Possibly pre-production LHD CDT Connoisseur in France

Post Number:#1 by **Scoubix** » March 13th, 2014, 11:47

Found this car tonight for sale in France tonight, what's very surprising to me is that it seems to be a pre-production car.
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/601436069.htm?ca=12_s

Seller advertises the car as being registered in 1998 which certainly matches pre-production cars, and it has the black hazard/lock surround. Nice Old English White colour too.
Forget about the fake wood wheel cover, but two things really caught my eye:
- the airbag logo on the passenger side dash seems to be of the "recessed" type, thus suggesting it's had its original walnut dashboard replace with the post-2001 Project Drive plastic type. Sign of an accident and airbag deployment, which would have need to be replaced? The front bumper seems to have been repainted at some point as the color doesn't quite match the rest of the car.
- what is this small fixing above the side repeaters on the n/s front wing?

Unfortunately the car is so far away from my place that I can't go and have a look at it, but I'll probably give the owner a phone call tomorrow. Not a buyer though...

First pre-production car ever that I see advertised for sale in France :shock:

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Post Number:#2 by **KDA4G** » March 13th, 2014, 11:58

That's very odd... can you get the VIN?

Post Number:#3 by **Scoubix** » March 14th, 2014, 12:36

KDA4G wrote:That's very odd... can you get the VIN?

Obviously when I try to call the seller tomorrow morning, I'll ask for the VIN

Post Number:#4 by **Scoubix** » March 15th, 2014, 1:38

Called the owner today, a very courteous discussion with a man who's owned several Rovers (623, 420...) and is not really in a hurry to sell his car (lack of space mostly).
He should send me his VIN and more pictures shortly,
What's interesting is his car was purchased in 2003 from its first owner, who happened to be a british citizen living in France and the car was initially purchased and registered in the UK. It still had UK plates at the time. Seems to confirm the pre-production theory.

Post Number:#5 by **KDA4G** » March 15th, 2014, 3:05

If 'Pack luxe' is the same as Connoisseur, then if it is an early car, it could possibly be SARRJZLHPXM001115, or maybe SARRJZLHPXM001187. Interesting that it has Crown wheels and leather seats, but only the Harmony radio, and as you say, the later type of dash.

Post Number:#6 by **Scoubix** » March 15th, 2014, 3:38

Pack Luxe is indeed the same as Connoisseur. But if you're looking at preprod cars built specifically for France, I believe we should look elsewhere as this car was not registered here but in the UK initially.
Should have the VIN soon enough anyway...

Post Number:#7 by **Scoubix** » March 18th, 2014, 1:28

Additional pics, still waiting for the VIN though...

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Post Number:#8 by **KDA4G** » March 18th, 2014, 10:35

So... heated front seats and highline IPK, but no parking sensors, no headlamp washers, rear blind, cruise control or traction control... so it's a Connoisseur spec, but not Connoisseur SE. Maybe with the lowline navigation system using the IPK. With that colour of interior, it could be SARRJZLHPXM001187, or possibly a very much later car, which would explain the later type of dash...

Post Number:#9 by **Mr Hyde** » March 19th, 2014, 7:42

Scoubix wrote: - what is this small fixing above the side repeaters on the n/s front wing?

Did you ever decide what this was? Possibly just a badge?

Mr Hyde wrote:
Scoubix wrote: - what is this small fixing above the side repeaters on the n/s front wing?

Did you ever decide what this was? Possibly just a badge?

Possibly. I asked the seller if I could get another picture of this area, but so far no answer, no VIN either. Somehow, as I'm not a buyer, I think I will not get further information from the guy.