1 / 32

£8,250

Asking price

1997 Rover 200 Vi

  • Right Hand Drive
  • 13,533 Miles
  • Manual, 5 speed
  • Petrol
  • 1800cc
  • 1997
  • P353DDV
  • Red
  • Private seller
  • GB
    Lancaster, United Kingdom

Description

1997 Rover 200 Vi finished in Nightfire Red
13, 500 miles
1800cc VVC engine
Two previous owners
Full service history
Both original keys and fobs
Original fitment radio/ cassette player
Amazing, rust free original condition throughout
Ready to show, use or simply cherishThis has to be one of the lowest milage examples of the Rover 200 R3 series let alone the ultra rare range topping Vi sports variant.

This car was purchased new from Wadham Stringer of Southhampton by Mr Kevin Nixon of Plymouth on the 1st of May 1997. He kept the car until 1999 when he traded it in at Renwicks Garages of Plymouth in part exchange for a new Peugeot.

On the 8th of December 1999, Mr Graham Creber of Paington traded in his Ford Escort in part exchange for the Rover from Renwicks which now had 10806 miles on the odometer.

He used the car sparingly for the next few years, as it was his cherished second car next to his main daily car and was always kept in his garage. He added just another couple of thousand miles before ill health saw the car used less and less and eventually it was parked up in his garage for some 20 years only being periodically brought out on to the driveway to warm the engine and keep the brakes from siezing.
Sadly, Graham passed and the car was left to his niece.

I saw the car advertised and being a MG Rover enthusiast, I knew straight away that I had to save such a rare car. After several weeks of messages and emails to the seller, a price was agreed and I travelled from Lancashire down to Devon to collect the car. As it had been in storage for some time, I knew would be unwise to attempt to start the car so after moving years of general domestic clutter from around the car, it was carefully extracted from its resting place and pushed on to the trailer for the five hour return journey home.

Once home, I connected a fresh battery to check the electrical system and I was delighted to find that everything worked as it should.
We then gave the car a hose down and then applied snow foam to loosen the years of dust that had settled on the body work. The grime fell away easily and the paintwork shed the water as it must have been well waxed prior to being put in to storage all those years ago.

Next, we turned our attention to the engine and renowned MG Rover Specialist - Dave Allkins was tasked with giving the Vi a full service including replacing the two timing belts this VVC engine has. along with the water pump.
Then the time came to finally start the car for the first time in two decades. The old fuel was pumped out of the tank and fresh E5 petrol added. The engine turned over fine but wouldn't fire, it transpired that the fuel pump wasn't working and must have siezed. A new pump was sourced and fitted and the car started almost straight away!
After checking the brakes and suspension, it was time for a test drive and the car drove faultlessly!

The original alloy wheels were in very good condition but did have the beginnings of some very slight corrosion under the paint so a set of brand new - old stock wheels where sourced along with a set of unused, original fitment Dunlop SP Sport 200 tyres as the original ones were showing some signs of cracking.
A full set of new brake discs and pads were also fitted at the same time.
To finish the car, a new set of supplying dealer number plates and window sticker were added.

The car was last MOTd on the 19th of December 2002 and does not currently have a valid MOT.
I have chosen not to submit the car for MOT but I have absolutely no doubt that it will pass the test without and issues or advisories and if a purchaser requires the car to be MOTd, I will arrange this prior to sale at my expense.

Vehicle background

Has the vehicle ever been imported?

No

Is there any outstanding finance?

No

Has the vehicle ever been declared a total loss?

No

Has there ever been any major structural issues which needed work?

No

Private seller

1 listing since 2025
+442842110016

Vehicle location

Lancaster, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Get directions

Gallery

Rover logo

Selling your Rover?


Advertise to 4 million monthly visitors on Car & Classic

List for free

Similar

Check out our new listings and upcoming auctions by subscribing to our newsletter

By signing up you accept our privacy policy and conditions of purchase