Description
Just two former keepers, full repaint in its original Oxford Blue, the engine is original and refurbished, new tyres, restored alloy wheels, all electrics work, new key fobs, custom stainless steel exhaust, new windscreen, and much more besides.
The light lenses and window glass are in good order. There’s a light smattering of stone-chips to the front bumper and a couple of minor marks to the rear bumper, but on the whole it’s all very well presented. There’s no visible corrosion evident aside from a couple of small areas on the offside wheel arch, and it appears to be pleasingly solid underneath.
The quality and condition of this cabin is remarkable. Naturally there’s a little gentle patination to the leather on the seats, but no wear or marks or damage – the hide is beautifully presented, and the multi-way electronic seat adjustment all works correctly too.
The door cards are excellent with no marks or wear, as is the dash, and the wood trim is uniformly superb throughout. The dials are all in correct working order, with no warning lights illuminated.
The electric sunroof and windows open, close and seal correctly. The car is fitted with its original Rover radio-cassette head unit, plus CD-changer in the boot, and the electric aerial works well, raising when the stereo is turned on and lowering again when switched off.
The carpets and headlining are all very good indeed, and the boot is extremely tidy with no signs of wear or water ingress. Beneath the carpet is the correct spare wheel with a decent tyre.
It’s immediately evident that this car has been looked after throughout its life – the condition of this cabin is testament to a life of love and cherishing.
Since buying the car in 2018, the car has been looked after by a Rover specialist in Norfolk, and all the work and servicing that’s been carried out in this time is carefully documented.
An invoice from 2018 shows the work carried out to recondition the engine, along with the relevant warranty information; a further £690 is documented in 2019 for service items, CV boots, ball-joints and so forth, while the most recent invoice lists £1, 739 being spent on head skims and new gaskets, timing belt, water pump, thermostat and assorted other items. The correct V5 is present, showing two former keepers.
While earlier 800s could be found with the Honda V6, this model enjoys the Rover KV6 – an advanced quad-cam 24-valve 2. 5-litre V6 with a variable-length intake manifold and adaptive Siemens management. This is good for a peak of 173bhp and 177lb. ft, and the automatic transmission cunningly communicates with the engine to ease torque on shifts and thus offer smoother gearchanges.
With this car having the original engine reconditioned, and had much of its ancillaries replaced, it drives impeccably smoothly; the engine fires happily on the first twist of the key, idles evenly, and pulls keenly through the revs. The transmission is equally smooth, and it really does drive like a much younger car.
There are no issues to report with the suspension, brakes or steering (which has received a new rack). A custom stainless steel exhaust haas been fitted, built to standard specs but offering better longevity with just a hint of a throatier sound. Further recent new parts include the cambelts, water pump and thermostat; this is a car which has been maintained regardless of cost, and it shows. Oxford Blue suits this stylish three-box profile so well, and the Rover garnered many admiring glances from passers-by during our photoshoot. The full repaint in the car’s factory-original colour has been done to a high standard, and all of the correct trim pieces, brightwork and badging are in place. The wheels have been refurbished and are free from kerbing or scuffs; they’re fitted with recent matching tyres with plenty of tread.
The light lenses and window glass are in good order. There’s a light smattering of stone-chips to the front bumper and a couple of minor marks to the rear bumper, but on the whole it’s all very well presented. There’s no visible corrosion evident aside from a couple of small areas on the offside wheel arch, and it appears to be pleasingly solid underneath. The quality and condition of this cabin is remarkable. With just 90, 500 miles on the clock (which equates to an average of around 3, 600 miles a year through its life) you’d expect things to be decent, but this interior is more than that. Naturally there’s a little gentle patination to the leather on the seats, but no wear or marks or damage – the hide is beautifully presented, and the multi-way electronic seat adjustment all works correctly too.
The door cards are excellent with no marks or wear, as is the dash, and the wood trim is uniformly superb throughout. The dials are all in correct working order, with no warning lights illuminated.
The electric sunroof and windows open, close and seal correctly. The car is fitted with its original Rover radio-cassette head unit, plus CD-changer in the boot, and the electric aerial works well, raising when the stereo is turned on and lowering again when switched off.
The carpets and headlining are all very good indeed, and the boot is extremely tidy with no signs of wear or water ingress. Beneath the carpet is the correct spare wheel with a decent tyre.
It’s immediately evident that this car has been looked after throughout its life – the condition of this cabin is testament to a life of love and cherishing. Two former keepers, full repaint, fully loaded, and everything works. Low mileage, and incredibly smooth to drive. This Rover coupé has an endearing and intriguing history, having previously been owned by a renowned World War II Royal Air Force Commander, who would use it for weekend fun and occasional road trips. It was always fastidiously maintained, and the fully stamped service history is evidence of this, with even more having been spent in recent years. Truly an outstanding opportunity to acquire a rare and desirable modern classic. While earlier 800s could be found with the Honda V6, this model enjoys the Rover KV6 – an advanced quad-cam 24-valve 2. 5-litre V6 with a variable-length intake manifold and adaptive Siemens management. This is good for a peak of 173bhp and 177lb. ft, and the automatic transmission cunningly communicates with the engine to ease torque on shifts and thus offer smoother gearchanges.
With this car having the original engine reconditioned, and had much of its ancillaries replaced, it drives impeccably smoothly; the engine fires happily on the first twist of the key, idles evenly, and pulls keenly through the revs. The transmission is equally smooth, and it really does drive like a much younger car.
There are no issues to report with the suspension, brakes or steering (which has received a new rack). The owner has had a custom stainless steel exhaust fitted, built to standard specs but offering better longevity with just a hint of a throatier sound. Further recent new parts include the cambelts, water pump and thermostat; this is a car which has been maintained regardless of cost, and it shows.
