 

4500 pre-production models is quite a lot Who wants to give him the bad news?

[hairnet]

^^ location change to massive licker

[sierraman]

He's also asking £650 more than what it's worth.

[Mally]

He's also asking £650 more than what it's worth.

 

£500 more in my estimation, but many in good condition are sold at his price.

My Tourer cost £650.

[The_Equalizer]

Thanks for the update. I really like the build records which included time off the production line down to a second. I'm amazed that they can, in theory, now be bought for £650. I though £1150 not too steep a price - it looks a nice car - but then again, I'm always amazed how cheap cars can be. Long my it last.

[Tam]

vin RJZLLEXM103413

vin_sequence 103413

off_assembly_date Wednesday, 9th June 1999 @ 09:51:28

model 75

variant 2.5 V6 Contemporary

num_doors 0

paint_code JBH

brochure_model_desc R75 C3 Saloon 2.5 KV6 (177)

home_export HOME

country GREAT BRITAIN

exterior_paint Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent

interior_trim Ash / Light smokestone

engine 2500 NA 177Bhp

trimlevel Contemporary

bodytype 4DR

manual_auto M

hand_of_drive RHD

model_year 1999

sold_date Unknown General Information

 

 

• This vehicle was the 4,529th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381
• This vehicle was the 843rd 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214
• This vehicle was the 996th 75 in Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent (code: JBH) to be made out of 1,672 Wedgewood Blue Pearlescent 75s

Also born on this day...

 

• 207 75s
• 43 MGFs

 

4500 pre-production models is quite a lot Who wants to give him the bad news?

Aye Pillock, how are you finding the VIN nowadays? Most of the free services seem to have been tightened up! I used to check quite a few being a monogram licker haha.

[cpjitservices]

Aye Pillock, how are you finding the VIN nowadays? Most of the free services seem to have been tightened up! I used to check quite a few being a monogram licker haha.

Where do u find this information? for all cars or just Rover?

[sierraman]

Apart from a V8, I'd be surprised if any Rover 75 is worth more than a grand. Seen loads of late 75 diesels up at £7-900, I'd have thought you'd have your work cut out selling a 75 V6 at that money.

[Dave_Q]

I use targetcarparts.ie for VIN numbers since the BMW warranty move got stopped.

 

The number plate box has a IRL logo but it accepts UK registrations.

 

[pauldoubleyou]

Youd be suprised on how much the flatcap brigade love their 75s. I saw one advertised for £3500 recently and the owner swears he got asking price for it.

 

The things that bring money is hold folk with loads of it, and the extras these came with.

 

Things that bring money are:

 

Monogram Paint

Uprated Grille

Headlight Washers

Full leather

Rear window blind

Folding mirrors

 

A lot of the coinnoisseur 75s had this crap fitted, and some people will pay top dollah to get it on the car. The uprated from grilles / bumpers regularly change hands for up to a grand as they were an optional £1k extra on the mk2 75s.

 

whats interesting is that a lot of factory extras were simply electronic and can be coded in or out with a freeware programme. Even flashing police headlights! I added DRLs, removed antihijack locks, added one touch windows, MPG calulator activation etc etc.

 

Monogram paint does look nice, ill be honest.

 

Shitty run of the mill velour 75 v6s are about the £500 mark. the engine is heavy, thirsty and shit to work on. Diesels more, the engine is the same as the 320 but with a smaller turbo capable of 115, 135 out of the factory or remappable to about 160-170.

 

I currently own a ZT Mk2, which although is billed as the sportier version it actually has worse trim and less extras than most 75s.

[Guest Space_1999]

Well, until two weeks ago it was mine. Or rather, my Dad's – who owned it for 10 years.

 

The bloke who bought it from me on eBay paid £609.

Looks like he thinks he's Arthur Daily. 

Told me he was an "enthusiast". Then told me he was a dealer and "had a client". Looks like neither were true?

In my ad, I never said it was "pre production" – looks like he's got something of an imagination.

It was much loved in our family. Hope it ends up in the hands of someone who really wants it, one day...
 

[Bobthebeard]

No no.....

You have got it all wrong....

Rover 75's are gilt edged investments* right now. Give it another year and double your money!

