British Barge Content-my Rover 75 V6
Discussion
After 18 months driving a Peugeot 106 diesel around, I wanted a bit of luxury. Handily enough my mileage to work has dropped considerably, so I was able to indulge in a little childhood nostalgia (my parents had two when I was in my early teens) with a 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur. Geek fact-it's a pre production model, chassis 001517. Confirmed by the weird spec-electric memory seats, Serpents (and wonderful wheels they are too!) together with 15" Crown wheels supplied, sunblind but a radio/cassette with no CD changer. Sorry, wireless. Must use the correct terminology, old chap.
I'm chuffed with how the paint has come up after a Monday spent claying, machine polishing with various 3M potions then a coat of Autoglym HD Wax. It wasn't bad, just the proper colour (Atlantic Blue) was hidden under a haze of swirls and minor marks.
Lashings of soft piped leather and (on these early ones) a real slab of timber across the dash. It's like sitting in a drawing room. Smoking jacket on order.
2.5 litres of creamy V6. All appears well in the engine room-it's as quiet as a church mouse below 3000rpm, with a lovely snarl if one wishes to be ungentlemanly. We'll ignore the 26mpg it's averaging for the moment.
It appears to have been owned (and barely used at 31k miles!) by an older gentleman. It's been looked after well and seems largely original. No corrosion, all the panels are straight and tidy, the interior is something else and smells wonderful. Is it weird to sniff a car? Hope not.
I've written to the previous owner in the hope he'll be able to provide some history, as it didn't come with much (i.e. none!). The small independent trader I bought the car from gave it a C service including cam belts (handy as they're a substantial job on these!). However, a C service doesn't include spark plugs or auto transmission fluid-the condition of both suggest these haven't been done in a while...plugs extracted from the rear bank on the right. The 75 design team clearly had a wannabe postman onside as accessing the rear bank of plugs involved working through a letterbox.
I've got a set of OEM Xenons to fit, and that radio cassette unfortunately has to go-75's have got the same ICE as the BMW 3-Series of the same era, so the aftermarket is full of alternatives. A Navall Android head unit is in the pipeline-it'll give digital TV, DAB radio, Bluetooth and lots of modern, newfangled things. I'm sure the 75 would rather I send a telegram.
A geometry check this afternoon got all wheels pointing in the correct direction, which certainly helps stop the annoying/frightening random pulls and shimmying over bumps. Finally there's a pair of OEM mats coming-it however helps when the owner isn't a tit and orders RHD mats, instead of LHD. Not that I did that, you understand.
I'm chuffed with how the paint has come up after a Monday spent claying, machine polishing with various 3M potions then a coat of Autoglym HD Wax. It wasn't bad, just the proper colour (Atlantic Blue) was hidden under a haze of swirls and minor marks.
Lashings of soft piped leather and (on these early ones) a real slab of timber across the dash. It's like sitting in a drawing room. Smoking jacket on order.
2.5 litres of creamy V6. All appears well in the engine room-it's as quiet as a church mouse below 3000rpm, with a lovely snarl if one wishes to be ungentlemanly. We'll ignore the 26mpg it's averaging for the moment.
It appears to have been owned (and barely used at 31k miles!) by an older gentleman. It's been looked after well and seems largely original. No corrosion, all the panels are straight and tidy, the interior is something else and smells wonderful. Is it weird to sniff a car? Hope not.
I've written to the previous owner in the hope he'll be able to provide some history, as it didn't come with much (i.e. none!). The small independent trader I bought the car from gave it a C service including cam belts (handy as they're a substantial job on these!). However, a C service doesn't include spark plugs or auto transmission fluid-the condition of both suggest these haven't been done in a while...plugs extracted from the rear bank on the right. The 75 design team clearly had a wannabe postman onside as accessing the rear bank of plugs involved working through a letterbox.
I've got a set of OEM Xenons to fit, and that radio cassette unfortunately has to go-75's have got the same ICE as the BMW 3-Series of the same era, so the aftermarket is full of alternatives. A Navall Android head unit is in the pipeline-it'll give digital TV, DAB radio, Bluetooth and lots of modern, newfangled things. I'm sure the 75 would rather I send a telegram.
A geometry check this afternoon got all wheels pointing in the correct direction, which certainly helps stop the annoying/frightening random pulls and shimmying over bumps. Finally there's a pair of OEM mats coming-it however helps when the owner isn't a tit and orders RHD mats, instead of LHD. Not that I did that, you understand.
