'Pre-Production' and 'Launch' Cars

Spike · 9th April 2015, 22:35

I asked a question in Christopher's Maltese car thread but it was brief and, I suspect, lost in the subsequent mud-slinging but I wanted to know about 'pre-production' and 'launch cars'.

People here often talk about these cars in hushed tones but I couldn't find any information on numbers. Does anyone know how many 'pre-production' cars there were and how many are classed as 'launch' cars? It's something that's sort of 'taken as read' that they're special but I'd like to be able to quantify them a bit!

Thanks to anyone who can help.

scoubix · 9th April 2015, 23:16

When we were at Gaydon last year for the National Meet, where launch cars were lined up including mine, Reebs had some flyer on display next to car #1. He mentioned that build records exist for 1,116 pre-launch (therefore pre-production) cars, and that it is believed 848 Launch cars were built over 22 weeks, interspersed with other models during that timeframe.

There are indeed 1,116 records for preproduction cars (from VIN SARRJZLLMXM001001, built on Sept 1st, 1998, to SARRJSLKRXM002116, built on April 1st 1999).

As for launch cars, #1 (VIN SARRJZLLMXM100001) was built on April 12th, 1999, while the last supposed one (VIN SARRJZLLMXM118966) was built on Sept 5th, 1999, for the Japan market.

According to my own calculations, there were a total of 568 RHD launch cars produced, and a total of 301 LHD ones, which amounts to 869 cars in total.
Out of those 301 LHD ones, 59 including mine were specifically built for France...if you care to know. I certainly did :-)

Spike · 9th April 2015, 23:19

That's amazingly detailed information! Thank you (and to Reebs) for it. There are a lot more pre-production cars than I imagined. I assume many of these must have been subsequently sold?

scoubix · 9th April 2015, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spike

That's amazingly detailed information! Thank you (and to Reebs) for it. There are a lot more pre-production cars than I imagined. I assume many of these must have been subsequently sold?

Not quite actually. Most were used (and abused) for final testing, final adjustments of production lines, press road tests, press launch event in Spain in March 1999, car shows such as the 1st appearance at NEC Birmingham in October 1998, and so on. Some were sent to dealerships and ended up in private hands, though it was not their initial purpose.

Spike · 9th April 2015, 23:34

It's just that 1,116 seems so many, I can't imagine where they all went! I read the 'OVP' threads about the many uses that car had in its life and I've seen the photos of the crash-test cars piled up. I imagine there must be records of how many were road-registered out of the 1,116.

Thanks again for the update; fascinating stuff.

Spike · 10th April 2015, 09:22

Does anyone know how many of the 1,116 escaped into the wild?

Reebs · 10th April 2015, 09:54

I doubt that anyone will know that, I certainly have no information

Captain Crappycrimp · 10th April 2015, 10:10

They do seem to be a fair few about Trikey has a copperleaf one and I found 2 on ebay again in copperleaf in the last two weeks.

thomas 75 connie · 10th April 2015, 10:12

I had an S reg one a few years ago now in the very capable hands of scouse1958

scoubix · 10th April 2015, 11:24

I know of one (Old English White CDT) that escaped into France, from a former MGR employee.
Then I know also of an Atlantic Blue 2.5 Connoisseur in the UK.

9th April 2015, 23:16	#2
scoubix Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon 2.5L V6 auto Connoisseur, "Dealer Launch" LHD / MG ZT-T 260 auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Around Paris Posts: 888 Thanks: 72 Thanked 225 Times in 130 Posts	When we were at Gaydon last year for the National Meet, where launch cars were lined up including mine, Reebs had some flyer on display next to car #1. He mentioned that build records exist for 1,116 pre-launch (therefore pre-production) cars, and that it is believed 848 Launch cars were built over 22 weeks, interspersed with other models during that timeframe. There are indeed 1,116 records for preproduction cars (from VIN SARRJZLLMXM001001, built on Sept 1st, 1998, to SARRJSLKRXM002116, built on April 1st 1999). As for launch cars, #1 (VIN SARRJZLLMXM100001) was built on April 12th, 1999, while the last supposed one (VIN SARRJZLLMXM118966) was built on Sept 5th, 1999, for the Japan market. According to my own calculations, there were a total of 568 RHD launch cars produced, and a total of 301 LHD ones, which amounts to 869 cars in total. Out of those 301 LHD ones, 59 including mine were specifically built for France...if you care to know. I certainly did :-) __________________ 2004 MG ZT-T 260 - LHD - Auto transmission (the only known auto ZT-T V8) / 1999 Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur - Dealer Launch - LHD 1993 Rover 827 Coupé - LHD / 1993 Rover 216 GSi - LHD / 1975 Rover P6 3500 - LHD

