2002 Rover 75 Connoisseur SE

Description

First owned by the Royal Household and used by Prince Edward until 2005; rare long-wheelbase version with 2.5 V6 power and luxurious Connoisseur trim; super condition

A proper car in the finest Rover tradition, the 75 not only met with widespread acclaim when launched in 1999, it has gone on to attract an even more devoted fan club since it met its demise in 2005.

Indeed it is hard to find anyone with a bad word to say about this handsome and well-engineered machine. Replacing the old 600 and 800 models, it was in a different league to those cars with pleasingly retro styling, Jaguar ride quality and a famously comfortable interior.

Powered by a large range of engines from a 120bhp 1.8-litre four to a 260bhp 4.6-litre V8, it also came in a bewildering variety of trim options in saloon and estate car format. From 2002 it was also available as a long-wheelbase limousine with ultra-luxurious Connoisseur trim, this model becoming the default choice for ministers of the British Government.

Dating from December 2002 his particular Connoisseur LWB limousine was first registered to MG Rover themselves in December 2002 and supplied by their Press Garage (as stamped) to be loaned to the Royal Household for the personal use of Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, until 2005. Appropriately finished in Royal Blue with a blue leather Personal Line interior and Harman Kardon sound system, it has the 175bhp 2.5-litre V6 petrol engine mated to a 5-speed automatic gearbox which gives it a top speed of 134mph and a 0-60 time of 9.9 seconds.