X931 OFC, Phase 1 Press Car, 37K miles for sale....

[Lankan]

....on Autotrader for £24,995: LINK

"... Its been kept in complete original form except for the yellow powder coated brake calipers (done by previous owner), it still has original steering wheel, seats, floor mats, exhaust, rear lights, service book and owners manual which most others don't..."

"...its number '156 so was one of the very first batch produced..." - guess this is a typo, and should refer to [v6plaque]136[/v6plaque].

Is this a press car?

 

[Jamesv6]

Yes

viewtopic.php?f=117&t=14284

 

[Duncan]

It is one of the OFC cars that were used for the press, but not seen an article with it in...yet!! still got a pile of stuff to work though on the front, so not to say that it wasnt featured in magazines etc.

Looks like a nice example in the photos. No known nasties in its history. I can tell you that this is one VERY early car!

 

[Jamesv6]

Seat knobs Duncan

 

[MarkK]

Were any of these press cars made in Oxford, or were they all shipped back from Sweden? This car looks very tempting!
Mark

 

[Lankan]

Seat knobs Duncan

Are they not original? What should they be like on a Phase 1?

 

[Jamesv6]

They are original, very original early ones, quite rare.

 

[Jamesv6]

[mention=4829,#000000]MarkK[/mention] a few were certainly in Oxford, I have some of the testing diaries for them.

[album]8323[/album]

 

[Lankan]

Interesting stuff - this one definitely needs to go to a knowledgeable enthusiast, who will be able to build its history file up. :approve:

 

[Duncan]

Were any of these press cars made in Oxford, or were they all shipped back from Sweden? This car looks very tempting!
Mark

All press cars were made in Sweeden.

This particular one was made in Jan 2001. So far in my chassis number project this is the earliest car ive seen and the only one so far made in Jan 2001. The other OFC cars follow slightly later in February.

 

[Williams]

Any one want a Lunar? Lol..

 

[MarkK]

So as a January 2001 VIN it looks like one of the very first production RHD cars....a very important Vee indeed.

It would be interesting to know when this car was first registered in the UK, and it may help to determine if the VIN is allocated to the shell or the complete car in Sweden.

Just on the dates, I have November 2000 for the press launch of the road car, February 2001 for the first European cars delivered (LHD) and July 2001 for the first production cars delivered to the UK, with the standard Clio Phase 2 launched a month earlier in June 2001! That must have confused some Renault dealers when the new V6 Phase 1 starts to be delivered after the new Phase 2 standard car.

If those dates are correct, it also shows that the press launch for the road car was somewhat premature, with production taking another 2 or 3 months to get going.

 

[Lankan]

Now on eBay starting at £15,000 (with reserve): LINK

 

[Ohms]

Now relisted on ebay, but made only 16.5k on the last auction!

 

[GPH]

Just on the dates, I have November 2000 for the press launch of the road car, February 2001 for the first European cars delivered (LHD) and July 2001 for the first production cars delivered to the UK, with the standard Clio Phase 2 launched a month earlier in June 2001! That must have confused some Renault dealers when the new V6 Phase 1 starts to be delivered after the new Phase 2 standard car.

If those dates are correct, it also shows that the press launch for the road car was somewhat premature, with production taking another 2 or 3 months to get going.

Yes those dates are about correct, yes it was a nightmare having the regular facelift Ph2 in the showroom as the Ph1 V6 arrived but that's because the development work and factory tooling was started years earlier by an outside company so the product cycles were out of sync.
No the Press launch wasn't premature as they are always at least two months before a car is in the showroom to try and drum up awareness for launch day. It's why they normally use pre-production cars. Monthly magazines have long lead times etc. These days manufacturers string it out for 6 to 12 months before with first rides, then Scandinavian winter drives then maybe a circuit only test then finally on the road! The Jaguar F-Type went on forever and we are seeing the same with the F-Pace (currently up to winter test drives so far!)

Its advertising that normally only starts when the car is in the showroom.

 

[MarkK]

Thanks Graeme, good to get confirmation on some of these assumptions.

 

[rustedandrotten]

Any one want a Lunar? Lol..

£50-00 and a packet of Smarties :rofl: Cost more than its worth to have it painted :rofl: [smilie=yay.gif]

 

[Williams]

Any one want a Lunar? Lol..

£50,000-00 and a packet of Smarties :rofl: Cost isn't a problem to have such a sought after and desirable coloured v6. Worth every penny to have it painted in Lunar Grey :rofl: [smilie=yay.gif]

Correctly edited for you mate...

 

[rustedandrotten]

Any one want a Lunar? Lol..

£50-00 and a packet of Smarties :rofl: Cost isn't a problem to have such a sought after and desirable coloured v6. Worth every penny to have it painted in Lunar Grey :rofl: [smilie=yay.gif]

Correctly edited for you mate...

You are only after the Smarties