ROVER SD3 SAVED FROM THE SCRAPPER
400,000-mile 216 gets eleventh-hour reprieve
A1987 Rover 216 that was handed in to Mazda dealer Beechwood Motors in Derby as part of a scrappage deal has been spared following an appeal on social media.
The 33-year-old car, which had racked up an astonishing 402,234 miles in the hands of its original owner, was submitted to the dealer as a £3000 contribution on a new Mazda 2 as part of Mazda’s current scrappage incentive scheme.
Beechwood Motors published a post on Facebook on 15 September as a means to advertise the scrappage scheme, but comments soon focused on the plight of the now rare Rover.
Offers quickly came in to buy the car from the dealer to save it, including one from CCW’s sister title, Practical Classics. Editor, Danny Hopkins, said: ‘ We became aware of the situation on 14 September and immediately contacted the dealership with the offer to buy the Rover, return it to the road and sell it to an enthusiast with all proceeds going to NHS charities. The dealership responded by consulting Mazda head office and the following day we learned that Mazda had agreed to relinquish the scrappage.’
Beechwood Motors announced on 15 September that the Rover would have a new home with the Rover 200 Owners’ Club.
In a Facebook posting, Beechwood managing director, Rob Wood, said: ‘Under the scrappage scheme we have to scrap cars, and there are no exceptions to this. We asked Mazda UK if we could change the terms of the sale to help save this classic, allowing us to give it a new lease of life. I am pleased to say the change was agreed and it will shortly be on its way to the Rover 200 Owners’ Club for restoration and hopefully pride of place in someone’s collection. We are responsible not only for selling new cars, but also preserving motoring heritage and this car was an important chapter in British automotive history.’