[sworks]

16 years ago today on the 5th April 2005 436 cars came off the production line at Longbridge. Three of these were Rover 75 Contemporary SE tourers painted Trophy Yellow. The first car went down the line at 10:23.24 the second at 10:27.54 and the last at 12:46.43. All three cars were a special build and built to be donated to the company’s designated charity. Two days later the company would run out of parts and the day after MG Rover went into administration. Total closure followed on 15/4/05. Out of these three cars two went on to be donated to the Warwickshire Northamptonshire air ambulance service as rapid response vehicles, Trophy Yellow was used as it matched the colour of the helicopter and Rover versions over MG as they were a higher spec. The Contemporary SE was effectively a sporty Rover. Due to the administrators owning MG Rover the Phoenix Four were no longer allowed to donate the cars and therefore bought two of the cars. These were then donated by John Towers in person. BX05 XCE now B9HJM was the last of the three to be built but the first to be registered, alongside BX05 XCF, making BX05 XCE the last ‘sold’ Rover 75 tourer built to leave Longbridge before closure and the last MGR to be handed over in person by John Towers.