2002 JBA Falcon

While most Falcons have the two-litre Sierra engine under the bonnet, this delightful metallic red example has the ultra-rare Rover V8 under bonnet, a move we heartily endorse as it gives the car the performance and noise it always warranted.

It’s also correctly registered as a 2002 car rather than wearing the ‘Q’ plates many of its contemporaries are forced to suffer. Fitted with a full suite of wet weather gear too, and that combination of torquey engine, long-legged five-speed gearbox, and all-weather, all-season protection make it perfect for the driver who is looking for one to use rather than polish.

The Nightfire Red (colour code CAQ) metallic coachwork looks stunning. Cars like this are almost always high-days-and-dry-days cars that’re only used infrequently, so they avoid the car-park dings and dents that your everyday driver will accumulate over the years.

Nonetheless, this one is in an especially good condition even so. As you can see from the photos, the genuine MG Rover colour paintwork gleams and twinkles in the sun, and the overall fit ‘n’ finish is admirable.

The long bonnet, which is centre-hinged of course, adds to the car’s vintage looks, looks that are further helped by those huge headlamps, the massive radiator grille, and the badge bar and spotlights. It really is a lovely old thing.

And the chromework is good too, including that useful rear luggage rack. Always designed as a long-distance touring car, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Falcon’s hood and frame is in equally good shape, rising and falling easily and sealing well. It’s taut and free of damage too, and tucks away neatly behind the rear seats.

The Falcon also sits on steel wheels that are cunningly disguised with a full set of chromed spoked wheel covers (including the spare), all of which are still sparkling. They are fitted with a matching set of Sportiva tyres too, all of which still have plenty of tread left.

As we will never tire of explaining, our experience shows that matching tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Of course, despite that careful and limited use there are some minor issues. There is some micro-blistering for example (#46) plus some orange peel (#55) and a few minor scratches. None of it detracts from the car’s overall presentation and we think a lot of it could be minimized with some careful polishing.

There’s also some oxidation and pitting to some of the exterior metalwork. Again, it’s not bad but you’d probably want to start addressing it over the next couple of years before it gets any worse.

Best of all, there are a couple of union flags on it, which should stop your local Tory MP knocking on the door to ask why you’re so damned unpatriotic…

The red and cream interior is as lovely as the exterior. Boasting a wooden Mota-Lita steering wheel and acres of wood trim, the dials, with their cream faces and red lettering, not only provide the driver with a full suite of information but also blend seamlessly with the car’s classic design.

The seats are in great shape. Heavily bolstered and very comfortable, the front ones are exactly what you’d want to find in your touring car. Like so many open cars, the seats and vinyl trim are all a little weathered and grubby but then this is a very usable car that was built to be enjoyed rather than looked at, so this patination frees you to use it with a clear conscience.

Apart from the need for a good hoover, the boot is in good shape, too. Neatly carpeted, the boot lid not only holds the tools but also what looks to be a picnic table, something that predates the nifty storage of the same item in the VW Campervan by at least a decade.

If it were ours we’d be tempted to renew the carpets and re-varnish the wooden dashboard and trim. Neither are terrible, it’s more that the rest of the car is so good that their weathered condition does stand out a little.

While you’re at it, the central armrest isn’t great either, and we’d probably commission someone to recover it to match the seats. Or you could take a leaf out of Suzie Fletcher’s book (the leather worker out of The Repair Shop) by having a go yourself. It’s pretty angular, so should be straightforward to retrim as long as you take your time.

The Rover engine breathes in via an Edelbrock Performance Series carburettor and a performance air filter and exhales via tubular headers so it sounds as good as a V8 deserves to - and helps it go rather well.

There’s an adjustable Kenlowe cooling fan under the bonnet too, plus a Lumenition ignition system and a pair of Edelbrock cam covers just, well, just because.

Recent new parts include a fuel pump, radiator cap and coolant pipe, and a pair of rear wheel cylinders and brake shoes, all of which were fitted within the last three years. The battery also looks recent.

It was also last serviced in July 2020 during which time it also received two new control arms. It drives as it should and, as you can see in the video, starts well and revs beautifully. Worth buying for that engine and exhaust note alone, this Rover V8 demonstrates why it is the engine of choice for so many British sports cars.

The underside looks nice and solid but there is some peeling paint, which has allowed the underlying metal to start to rust. Again, like the other jobs that need doing, it’s not serious but it will need catching sooner rather than later before it deteriorates any further.

The Falcon’s MOT certificate is valid until July 2022. It also has a number of expired MOT certificates plus a sheaf of invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it over the years, including the all-important invoices from 2001/02 as well as the Certificate of Newness to prove which bits were new and which were taken from the donor cars.

There is also a British Motor Industry Heritage Trust certificate to show the date of manufacture of the Rover V8 engine plus some old copies of the KBA Owners’ Club magazine.

There are also many, many photos of the car being built and given how important the quality of the initial build is potential bidders should be reassured as to the care and attention to detail that was lavished on it at that time.

It also still has two sets of keys plus some delightful handwritten notes on using it from a previous owner.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has been built and maintained to a good standard.

If you’d like to inspect the car prior to placing a bid – something we would encourage – then please use the Contact Seller button to arrange an appointment.

It would be easy to dismiss a kit car like this as being neither fish nor fowl but to do so would be to miss the point because they’re a hugely attractive proposition because they combine the modern-day reliability and performance we’ve come to take for granted with the looks and feel of the classic British sports car so many of us crave.

And this is an especially attractive example having been built properly with the best engine of them all, it also sports full foul-weather equipment.

With this in mind, we think it’s going to fetch somewhere between £8,000 and £15,000, which doesn’t feel like much to us given the performance you’re getting – and remember that the reserve is even lower, so you might just be able to snaffle a bargain.

Viewing is always encouraged (within Govt. guidelines of course), and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.