Highlights

• One owner since 2006
• Regularly maintained
• 4-litre V8, automatic transmission
• Handsome specification

The Appeal

 

The History and Paperwork

• First registered in June 1997
• Regularly serviced since 2006 by last registered owner (an engineer)
• Continuously dry stored since 2006 and only used in summer months
• V5c present 
• 116,508 miles indicated
• Four owners from new
• Current registered owner since May 2006
• Owner’s handbook and two keys
• MOT to February 2024
• The car will be supplied on an age-related registration, not the private registration in the pictures

 

The Interior

• Original beige leather interior is free from any rips or tears
• There are the usual signs of wear to the leather, particularly to the driver’s bolster and the centre armrest
• Dashboard and trim appear to be free from cracks or damage 
• Electrically operated, heated seats
• Electric windows and door mirrors
• The driver’s seat control module has partially failed, so the seat back tilt control does not operate unless powered directly
• The driver’s side seat back tilt mechanism has lost its plastic trim
• The driver’s side window guides within the door are misaligned, so the glass binds when going up
• The gear-selector trim is a little cracked 
• Wood and leather trimmed steering wheel
• Original factory-fitted radio-cassette
• Cruise control
• Air conditioning
• Remote central locking
• Headlining appears to be sagging slightly in places
• Door cards show in good shape
• Carpets all look to be in reasonably good condition with branded overmats
• Spacesaver spare wheel and jack

 

The Exterior

• Original Ice Blue Metallic paintwork is generally in good condition
• There are a number of stone chips and a few scratches and scuffs to the front bumper and bonnet
• The panel gaps and shut lines all appear straight and consistent
• The sills and wheel arches are appear to be sound, the sills having been replaced in 2018
• We noted some corrosion appearing to the off-side rear lower quarter, behind the wheel arch
• It appears that the black paint finish to the top of the doors and rear of the cabin is flaking off
• Original 18-inch, seven-spoke alloy wheels are generally in fine fettle, but do show some evidence of kerbing
• Three of the tyres have good tread but the rear off-side tyre is a little worn
• All of the lights work as they should, and we didn’t see any cracks or chips to the lenses
• The dark blue fabric roof looks to be in good order, with no rips or significant UV damage

 

The Mechanics

• Naturally aspirated, 3,980cc 24-valve V8 engine
• Smooth five-speed automatic gearbox
• Rear-wheel drive
• The engine bay looks nice and tidy, with no obvious issues
• The airbag control module was renewed in August 2022
• In September 2021 the gearbox oil was changed and a replacement sump was fitted
• Recent oil and filter service, with fresh spark plugs also installed in December 2022
• The vendor tells us the car is in excellent mechanical order, starting, running and driving just as it should, with no issues or faults reported

The Summary