VERY RARE – PRE-PRODUCTION Rover 75 S577 AOX ***SOLD***

[Badgertone]

CAR NOW SOLD (AS AT 8/5/2012)


Final Price reduction - car to be removed from sale on this forum within the next few days

Note: Price reduced to £1600 and spare set of alloy wheels also included (12 months MOT - historic car with all major work done(including cambelts, thermostat and VIS motors - within last 6K miles)


Main Details

· 2.0 KV6 (manual) Club – RHD
(Most pre-production cars were 2.5 KV6 (automatic) Connoisseurs – most were LHD)

S577AOX would also have been one of the very first Rover 75s with the 2.0 KV6 engine (initially introduced for the Rover 75). I am not aware of any other
pre-production Rover 75 with this specification, engine, gearbox and colour combination)

(Many of you are aware of the main features seen on the pre-production models – for example, black surrounds on side repeater lenses, none-wooden surround for warning light/lock buttons, BMW badges on some components, smooth steering column moulding off pre-production tooling)

· Registration Number – S577AOX (VIN – 1538)

· Exterior Colour - Arran (‘Old English’) White
(Colour now very rare - this was only available during the early Cowley production run)

· Interior Colour – Smokestone (ash grey leather seats)

· Current Mileage – 85317
(NB This will rise slightly – I drive the car every day)

· Taxed to 31/1/2013

· 12 Months MOT (now expires 26/4/2013)

· Build Date – 20/1/1999

· Registration date – 15/2/1999

The overall condition of this car is excellent

A substantial amount of work has been carried out both during my ownership to preserve this particular example for the future
(work has been carried out by Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club mechanical guru ‘Jules’ and local MG Rover specialist garages)

The car is very well ‘sorted’ - all the usual Rover 75 ‘risk areas’ have been dealt with i.e. Cambelts, thermostat, water pump, VIS motors x 2, clutch and wishbone bushes have all been replaced



Features

‘Standard’ Club specification plus the following:
· Sunroof
· Traction control
· Headlamp wash
· Folding rear seat
· Parking sensors
· Heated leather seats
· Symphony Stereo

Work done

In addition to regular service work the following has been done:

Summit Garage (MG Rover Specialist) – various invoices dated 2011 and 2012
· Battery replaced February 2012 (3 year guarantee)
· VIS motor (balance) replaced
· Gearbox Oil replaced
· Instrument Pack replaced
· Symphony Stereo fitted
· Brake fluid renewed
· Front and rear brake pipes all treated
· Kumho 205/65R15 tyres x 2 fitter (rear)

‘Jules’ (MG Rover Specialist and Forum Member) – invoice dated 9/3/2011
(Mileage 80233)

Full ‘cambelt service’ (and more)

Main parts replaced
· Cambelts and auxiliary belts
· Water pump
· Thermostat
· Teardrop mount
· O/S and N/S wishbone (lower) bushes
· VIS motor (power)

Other parts replaced
· Heated leather seats
· 5 hole panel (and switches for heated seats)
· Plenum shield fitted
· Airbag light
· Reverse (parking aid) sensor
· Shannon tube
· Front o/s indicator unit
· Ashtray assembly
· Oil breather pipe

Service items done (in addition to oils and fluids)
· Pollen filter
· Spark plugs x 6
· Wiper blades
· Air conditioning unit re-gassed

Other checks carried out
· Condenser checked – fully operational
· Cooling fan condition checked – all speeds working
· Plenum drains checked and cleared

In addition to standard service work here are some examples of other invoices held for work carried out:

Austin Garages (MG Rover Specialist) – invoice dated 23/06/2010
(Mileage 78919)
· Traction control unit replaced

Sundial Motor Company – various invoices dated 2008 and 2009
(Mileage range 73108 to 75967)
· Brake pipes and bulbs (in addition to service)
· Central locking repair
· Replace rear brakes and discs, fit new exhaust rear box

All Electric (MG Rover Dealer)
(Mileage 53802)
· Complete Clutch replacement (total cost £1302)
o Flywheel assembly
o Clutch plate
o Clutch cover
o Master cylinder
o Slave cylinder

I have a robust programme in place to make sure that the car remains in excellent condition. All potentially troublesome areas have received attention with components replaced whether needed or not. Later this year it was my intention to deal with a lazy n/s/r lock and to replace the headlamp wash pump. My long term plan was to fit both electric rear window and cruise control (the switches are in place in readiness but ‘hardware’ is not). I also intended to fit my Union 16 inch alloy wheels

Whatever work has needed doing has been done. Invoices show that I have replaced whatever was required including the smaller items such as brake pedal rubber, headlamp bulbs, remote control battery, interior light bulbs. Even replacement tyres were as originally specific (rather than drop size to later factory specification of 195s)



Bodywork condition
Very well looked after. Bilt-Hamber detailing clay treatment to entire bodywork July 2011. Polished and Waxed by hand at least every 2 months. Very good condition despite age. Original ‘Contour’ alloy wheels are also in good condition (rear tyres have done under 5K miles, front have 5-6 mm of tread)

Interior condition
Good condition. Leather steering wheel re-dyed. Gliptone leather conditioner and cleaner used on leather seats also around every 2 months

Why sell?

