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Old 3rd August 2012, 11:02   #1
Rabett_Rover
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Rover 75

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Default BU03 AHA ex. Midsomer Murders Rover 75 2.0 Connoisseur SE Automatic *NOW SOLD*

BU03 AHA


2003 (03) Rover 75 Connoisseur SE Automatic
(ex. Midsomer Murders Car)



Finished in rich Raven Black, with a corresponding Ash Grey Leather Interior

Specification

4 Door Saloon
2.0 Litre KV6 Petrol Engine
Automatic Gearbox (£1,200 factory option)
108,000 miles

Raven Black ‘Heritage Paint’ (£450.00 factory option)
17’’ Meteor Alloy Wheels (£725.00 factory option)
Ash Grey heated, electric Leather seats, with drivers seat memory

Xenon Pack (£625.00 factory option)
(Xenon Headlamps, Heated washer jets, Head lamp Powerwash and Battery back up sounder)
Cruise Control
Rain Sensing Wipers
Electric Rear Sunblind
Rear Parking Sensors
Message Centre IPK
Climate Control
6 Disc CD Auto-changer
Electric Front and Rear windows
Front and Rear Fog lights
Remote Central Locking
Power Assisted Steering
Heated, Electric Door Mirrors
Locking wheel nuts
Genuine Rover Ash Grey Floor mats

Mechanical and Cosmetic work and upgrades

The car has had the all important and expensive full Cambelt Change (consisting of belts, Tensioners and water pump) this was completed in April 2011 by MG Rover specialists Imperial Automotive in Berkshire (Messenger on the forum). The cars inlet manifold was also replaced at this time.

Subsequently the cars Cam seals have also been changed, along with its breather pipes battery and rear brake discs and pads.

The Meteors have had a full Alloy Wheel refurbishment on them, with the wheels being stripped and dipped before being power-coated in a shade of silver close to the original Silver Sparkle. The car has also just been machine polished.

As an early 2003 car BU03 AHA was subject to MG Rovers Cost cutting scheme known as Project Drive. Since buying the car in February 2011 I have put back much of what Rover took away, this includes…

Pre Project Drive Twin Horns
Pre Project Drive Engine Cover
Pre Project Drive Bonnet Release Claw
Pre Project Drive Boot Floor Carpet (with bound edging)
Pre Project Drive Boot side carpets with rear lamp access panels
Pre Project Drive Carpet Heater Closure Panels
Pre Project Drive Real Walnut Dashboard
Pre Project Drive Cigarette Lighter
Pre Project Drive Seat Belt bolt covers

Since buying the car it has gone through two MOT’s 1st time round, and the current MOT (which expires on April 12th 2013) the car passed without a single advisory.

History

BU03 AHA was registered new by MG Rover Group on 29th April 2003 and had its Pre delivery inspection completed by the MG Rover Group Press Garage based in the famous ‘Flight Shed’ at Longbridge on the same day. Soon after this the car was loaned to Bentley Productions, the production company behind ITV’s Midsomer Murders. During its time with the TV production company it clocked up 14,000 miles before having its first service courtesy of MG Rover Main Dealer Edwards of Stratford-Upon-Avon in January 2004.

Two months later the car was returned to MG Rover and was serviced once again, this time by the companies own Press Garage. The car was then retailed for sale by MG Rover Direct based at the Longbridge factory for £15,155. It was then sold to a company called Telstar Music Group, based in London. Telstar kept the car for around 2 years before selling it on.

The car then moved to the Kingswood area of Bristol where it remained until well into 2010 before moving to Dorset with a new owner. I then purchased the car from Wareham in Dorset in February 2011.

Television Provenance

Rovers 75’s have featured in ITV’s Midsomer Murders from the launch of the car in 1999 until the demise of the company in 2005. During this time the lead character DCI Tom Barnaby (played by John Nettles) had 5 different 75’s, they were T277 MOA, Y395 TOH, BD02 GHX, BU03 AHA and BX04 WMC. Of these 5 cars only two still remain on the road today, they are BU03 AHA and BX04 WMC. AHA is the last remaining MK1 75 used in the series and the only one where its location is known to the club.

AHA was used throughout Series 7 of the Drama and as with the other 75’s used, it was the personal car of DCI Tom Barnaby, it features numerous times in all the episodes- which are still being shown on both ITV 1 and ITV 3 on a regular basis.

AHA has probably been seen by more people around the world than any other 75 (bar the other Midsomer Murders ones of course) as the series is shown around the world everywhere from Iceland to India.

Paperwork and provenance

Along with the original Handbook / Service Book there is a Blue hardback MG Rover Direct file from when they sold the car. Included in this is a copy of the purchase invoice from when Telstar Music Group bought the car; there is also a file included with various information including invoices and the all important MOT certificate and V5. In addition to this I have sourced a DVD of Series 7 of Midsomer Murders which I am including in the sale along with 6 stills of the car in action and two newspapers articles relating to the loaning of the car to Bentley Productions and to the sale of the car by MG Rover Direct.

In Summary

BU03 AHA is a nice sorted car with a superb history, that I have enjoyed owning and driving and improving. I took her to Pride of Longbridge and the National meet back in April and she didn’t miss a beat on the 500 mile round trip. I am sure that one day she will be a classic car with a premium over others for sale (if the Life on Mars Ford Cortina and Inspector Morse Jaguar are anything to go by). These cars like the 75 in Midsomer Murder were so suited to their characters and setting.

‘‘These days he prefers the Rover 75 that he drives as DCI Barnaby in Midsomer Murders. ‘‘It’s shamelessly retro,’’ says Nettles.‘‘Even the down to the dials on the dashboard. It harks back to a quieter age’’. Like the show itself? ‘‘Absolutely’’, says Nettles.’’

John Nettles The Times Online March 20th 2005

£1,650

*There are a selection of current pictures of the car to follow*
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