Mk1 - Mk2 changeover date

Tourer75 · 9th June 2021, 15:09

Hi all,

Does anybody know the exact date the changeover occurred between the last Mk1 75 and the the first Mk2 75 rolling off the line at Longbridge?

I know it’s 2004 but haven’t been able to trim it down to a more specific time frame. I only ask because my Aug 2003 built Mk1 wasn’t registered until March 2004, putting it on an 04 plate but I wondered how close this coincided to the changeover to the facelift.

Regards

Bob Williams · 9th June 2021, 16:17

According to the excellent book Rover 75 and MGZT Complete Story by James Taylor, the first facelift car was serial number 321637.

Dorset Bob · 9th June 2021, 18:04

I agree the above book is excellent.

Regarding dates they had two model years in 2003, MY03 and MY03.5.
These were the last of the pre- facelift up until 31st December 2003, when it was replaced by MY04, which was the facelift version.

Due to car stock hanging around, it was quite common to have cars registered as new, long after the production date.

My own car was actually built at Cowley on the 30th June 2000 but not registered until 31st March 2001.

I think Reebs is away at the moment, but if you PM him your VIN he should be able to look up the exact production date of you car, and also 321637 if you are interested.

I suspect your car was built around 4 months before the Mk 2 came out.

GaryGee · 9th June 2021, 21:45

My mk2 ZTT came off the line 25/3/2004, it’s an early one as it’s trophy blue

Tourer75 · 10th June 2021, 10:17

Thanks, that’s interesting to read. FWIW, my car was built on 13/08/03, but not registered until 31/03/04, but it sounds as if they were well into facelift production by the time mine was registered. Must have been sitting around on a forecourt for a while!

DeeJ · 10th June 2021, 10:46

I know that for the V8's (260 ZT/ZTT), the last true Mk.1 was built on 04/02/2004 and the first true Mk.2 on 17/02/2004. That sizeable date gap in production would be quite understandable, if the changeover was then being implemented. Only a couple of V8 cars escaped with built dates in between, which were facelifted conversions of Mk1's.

The first production Rover 75 V8, the Chatsworth Geneva show car, was finished on the morning of Tuesday 03/02/2004, and was in fact based on a Mk.1
ZT 260 shell, according to its VIN details. Visually the car is a outwardly a facelift R75, albeit with a big grill and equally in-your-face (19") Vortex wheels!

The FWD 75/ZT production must have followed these dates pretty much exactly, I would think, taking into account the level of integration between the FWD/RWD tracks.

David

BRG75 · 10th June 2021, 11:22

I have a Mk1 tourer that came off the line on 13th January 2004.
Interestingly, I have recently found a sticker inside the front centre console stating that it required a "Cup Holder Right Hand". The sticker was dated the previous day, 12th January 2004.

Obviously a driver's cup holder could still be ordered.

Regards

Mike

9th June 2021, 15:09	#1
Tourer75 Newbie Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Knightley Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Mk1 - Mk2 changeover date Hi all, Does anybody know the exact date the changeover occurred between the last Mk1 75 and the the first Mk2 75 rolling off the line at Longbridge? I know it’s 2004 but haven’t been able to trim it down to a more specific time frame. I only ask because my Aug 2003 built Mk1 wasn’t registered until March 2004, putting it on an 04 plate but I wondered how close this coincided to the changeover to the facelift. Regards

9th June 2021, 18:04	#3
Dorset Bob Senior Citizen Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur SE,Chrysler 300C,124 Spider, Daytona 955i,Honda XL250 & Royal Enfield 650GT Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Kingdom of Wessex Posts: 6,976 Thanks: 2,391 Thanked 2,685 Times in 1,686 Posts	I agree the above book is excellent. Regarding dates they had two model years in 2003, MY03 and MY03.5. These were the last of the pre- facelift up until 31st December 2003, when it was replaced by MY04, which was the facelift version. Due to car stock hanging around, it was quite common to have cars registered as new, long after the production date. My own car was actually built at Cowley on the 30th June 2000 but not registered until 31st March 2001. I think Reebs is away at the moment, but if you PM him your VIN he should be able to look up the exact production date of you car, and also 321637 if you are interested. I suspect your car was built around 4 months before the Mk 2 came out. __________________ Let the good times roll............

10th June 2021, 10:46	#6
DeeJ Avid contributor Rover 75 V8 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: . Posts: 117 Thanks: 11 Thanked 56 Times in 43 Posts	I know that for the V8's (260 ZT/ZTT), the last true Mk.1 was built on 04/02/2004 and the first true Mk.2 on 17/02/2004. That sizeable date gap in production would be quite understandable, if the changeover was then being implemented. Only a couple of V8 cars escaped with built dates in between, which were facelifted conversions of Mk1's. The first production Rover 75 V8, the Chatsworth Geneva show car, was finished on the morning of Tuesday 03/02/2004, and was in fact based on a Mk.1 ZT 260 shell, according to its VIN details. Visually the car is a outwardly a facelift R75, albeit with a big grill and equally in-your-face (19") Vortex wheels! The FWD 75/ZT production must have followed these dates pretty much exactly, I would think, taking into account the level of integration between the FWD/RWD tracks. David Last edited by DeeJ; 10th June 2021 at 11:12..

10th June 2021, 11:22	#7
BRG75 Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer, 9th & 10th Rovers Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Sevenoaks Posts: 973 Thanks: 670 Thanked 290 Times in 195 Posts	I have a Mk1 tourer that came off the line on 13th January 2004. Interestingly, I have recently found a sticker inside the front centre console stating that it required a "Cup Holder Right Hand". The sticker was dated the previous day, 12th January 2004. Obviously a driver's cup holder could still be ordered. Regards Mike __________________ Presently 2004 75 CDTi auto Connoisseur Tourer - White Gold 2001 75 2.5 auto Connoisseur Saloon - White Gold Previously 2002 75 1.8 auto Club SE, 2000 75 1.8 auto Classic SE (Company Car) 1997 420 (Company Car) 1996 216 cabriolet, 198? 213 VDP 1986 SD1 V8 VDP, 1968 2000TC, 1966 2000.

9th June 2021, 16:17	#2
Bob Williams Loves to post MG ZT-T+ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 419 Thanks: 5 Thanked 109 Times in 57 Posts	According to the excellent book Rover 75 and MGZT Complete Story by James Taylor, the first facelift car was serial number 321637.

9th June 2021, 21:45	#4
GaryGee Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Crewe Posts: 102 Thanks: 9 Thanked 47 Times in 36 Posts	My mk2 ZTT came off the line 25/3/2004, it’s an early one as it’s trophy blue

10th June 2021, 10:17	#5
Tourer75 Newbie Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Knightley Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Thanks, that’s interesting to read. FWIW, my car was built on 13/08/03, but not registered until 31/03/04, but it sounds as if they were well into facelift production by the time mine was registered. Must have been sitting around on a forecourt for a while!