News : For sale – 600-mile Rover 75

Keith Adams

Rover 75 (1)

Reader Rainer Markert emailed in with this gem, which is currently on sale in Holland for the princely sum of €12,800 (£10,600 at current exchange rates) – a 2002 Rover 75 V6, which is being listed with 950km on the clock, in what appears to be in unmarked condition.

It follows hard on the heels of the Rover 114 Cabriolet, which was ‘unearthed’ in Germany with a mere 58km covered since new and which, being extremely difficult to register in its home country, was offered at what can only be described as a bargain price of around £1300. The Rover 75, a Connoisseur manual, is far from being a bargain, but for anyone who really hankers after an ‘as new’ Rover 75 with left-hand drive, this has to be about the only game in town.

The car, once again, sparks the debate about how much nominal mileage cars are actually worth and what you should you do with one if you were to buy it. Recently, Anglia Auctions sold a pair of nominal mileage hum-drum hatchbacks (a Volvo 340 for £5500 and a Renault 5 Campus for £3500), which would suggest that the market does place a premium on cars like this – but not nearly as much as our Dutch Rover 75 seller might believe.

As for what you were then to do with your 950km Rover 75, once you bought it, that’s also an interesting question. Buying to use would seem appealing – you’re effectively starting off with a new car – but the depreciation on this (especially if bought for £10K-plus) could potentially be savage. Normal rules don’t apply, of course – and does depreciation matter at all if you never sell the car? Of course, it doesn’t.

Some would suggest it should be placed in a museum – but that’s a tough call, as this is a mid-life car with no historic significance, that’s already been tainted by the effects of Project Drive – and, as far as we know, Gaydon already has its fill of Rover 75 museum pieces. However, despite these questions, you have to hand it to whoever has kept hold of this car for so long – it’s a lovely thing, and a reminder of just how appealing the Rover 75 still is.

Keith Adams

15 Comments

  1. A tough one. After 12 years and of little use, the rubber hoses etc. would need a thorough inspection.

    One for the collector, to squirrel away alongside P6s, SD1s and 800s, then bring out in 10-15 years time when joe public can say “Remember those! Wish I’d had one.”

  2. what a gem, its nice to read that this sort of garage find still happens. The late Rover 75 to me is one of those exquisite cars that should be cherished – a true “motorcar”. they sure drive nice too as one would expect 🙂 alex

  3. It’s an interesting dilemma really.
    Last night I found a bag containing 18 of the old 12 sided threepenny bits at my late mothers house. The dates range from 1943 to 1967.
    I’ve carried them around in my pocket all day so far, showing them to anyone I think should be old enough to remember them (I know, I should get a life!), and it’s been interesting to see their eyes light up when they realise what they are.
    So, thinking that they could be worth something I’ve used most peoples reference, and looked on Ebay to see anything similar for sale.
    I’m really diassappointed to see all years & conditions advertised (not necessarily selling) for 99p each, I was hoping they could have a higher value than this…
    (Oh and if you can’t work it out, 18 threepenny bits would have been worth 4/6d back in the day, which now equated to only 22½p. Maybe £17.82 isn’t a bad return on investment).

  4. All of the rubber is gone, if not on the road at least once a year – engine, gearbox, clutch. If you buy it you have to wait 30-40 years and wait for the big money, maybe… But it’s LHD!

  5. Whenever one of these virtually unused old cars crop up everyone seems obsessed with what condition the rubber bits will be in. Even if the odd hose is perished, its hardly a massive job to replace it. As noted in the article, this car wont make any sense at all as a daily driver. It needs someone with enthusiasm for the car who will maintain it as it is – that doesn’t necessarily mean not drive it at all.

  6. Change the fluids. I have just bought a 22 year old Carlton with 90k up it and everything is original even the hoses-that are synthetic rubber mix in any case.

    Common sense is all that is required not a full overhaul.

  7. Very good value for a Dutch car – taxation makes 4 wheeled transport a very expensive hobby in the Netherlands.

  8. Rubber rubber rubber! Alert! Warning! Health and Safety!
    Chill out all you rubber obsessed maniacs. My Mitsubishi is 12 years old, owned it for 7. Never replaced any rubber hoses.

  9. Perhaps a trifle expensive, but what a lovely car for anyone who really wants it. Love the cream & wood interior, suits it to a tee.

  10. My favourite version, right down to the interior and exterior colour combination, trim level and engine option. But sadly rather too expensive for me, while I would definitely struggle with the dilemma on whether to use it or not.

  11. Yup, old cars are worth much more on the continent, esp in Netherlands and Germany. There will be lots of small jobs to do on it as youd expect but nothing to freak about. Personally I cant see what the great fuss is about ultra low mileage cars, Id prefer one with a sensible but not astronomical number and plently of regular servicing. Sitting around cold for donkeys years isnt going to do any of the moving parts any favours.

  12. Can I just say I have never, not once in 40 years, ever heard someone in real life conversation use the phrase “princely sum”? Just thought I’d mention it. Not having a dig, honest.

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