Description
For sale is my lovely Rover 75 Connoisseur SE, finished in Midnight Blue with Ash Grey leather trim.
The car was first registered in May 2001 to the Rover Group, and I’m well informed that the ‘TOV’ registration suffix indicates that it was a management car at the time. At 3, 177 miles it was sold to its long-term owner, a Mr J Mason from Leicester, who paid the sum of £17, 134 for the car (the receipt is present), including optional rubber floor mats, mud flaps all round and chromed door handle finishers.
The car was sparingly used and always garaged, remaining in his ownership and care until his death in 2021, following which it was transferred to his son as executor to his will. It was subsequently passed to his brother in law, a Mr J Hodgett, who garaged the car between 2021 and 2025, covering less than 50 miles in that time.
The car has been exceptionally well maintained and comes with its original leather binder, with handbook, radio book and service book with 18 service stamps from the same garage that was previously the Rover dealership. There is a binder full of receipts for expenditure and it comes with two set of keys with new fobs.
I acquired the car with a new (clean) MOT in November 2025, and although it had only covered a few thousand miles since its last cambelt change, due to time, I decided to have it replaced at 74, 278 miles by a Rover technician (MJS), along with a new tensioner, water pump and coolant change (receipt in the binder). I carried out an oil change just after that.
The 1. 8 engine performs well and is underrated in my opinion. Having owned all variants of the 75 over the years, I have enjoyed driving this more than I thought I would and it is averaging around 45mpg on my mainly motorway commute. Having had its head gasket replaced with the upgraded type in 2012 at 51, 120 miles, it should offer reliable motoring for many years to come. The 1. 8 is much maligned for head gasket failure as the original gaskets were weak, though the modern replacements are far better. Replacement on the 1. 8’s is also easier and cheaper than the V6’s. Outside of MG Rover cars, this engine was fitted to the Lotus Elise and Caterham 7. It is exempt form ULEZ, which is also useful!
Being a Connoisseur SE, the car is well specified and has an electric rear blind as well as a trip computer and rear parking sensors, in addition to its comprehensive standard specification. The dual zone climate control is working perfectly on all settings, both hot and (very) cold.
Being an early Longbridge built car, it has body-coloured sills, though retains the Rover boot badge. Its bodywork is all original with barely a mark on it and the interior is as good as you will see. Neither the headlining or door cards are sagging like most – probably as the car has spent most of its life garaged.
Having lost my job last year, I sold my main car (Jaguar) to reduce outgoings, though needed a reliable car to undertake some interim work up north. As such, I have been covering around 375 miles a week and the car has proved faultless in that time. Mileage now stands at around 79, 000. Having just secured a new permanent role that I am due to start in a few weeks time, I have treated myself to a new MG HS plug-in Hybrid SUV – very different!
This is a reluctant sale, though the car is in such good condition it really needs to be a weekend car and used for shows, rather than a daily driver. As I own several older classics, I don’t have room to keep it unfortunately, so someone will be in for a treat!
The car can be viewed in Godalming and any inspection is welcome. I doubt you could find one in better condition. See description