· I now face a dramatic increase in domestic and work related mileage
· I have lined myself up with a very decent Rover 75 diesel tourer replacement – slightly more practicality and better MPG but not quite the unique feel of S577AOX

(All the work done at outset of my ownership was with a view to long term reliability and preservation. I rightly took the view that this car was special and a definite ‘keeper’! However, I didn’t anticipate that members of the family would permanently move to Elgin (Scotland) and Devon. You will see from the pictures that I have a two car drive and no garage so I don’t have the scope to keep a third car (much as I would really like to)

Summary

The car is in truly excellent condition and has been very well looked after over many years. Being a pre-production model it has some historic significance and I believe the specification, engine, gearbox and colour combination to be unique. Most of the important mechanical jobs have been done so the car should be virtually trouble free and very useable. It has well below average mileage for the year.

S577AOX is located in Wolverhampton (WV6) - send me a PM if you want to view or ask any questions

The car is known on this Forum. It was bought off a Forum member and I have made active use of Forum traders and members for services, advice and parts. So, ideally I want it to stay in good hands and go to another Forum member that will look after it well. I believe that it is priced very reasonably (given the amount of carried out and especially because it is a ‘first’)

I attach a few photos and will try and upload some more during the next few days

ASKING PRICE - REDUCED FROM £1750 TO £1650 AND NOW TO £1600

SPARE SET OF UNION (16 INCH) WHEELS ALSO INCLUDED
(these were bought from 'Arctic' and are in very good condition - sorry Steve, I never got around to swapping them over!)

Thanks for viewing

[mh007]

The car looks lovely, makes me glad I have 2 Arran White 75's ! (one of the best colours for the 75 in my opinion)

Interestingly though, I notice that yours only has 3 sensors in the bumper whilst my 'T' reg 2.5 Conn SE (& most others) has 4.

Only a minor observation but perhaps another one of the differences between the pre-production & production cars.

Best of luck with your sale.

[Roverowner]

What a lovely car This one has to go to someone who will look after it for posterity. The back bumper is a bit of a puzzle. Mind you they tried all differnt sorts of things on the pre-production run. I always thought that the sensors were 4 and they were the usual -plastic- black in the beginning. To have 3 and body colour is unusual. Could be a one off they were trying (to get away with 3 rather than 4) an-or they were experimenting with body colour on them.... Interesting

Is it -Cowley- black along the bottoms of the bumpers? The pre-prod ones didn´t usually have R O V E R on the number plate lights... they were blank.

[lady zed]

Beautiful car! I love it! Good luck with the sale, hope she goes to an appreciative buyer xx

[Rabett_Rover]

I have seen this car before, prior to the current owner purchasing it and it’s a really good example. Like a good number of S reg. cars it was originally retailed by Hartwells.

Here are some more pics...





I’m not 100% sure about the originality of the parking sensors, all depends if they run from the Rover ECU mounted in the boot, as the sensors don’t look completely like the Rover ones, I maybe wrong

Alan, the embossed Rover number plate light plinth is something I’ve not got to the bottom of yet, as whilst my Pre Launch (001482) had a plain plinth, every other one I have seen has had the embossed plinth- I know you were able to source a plain one for your car though... anyway the mystery of Rover

Good luck with your sale!

[CMWI]

Looks superb and I'd love to own a S reg if I had the space etc.
My 52 plate car has the black gear lever and locking/hazard light switch surrounds but I suspect the previous owner fitted them, they are clearly black mouldings and not plastic wood ones that have been sprayed.

[Roverowner]

Originally Posted by CMWI

Looks superb and I'd love to own a S reg if I had the space etc.
My 52 plate car has the black gear lever and locking/hazard light switch surrounds but I suspect the previous owner fitted them, they are clearly black mouldings and not plastic wood ones that have been sprayed.

Only way to find out is to give us the VIN number

Lewis, I think the number plate light question is probably one of the subcontracter making a few to get the production going, the embossing coming later. Funny that there was a Swedish reg top spec connie running around here with a blank one at the back.

Could be that all the early ones with the embossing were changed, making it look better

Could also be that a couple came off the line at the subcontracters without the embossing due to a misshap with the machine.

Interesting isn´t it (sorry about highjack)

BTW your car by definition (m001482) is a pre-production car. They are all Pre-launch if they were made before the launch but quite a few of them are production cars having VIN M1....... Wonder what all the different bits on VIN M100001 look like at Gaydon...

[Gate Keeper]

Originally Posted by Roverowner

Only way to find out is to give us the VIN number

Lewis, I think the number plate light question is probably one of the subcontracter making a few to get the production going, the embossing coming later. Funny that there was a Swedish reg top spec connie running around here with a blank one at the back.

Could be that all the early ones with the embossing were changed, making it look better

Could also be that a couple came off the line at the subcontracters without the embossing due to a misshap with the machine.

Interesting isn´t it (sorry about highjack)

It is all relevant to the history of the model Alan given this car is from the early days of the the 75

Some enthusiasts will pay more for an 'S' reg which has been looked after as well as it has been. Being positive, I would have put it up for a higher price with a lower price in mind for negotiations.

I hope the price you have up, is reached and whoever buys AOX will be in for a treat

Nicely presented.

[CMWI]

These Pre-Production cars are mobile museum pieces really.
Did very early versions of other MG Rover models get out into the public domain?
I thought the manufacturers always crushed these cars.

[Roverowner]

Originally Posted by CMWI

These Pre-Production cars are mobile museum pieces really.
Did very early versions of other MG Rover models get out into the public domain?
I thought the manufacturers always crushed these cars.

I don´t think any pre-production ones were crushed. Mind you there is always crash tests with a more or less final spec car.

The prototypes usually get crushed as they are not usually the same as the line cars. Can have different chassi componets that were tested, brakes etc. The early cars (pre-prod) from Volvo get sold off. All the prototypes get crushed, always have. (From the horses mouth)