Description
A lovely condition pre-War Rover, sporting the bonnet louvres and wire wheels of the earlier models, she has been much admired at car shows and oozes 1930's style!
DMB 750 has undergone extensive restoration to the mechanics, body and interior during my 8 year ownership to become the delight she is today. Soon after purchase, this car was completely stripped down and the engine, interior, glass, wiring etc all removed to allow a full bare metal respray in 'Light Aircraft Grey', replacing the original and more commonplace black that it was before. To compliment the new colour, the very tired and worn seats were re-trimmed by a local expert in red Italian leather to give a classic but stylish look and feel to the car. The interior woodwork was refurbished where necessary along with the sunroof, which is a known problem area on this model. All window channels and seals have been replaced and the winding mechanisms serviced. To closely match the original type, mats were cut from quality velvet pile carpet and the edges whipped by a local company to give a lasting finish. The headlining has also been renewed, making the interior of this car a delightful place to be.
Underneath the chassis was cleaned and painted with POR 15 before rebuilding commenced. As such, this car is almost as clean underneath as she is on top, making ongoing maintenance so much more pleasant. While the king pins and front wheel bearings had been replaced by the previous owner, it was necessary to replace all the steering ball joints, rear wheel bearings/ oil seals, universal joints and brake clevis pins.
Beneath the bonnet, the engine was found to be in good running order, having been changed by the previous owner, but was given a new clutch, a thorough service and the carburettor rebuilt to ensure reliable starting and smooth running. The radiator was also quite new, but the water pump required a rebuild and the dynamo was replaced with a 'Dynamator' to provide reliable battery charging. Similarly, an SU fuel pump was installed to replace the tired mechanical unit. This was all done as part of the re-wire when the car was also updated to negative earth, thereby allowing the connection of modern equipment chargers should they be needed. The battery was also replaced and the headlights changed for halogen units, making night driving a little safer. The original lamps are included with the car should the new owner want to use them.
The exterior chrome was refinished where required and various parts, including the wire wheels, were powder coated. The intention was to ensure that the newly assembled car exuded the style and quality that Rover represented when it originally rolled off the production line in Helen Road, Coventry, 88 years ago.
DMB 750 represents several thousand hours of effort and a cost well in excess of the asking price. However, bringing this fine motor car back to good condition is a reward in itself and I am now looking forward to a new challenge. As with all old cars, there are no doubt areas of this car that could be improved, so there is scope for the next owner to do more should they choose to do so. For now, though, she starts on the button and is ready to head off into the next chapter of her long life wherever the next owner wishes to take her and I will be very sad to see her go. Originally purchased in April 1937 by Miss Hilda Buckley from Windamere in the Lake District who then owned this car for the next 26 years. It was sold onto successive owners in the same area, where it remained until 1971 when it was bought by a man from Newcastle. How long he owned the car isn't known but it is believed that DMB 750 was, for a time, an exhibit in a museum. Eventually, it was sold at an auction in Duxford to a man from Dartford in 2004. He undertook some recommissioning work, including new sills and some interior wood work, before selling to a man from Hedingham in Essex in 2007. During his ownership the car was a regular at local car shows and necessary mechanical work was undertaken, including an engine change, king pins and new wiring loom. In 2017 this Rover was bought by the current owner.
A buff log book with some of the information above is included with the sale.