Edited by itcaptainslow on Thursday 25th January 17:58
davebem said:
Nice find and looks exceptional condition for a nearly 20 year old car. Its a shame the V6 engine is covered up with all those plastic covers, maybe Im too used to working on Alfas of the same vintage.
It’s not especially pretty underneath! A plastic inlet manifold, a mess of breather pipes and injectors.Well done. I’m on my second V6 Connie SE for barge 20k miles PA leave anywhere barge duties. Both bought with 28k and 37k miles respectively for silly cheap money. Latest one is now approaching 100k.The Navall sat back is a decent bit of kit from RadioGuy.
This is Tiff driving my original car on Fifth Gear ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIfNpUO2N8
This is Tiff driving my original car on Fifth Gear ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIfNpUO2N8
spaceship said:
That is lovely. Looks really nice all polished up. Will the 26mpg be an issue?
When will you start smoking a pipe?
Question 1-I hope not! Going from 55mpg to um, considerably less stings a bit but my annual mileage has dropped considerably and I’ve got a Honda Grom (for those not familiar-it’s a 125cc modern day monkey bike) that does 120mpg for the ride to the station and general titting about on; I like to think it offsets the 75’s ability to make whole forests wilt as it poodles past. Plus-diesel bad, petrol good. When will you start smoking a pipe?
Am I doing this right?
Question 2-No. Maybe. Probably. Or snuff tobacco-can you still buy that?
sjc said:
Well done. I’m on my second V6 Connie SE for barge 20k miles PA leave anywhere barge duties. Both bought with 28k and 37k miles respectively for silly cheap money. Latest one is now approaching 100k.The Navall sat back is a decent bit of kit from RadioGuy.
This is Tiff driving my original car on Fifth Gear ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIfNpUO2N8
I still have vague childhood memories (or imagination-I had a vivid one, apparently) of the S-Type and 75 being at the same motorshow and the press all cooing over the Rover.This is Tiff driving my original car on Fifth Gear ...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IxIfNpUO2N8
Now Jag is all Cool Britannia and Rover is, well, not. It actually genuinely makes me a little bit sad. Didn’t some Italians vote the 75 the most handsome saloon car ever made?
If you can’t tell, I’m a little bit smitten with something I shouldn’t be. Usually it’s the fit girl next door, except this time it’s the lardy OAP in bloomers.
itcaptainslow said:
I've got a set of OEM Xenons to fit, and that radio cassette unfortunately has to go-75's have got the same ICE as the BMW 3-Series of the same era, so the aftermarket is full of alternatives. A Navall Android head unit is in the pipeline-it'll give digital TV, DAB radio, Bluetooth and lots of modern, newfangled things. I'm sure the 75 would rather I send a telegram.
ITCSEdited by itcaptainslow on Thursday 25th January 17:58
Lovely find... Just a suggestion, why don't you leave the Radio Cassette in place... it looks great as it is.. it would be nice to keep something this original... original... I have a couple of 1995 cars where an auto electrician has wired me up alternative up to date ICE and comms in discreet places.
It is funny how time flies... I can't believe these were launched 20 years ago...
AndrewCrown said:
itcaptainslow said:
I've got a set of OEM Xenons to fit, and that radio cassette unfortunately has to go-75's have got the same ICE as the BMW 3-Series of the same era, so the aftermarket is full of alternatives. A Navall Android head unit is in the pipeline-it'll give digital TV, DAB radio, Bluetooth and lots of modern, newfangled things. I'm sure the 75 would rather I send a telegram.
ITCSEdited by itcaptainslow on Thursday 25th January 17:58
Lovely find... Just a suggestion, why don't you leave the Radio Cassette in place... it looks great as it is.. it would be nice to keep something this original... original... I have a couple of 1995 cars where an auto electrician has wired me up alternative up to date ICE and comms in discreet places.
The trouble is that would mean changing the instrument pack for the HiLine message centre and it all sounds a complete pain in the arse, if I’m honest.
I agree regarding originality but I’d like it to be useable, too. It’s a daily although one I’ll be using sparingly and certainly babying a little bit. From what I’ve seen the Navall units look pretty sympathetic.
No radio cassettes will be harmed in the making of this post, etc.
