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Car Of The Month :
August 2015




'A Racing Cert' by Nev The Bear



I recently came to the decision that I wanted to look for a very special Rover 75 Tourer or MG ZT-T to replace my Rover 75 Saloon.

At the start of my search I wasn’t actually sure what I wanted other than that it would have to be a diesel Tourer with cruise control. I spent a while scouring websites and phoning ex MG-Rover dealers leaving my name and phone number requesting contact if anything suitable arrived in their stock.

Literally a week after leaving my details A.E. Wilcox phoned me on a Saturday advising that they had just taken a MG ZT-T which ticked all my boxes in part exchange, after taking some details I arranged to view the car the following Monday morning.



Even though the ZT-T was yet to be valeted I already knew it was a special car, it’s on an 07 plate with a really high specification including; Green Alcantara, High Line satellite navigation with 6 CD multichanger, Xenon Headlamps with power wash, Cruise Control, Rain Sensing Wipers, Climate Control, Electric Rear Windows and Dimming Mirror.

But even at this point I did not know quite how special a car it was, mind you with a mileage of only 33,000 and with a full service history it was starting to look even better. I took the ZT-T for a test drive and I was smitten, on my return to the dealership whilst trying to look not too keen, a deal was struck including my 75 in part exchange.



Apparently my ZT-T was originally ordered by a member of the Armed Forces and was to be exported to Germany, for some unknown reason the order was cancelled and the car never actually ever left the UK. The date off the production line was 25th November 2004, but the car wasn’t actually registered until 1st July 2007.

Thanks to Reebs, who has supplied all the build records, mine was the 18th of 24 ZT’s built on that day and is the 79th of just 83, made up of 48 ZT’s and 35 ZT-T’s, finished in British Racing Green/Green Alcantara. There were 144 British Racing Green ZT-T+ CDTi cars produced, 53 of which were facelifts.



I collected my ZT-T on the 29th June 2015, after bidding a fond farewell to my 75. I have already started fettling the ZT-T and have fitted; a driver’s side cup holder, pre project drive seat belt anchorage point covers, new battery box lid with MG badge, stainless steel fuse box cover with MG badge and polished chrome union/chequered flag badge, valeted the engine bay and polished the air con pipes.

I’ve also cleaned and polished the headlamps, changed the interior lighting to led, replaced the 501 sidelight bulbs with led, replaced the union/chequered flag badges, painted the brake callipers, painted the rear wheel spindles, fitted carpeted heater closure panels, polished the bumper exhaust heat shield and fitted a black oil filler cap, washer bottle lid and oil dip stick.





Currently I’ve a few more jobs to do including; fitting MG logo dust cap covers, replacing the bumper fixings with stainless steel, fitting new chrome alloy wheel bolt covers and having a few of the minor bodywork blemishes addressed by a smart repairer.







In the short time I’ve owned my ZT-T I’ve become even more smitten with it and I am looking forward to taking my pride and joy to lots of club meets and car shows. I have realised even more that this is one seriously special car which I have absolutely no plans of ever letting go.



Article written by member Nev The Bear

The Rover 75 & MG ZT Owners Club Ltd 2006-2023