This post has been running for ages but is an excellent read...
Gents Some Facts...many of, if not all of the cars definitely came back to Longbridge...West Works to be exact (the Rover Body Plant at Longbridge) where all the colours mentioned were stored (though I dont remember there being a Tahiti / Cream leather mix, though that could have been possible). I walked round the West Works compound a few times trying to convince myself that I could afford one, having received the employee the flyer that MH has. £12,000 for a brand new pocket rocket was extremely tempting, however I missed my chance.
There was nothing 'extra' special about the FDH's (although none were registered as that then..) except for the price and the high spec. As I recall there were no arches fitted to any of them, which is strange as the Jap market calls for a greater %age of the wheel width to be covered. (Jap TF for example has very nice full arch extensions on to meet legislation in Japan). However, Rover were often late with such detail and kits were sent to be fitted by very expensive Jap Dealerships, so these cars would almost definitely be subject to fitment had they been sold. One other point about the dealerships in Japan - their costs were exorbitant so every care was taken to ensure any PDI / 0 Months in service work was covered at Longbridge to avoid huge bills for pre sale work. (typically better panel gapping and more over checks for tri damage etc)
MG Sport & Racing didnt exist until 7 years later, though to be fair some of the future MG S & R personnel would have dealt with re specifiying these cars for the UK market. The 1995 radio cassettes were obsolete in 1998 and removed or never actually fitted in the first place. As much Jap literature and detail was removed as was financially sensible from the cars and their accessories, and eventually the cars were sold off.
I never did get one of the 'FDH' batch - however I did end up with a Jap spec import bought in with 28 miles on it and all the spec mentioned barring the front number plate plinth. Its not an FDH but is N registered and has loads of Jap stickers and detail, so I guess it did get there, and was a showroom car.
Regards BR