9th April 2015, 23:19	#3
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	That's amazingly detailed information! Thank you (and to Reebs) for it. There are a lot more pre-production cars than I imagined. I assume many of these must have been subsequently sold? __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

9th April 2015, 23:34	#5
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	It's just that 1,116 seems so many, I can't imagine where they all went! I read the 'OVP' threads about the many uses that car had in its life and I've seen the photos of the crash-test cars piled up. I imagine there must be records of how many were road-registered out of the 1,116. Thanks again for the update; fascinating stuff. __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

10th April 2015, 09:22	#6
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	Does anyone know how many of the 1,116 escaped into the wild? __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

10th April 2015, 09:54	#7
Reebs Owners Club Director Rover 75 Conn SE V6 / MG ZT 260 SE V8 / MG ZT 180 SE V6 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southampton Posts: 20,936 Thanks: 645 Thanked 6,851 Times in 2,537 Posts	I doubt that anyone will know that, I certainly have no information __________________ Check your trim here . Check your spec here Check your colour here . Check Project Drive here Check your original price here

9th April 2015, 22:35	#1
Spike Posted a thing or two Spike, Burt & Daisy Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Murcia, Spain and sometimes South Wales Posts: 1,550 Thanks: 352 Thanked 427 Times in 295 Posts	'Pre-Production' and 'Launch' Cars I asked a question in Christopher's Maltese car thread but it was brief and, I suspect, lost in the subsequent mud-slinging but I wanted to know about 'pre-production' and 'launch cars'. People here often talk about these cars in hushed tones but I couldn't find any information on numbers. Does anyone know how many 'pre-production' cars there were and how many are classed as 'launch' cars? It's something that's sort of 'taken as read' that they're special but I'd like to be able to quantify them a bit! Thanks to anyone who can help. __________________ Spike has the rubber boots. I'm James and mine are leather.

10th April 2015, 10:10	#8
Captain Crappycrimp Gets stuck in Devil car is dead! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Scarborough Posts: 774 Thanks: 94 Thanked 145 Times in 92 Posts	They do seem to be a fair few about Trikey has a copperleaf one and I found 2 on ebay again in copperleaf in the last two weeks. __________________ SAVED SO FAR 2003 Le mans Green MG ZTT 1.8T, 2003 MG ZT CDTI BRG, ZT 190 Typhoon, 2001 Rover 75 1.8 Tourer , 2002 solar red MG ZTT 177, 2005 Silver MG ZTT CDTI, 2001 Trophy Blue MG ZT (Early No 131) 160, 2004 XPG MG ZT CDTI. 2004 MG ZT Ignition Blue MG Press car/Pheonix 4 personal car. Rover 75 CDT top spec Cowley car. 2003 MG ZT 190+ white Gold. Couldn't save MG ZT 1.8T XPG 2005 MG ZTT Goodwood Green(Devil car) MY PROJECT 2004 MG ZTT Diesel auto in disappointing grey.

10th April 2015, 10:12	#9
thomas 75 connie This is my second home Rover 75 launch car x2, Rover 800 Vitesse Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Plymouth Devon Posts: 8,463 Thanks: 1,115 Thanked 1,083 Times in 653 Posts	I had an S reg one a few years ago now in the very capable hands of scouse1958

10th April 2015, 11:24	#10
scoubix Gets stuck in Rover 75 Saloon 2.5L V6 auto Connoisseur, "Dealer Launch" LHD / MG ZT-T 260 auto Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Around Paris Posts: 888 Thanks: 72 Thanked 225 Times in 130 Posts	I know of one (Old English White CDT) that escaped into France, from a former MGR employee. Then I know also of an Atlantic Blue 2.5 Connoisseur in the UK. __________________ 2004 MG ZT-T 260 - LHD - Auto transmission (the only known auto ZT-T V8) / 1999 Rover 75 2.5 V6 Connoisseur - Dealer Launch - LHD 1993 Rover 827 Coupé - LHD / 1993 Rover 216 GSi - LHD / 1975 Rover P6 3500 - LHD