Left hand drive project

[Colin_NI]

Presenting my newist addition.

I was kindly gifted this car by Richard Muller, and I aim to keep it in good condition along with being my holiday car for Europe. My full hearted thanks for him giving me the car for free as I know its been with his family for over 15 years.

Yes its left hand drive, diesel, automatic and connoisseur se, and only 118000 miles on her with some nct on it even!

Royal blue on the outside and beautiful sandstone leather inside, with aircon, cruise control, all the toys and the fancy sat nav / TV also.

Autoline have been great to allow me to insure it on vin number until I get it on a UK mot. And so begins the process of UK registration which may be interesting this close to brexit.

The car was originally a UK registered left hand drive example, before moving to France and then Ireland before coming into my care in last few days.

Interesting history on the car, Richard owned it from new, picking it up when mg rover went under in 05, however this car was earmarked to become a long wheel base limo 75 according to Richard.

As the company went under so did the deal with Mcneill who did the conversions and this car sat and sat until it was auctioned off with some notes inside indicating its plans for rebuilding.

Obviously I've taken ownership to make the most of my family holidays in Europe, but I also aim to tidy the car up a little, fit an android head unit, reversing camera and alpine spec tyres for my trips to the in-laws Hotel in the Austrian Alps.

But anyways, here you go, if I have it on UK plates for next meet I will bring it out as its very strange sitting in a left hand drive 75 when my instincts are reach for heater etc with my left hand after over a decade of ownership!

[Bogbrush82]

64MPG from an automatic?!?

[clf]

Originally Posted by Bogbrush82

64MPG from an automatic?!?

Yep, he was probably pushing hard too

Good luck with the car colin, I know you have been looking for a Lhd for a few years now.

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[Colin_NI]

Originally Posted by Bogbrush82

64MPG from an automatic?!?

Aye it made me laugh. Needs thermostat changed so I doubt it was doing half that.

Kind you I regularly managed low to mid 40s in my other autos brim to brim.

[Colin_NI]

Originally Posted by clf

Yep, he was probably pushing hard too

Good luck with the car colin, I know you have been looking for a Lhd for a few years now.

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Yes mate. This very car actually.

Just did the nova report today to declare it imported to HMRC.

Hopefully it's a quick one being a former UK car.

[Dorset Bob]

What a result after all this time. A fine looking example!

Well done Colin.

[Colin_NI]

Well that wasn't so bad....



......considering all I did was check fluids and throw it in incase it was a parcel. But yes it was a fail.

Knew it would fail on kph and xenon washers so bar that I'm content as was also just the rear self leveler for xenon had snapped.

Good news, few hours work will sort it and then onto tax and UK plates.

[Colin_NI]

Retest went well. Paperwork all away.

And I treated myself to my first "private" plate.



Couldn't get R75 LHD without dvla releasing it to an auction and estimated price was over £1000.

This cost me £163 which I'm happy with. Plate itself was only £39, then the dvla £80 transfer, sadly then it was another £44 due to the car not being taxed in the UK long term.

And obviously, R40 being the internal rover design code for the 75 and is on all official parts in some form, and lhd is left hand drive.

[Colin_NI]

Decided to fit my oem roof rails. Really like them, and this car is about being practical so they will stay there going forward.

Then I've had to tackle the entire interior. It wasn't in great condition, needed a lot of work to remove staining, dyes and other ground in dirt.

I still will need to do some further leather repair later and I've some beige balm on route to hopefully improve and restore the existing interior.

As you can see in the 50/50 pictures it was a spectacular effort over two weeks.







































And I've a 2nd set of alloys I will be putting on the car, I gave them a quick going over. Again they arnt perfect condition but I will throw the Bridgestone tyres from the other rims on once lockdown improves.









And had to get a full walnut e39 gear knob when I saw it going for €15, swap the shaft and it's a grest little upgrade along with the air con wood trim (not pictured)

[Madderz]

Looks like a different car!
The interior is like night & day
Great work