The Navall is a ten minute plug and play job.
Theresa a dedicated forum for Ice on
www.the75andztclub.co.uk . It’s a brilliant forum for knowledge and help.
Out of interest, what did you grab it for if you don’t mind revealing ?
Theresa a dedicated forum for Ice on
www.the75andztclub.co.uk . It’s a brilliant forum for knowledge and help.
Out of interest, what did you grab it for if you don’t mind revealing ?
My previous one ready to leave for Fifth Gear Filming 
And the current one, nowhere near as good in quality of materials as yours or mine original pre-project drive.
Both were one owner,old man owned,very low mileage ( 28k and 33k)cost £2300 in 2009 and £1300 in 2014.
They have enough kit to be convenient, and the NVH levels ( especially in the early ones) put modern cars to shame.
Yore gonna love it, and you’ll get strangely attached to it !!
And the current one, nowhere near as good in quality of materials as yours or mine original pre-project drive.
Both were one owner,old man owned,very low mileage ( 28k and 33k)cost £2300 in 2009 and £1300 in 2014.
They have enough kit to be convenient, and the NVH levels ( especially in the early ones) put modern cars to shame.
Yore gonna love it, and you’ll get strangely attached to it !!
sjc said:
The Navall is a ten minute plug and play job.
Theresa a dedicated forum for Ice on
www.the75andztclub.co.uk . It’s a brilliant forum for knowledge and help.
Out of interest, what did you grab it for if you don’t mind revealing ?
Paid £2950, which I reckon is decent value! I went to see one beforehand for £2k which had been subjected to a very poor repair down one side, had higher miles and oil in the coolant...the seller hadn’t done any prep and knew nothing about the car.Theresa a dedicated forum for Ice on
www.the75andztclub.co.uk . It’s a brilliant forum for knowledge and help.
Out of interest, what did you grab it for if you don’t mind revealing ?
This one-the seller had done a significant amount of prep (cambelts!), knew the car’s inside out (he was a bit of an enthusiast himself) and was just generally delightful to deal with. Wish all traders were like him!
Some 75’s are up for daft money (£6k!) but if that’s an indication of the way things are going then I’ll take it!
sjc said:
My previous one ready to leave for Fifth Gear Filming
And the current one, nowhere near as good in quality of materials as yours or mine original pre-project drive.
Both were one owner,old man owned,very low mileage ( 28k and 33k)cost £2300 in 2009 and £1300 in 2014.
They have enough kit to be convenient, and the NVH levels ( especially in the early ones) put modern cars to shame.
Yore gonna love it, and you’ll get strangely attached to it !!
They're lovely-the Meteor alloys are another set I really like. Dark body with cream leather too-splendid. What happened to the first one?And the current one, nowhere near as good in quality of materials as yours or mine original pre-project drive.
Both were one owner,old man owned,very low mileage ( 28k and 33k)cost £2300 in 2009 and £1300 in 2014.
They have enough kit to be convenient, and the NVH levels ( especially in the early ones) put modern cars to shame.
Yore gonna love it, and you’ll get strangely attached to it !!
Meteors I bought off Ebay, those and the Serpents are my fave wheels.
The first one I took to 90K miles and the water pump went, which was a shame as it had been changed with the belts so just unlucky.At the same time I had the chance of buying the gold one with 33k on for £1300 from a work colleague who now had a company van. I put the blue one on the 75 forum anda well know collector/guru on all things 75 called Jules promptly came down all the way from Wales to Essex, retro fitted cruise into my new one, swapped the wheels, serviced it and drove the old one back at 30 mile intervals in between topping up the water! He then repaired it completely and then sold it to a forum member who wanted it originally. Could have sold it several times over due to its TV history !
The first one I took to 90K miles and the water pump went, which was a shame as it had been changed with the belts so just unlucky.At the same time I had the chance of buying the gold one with 33k on for £1300 from a work colleague who now had a company van. I put the blue one on the 75 forum anda well know collector/guru on all things 75 called Jules promptly came down all the way from Wales to Essex, retro fitted cruise into my new one, swapped the wheels, serviced it and drove the old one back at 30 mile intervals in between topping up the water! He then repaired it completely and then sold it to a forum member who wanted it originally. Could have sold it several times over due to its TV history !
Edited by sjc on Friday 26th January 13:27
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff