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An ultra-rare ‘Sleeper’ Rover 200vi with just 19,229 miles from new.

EQUIPMENT
Rover grille, flush glazed laminated windscreen, tinted glass, electric tilt/slide sunroof, rear spoiler, body coloured bumpers, front fog lamps, bright door sill tread strips, headlamp road-levelling, lamps-on warning buzzer, rear wash/wipe, immobiliser, volumetric anti-theft alarm, leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, remote central door locking, electric front windows, electric heated door mirrors, burr walnut fascia insert, 60/40 split folding rear seat, radio cassette model R860, digital clock with radio display, tachometer, roof mounted aerial. Factory options: Pearlescent paint, Smokestone leather. Dealer options: Tailored Rover 200Vi floor mats.

EXTERIOR
Finished in factory optional Pearlescent Nightfire Red, (Code CAQ), the paint finish presents beautifully with a glossy uniform shine commensurate with a genuine and pampered 19,229 miles from new. Trim sections, glass, lights and badges are in superb order and only a small section of delamination to the chrome rear bumper strip to one edge is a notable imperfection. The underside is very clean as are wheel arch apertures and door shuts which are a sign of garage storage and limited fair-weather use. Intentionally discreet, the styling gives little away as to the impressive ‘hot hatch’ performance but to the knowledgeable enthusiast, the small 200vi tailgate badge tells you more about this true ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’!

INTERIOR
A rare interior trim as fitted to this later 200vi is Smokestone leather with red piping and Piccadilly velour inserts in Ash Grey, (Code LDL). The comfortable yet supportive sports seats are beautifully clean with unworn bolsters and a tightness to the coverings as expected of such a low mileage example. Even in this sporting ‘hot hatch‘ model, Rover couldn’t resist its traditional Burr walnut facia insert and bright front door sill tread strips! All controls and switchgear operate perfectly including the dash top display with no failed pixels. The boot area is very clean and has the spare wheel with factory supplied unused Dunlop SP Sport 200 tyre as well as the wheel changing kit and jack in the polystyrene holder still wrapped in cellophane!

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION
The real jewel in the crown of this understated pocket rocket is the 1.8 litre 4-cylinder VVC engine developing 143bhp at 6750rpm and 174Nm or torque at 4000rpm. 0-60mph is reached in just 7.5 seconds and top speed is 127mph! This car accelerates faster than many of its mainstream hot hatch contemporaries, the drivers of which were no doubt mortified to be outperformed by a sedate looking Rover! The very clean and unspoilt engine bay displays factory plates, stickers, labels and even coloured PDI dabs! The 5-speed manual gearbox is light and a joy to use and the performance and handling are truly superb.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES
Unique 200vi Sports alloy wheels with Rover centre caps are immaculate with no kerb damage. Brand new premium Uniroyal RainSport5 185/55 R15 tyres were fitted in November 2024 and have covered zero miles. This range topping 200vi features standard anti-lock brakes with discs to all four wheels, ventilated to the front. In November 2024 the braking system was fully overhauled and so performs impeccably.

HISTORY FILE
Registered new on the 21st August 1997 by Rover Main Dealer, Halls of Chorley, this prime example was initially registered as a dealership demonstrator. After three months, the car was sold to a Mrs Reddy, who according to the sales invoice in the history file, paid £14,000 for the car. It remained in her care cherished until around 2012 during which time servicing was initially carried out at the supplying dealer. Later servicing was carried out at a specialist, D C Wilson of Rutland Avenue Garage in Lancaster, who purchased the car from Mrs Reddy after she gave up driving. In 2023 after over 10 years in his private garage collection, Mr Wilson recommissioned the car with a major service and renewal of all belts and water pump and the car was snapped up by a Rover enthusiast who has owned many of the 200 range plus other Rovers after falling in love with the marque after buying a V8 Rover P6 in the 1970’s. A further service was carried out in November 2024.

The neatly presented history file consists of the original leather-bound document wallet with all handbooks, guides, and the service book with 11 stamped entries. Three sets of keys with remote fobs are also present and there is a folder of service invoices, MOT records and an original Rover 200 range sales brochure. Copies of both Car and Autocar magazines from 1996 are also in the file, the latter running a feature on the 200vi where it comes top place in a feature test against the Alfa Romeo 145 Cloverleaf and the Ford Escort RS2000! A very rare car offering huge levels of understated fun!

MOT September 2025, HPI Clear.

Genre

Original