 

 

*This may not be actually true, but if repeated often and widely may result in me actually and eventually making a profit on the three that I own.

[Cavcraft]

Well, until two weeks ago it was mine. Or rather, my Dad's – who owned it for 10 years.

 

The bloke who bought it from me on eBay paid £609.

Looks like he thinks he's Arthur Daily. 

Told me he was an "enthusiast". Then told me he was a dealer and "had a client". Looks like neither were true?

 

In my ad, I never said it was "pre production" – looks like he's got something of an imagination.

It was much loved in our family. Hope it ends up in the hands of someone who really wants it, one day...

 

Thanks for joining, hopefully it'll find a good home.

[stephen01]

I really fancy a Rover 75, must stop looking on ebay, now if someone wants to swap for a 318 touring  

[Bobthebeard]

I really fancy a Rover 75, must stop looking on ebay, now if someone wants to swap for a 318 touring

 

That may be an option....

Open to offers!

[stephen01]

That may be an option....

Open to offers!

 

What do you have?

[Bobthebeard]

A 2000 Rover 75 1.8 auto with a massive history file. Some rust in rear wheel arches though.

[oldcars]

Well, until two weeks ago it was mine. Or rather, my Dad's – who owned it for 10 years.

 

The bloke who bought it from me on eBay paid £609.

 

Looks like he thinks he's Arthur Daily. 

 

Told me he was an "enthusiast". Then told me he was a dealer and "had a client". Looks like neither were true?

In my ad, I never said it was "pre production" – looks like he's got something of an imagination.

 

It was much loved in our family. Hope it ends up in the hands of someone who really wants it, one day...

 

Very nice car indeed. As you say fingers crossed it ends up with someone who really wants it.

[oldcars]

No no.....

You have got it all wrong....

Rover 75's are gilt edged investments* right now. Give it another year and double your money!

 

 

*This may not be actually true, but if repeated often and widely may result in me actually and eventually making a profit on the three that I own.

Three, lucky man. Know you had one and a ZT didn't know about the other secret one.

[martc]

 

 

model 75

variant 2.5 V6 Contemporary

num_doors 0

paint_code JBH

 

 

 

It could be a prototype, most of the ones I've seen have more than 0 doors.

[Snipes]

I occasionally get the hankering for a 75. Club velour is probably the best but leather seems more appropriate. I'd like an early model with xenons, auto, cruise and a funky interior colour.

I'd consider a 1.8T but that seems more appropriate to the ZT.

[The_Equalizer]

Well, until two weeks ago it was mine. Or rather, my Dad's – who owned it for 10 years.

 

The bloke who bought it from me on eBay paid £609.

 

Looks like he thinks he's Arthur Daily. 

 

Told me he was an "enthusiast". Then told me he was a dealer and "had a client". Looks like neither were true?

In my ad, I never said it was "pre production" – looks like he's got something of an imagination.

 

It was much loved in our family. Hope it ends up in the hands of someone who really wants it, one day...

 

 

A while back I had a spell at buying, tinkering and selling classics. It was more of a slow hobby thing. The main thing I remember was it requires a lot more work that people think and I certainly wouldn't think it's worth trying to skim a few hundred pounds (at best) on, what are at the moment, considered just old cars. It only needs a couple of things doing to make it not worth the grief. Trips to the auctions where the most 'entertaining' and I'd always add an extra bit of 'excitement' to the event by driving the car I'd just won home.

 

As said, hopefully this 75 will find a good home. It looks rather nice and I've always had a soft spot for them. The seats were very similar in design to the P5.

 

Oh and one last thing, I tried to find Space_1999's eBay listing for the car, but without any luck. Anyone seen it?

[BeEP]

Oh and one last thing, I tried to find Space_1999's eBay listing for the car, but without any luck. Anyone seen it?

 

This one?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Rover-75-2-5-V6-Connoisseur-very-rare-early-model-/292246305491?

[The_Equalizer]

This one?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1999-Rover-75-2-5-V6-Connoisseur-very-rare-early-model-/292246305491?

 

And I thought I'm quite good a tracking them down! Interesting to see it was sold in Cardiff and it's now in Northern Ireland. It's a good £250 - £300 quid to get a car moved or in costs to do it yourself. I'll be keeping an eye on the Gumtree listing.