BV05YHX
MG ZT CDTI 2005
Owner: Dan Hooper
I have had my eye on this car for quite a while since it resurfaced a couple of years ago after having disappeared for many years. It was Bought and put back on the road by another MGCC member who did quite a bit of work including the rather special custom exhaust system (maybe not for everyone though).
From there it was purchased by another member of the MG community, and a friend of mine. The intention was for the ZT to be used as an everyday car, with it being the economical CDTI variant.
However, during the NEC Classic Car Show in November, I received a message to say that he was looking to sell and would I be interested. This was a bit of a silly question as I have wanted to own this special ZT since I found out it had resurfaced, and it was good timing as I was also in the market for something diesel to use for long trips and travelling to car shows.
A deal was made and a week later the Caledonian was on my driveway. I knew it wasn’t pristine and would need some work, but I’m always up for a challenge – especially for something so unique.
The ZT is number 2 of 2 built in the Caledonian (IBG) colour under the MG Rover Monogram scheme (there is another, but it was repainted, so many don’t count that in the official numbers). This makes this example the only CDTI spec ZT to ever be made in this colour, making it a genuine one-of-a-kind car. Being a 2005MY car, and being registered in March 2005, this also means it is a very late build car – shortly before the demise of MG Rover.
Under my ownership I have attended to many of the required jobs including replacing missing bits of interior trim, installing a working audio system, some minor cosmetic changes such as correct badging and wheel caps. This may not seem much, but it has made a huge difference.
My goal is to have it as pristine as when it was new, including a planned full respray and replacement bumpers and wings because they have certainly seen better days. The driver’s seat has the typical bolster split, so is also on the list to be replaced, along with sorting out the most annoying issue which is the leaky sunroof drains (an extremely common ZT issue).
It Is a long way from my end goal, but for a car with just shy of 180K miles, hardly any history and currently being used daily, I’d say it wasn’t doing too badly.
I do aim to get the car to 238,855 miles, which is the distance to the moon.
