My 5th Sd1 - have I got a disease?
Discussion
Just sold my M3 and Cerbera so wanted a little project to keep me out of mischief. Found a black 3.5 manual in the Rover club which I bought today. Made in South Africa in 1983 and kept there for the first 6 years then the owner couldn't part with it so shipped it to the UK in 1989. It has been in storage ever since in a warm environment and its only outings were to the MOT garage once a year. The elderly owner would start it up and move it at regular intervals. He even taxed it without fail despite not using it for all those years. As he's now 83 has decided to part with it. I collect it at the weekend and will post some pics then.
This will be my 5th SD1 so I must have some sort of disease. First was a brown Mk1 3.5 auto followed by an early 2.6 manual, then a gold 2000 manual and lastly a red Vitesse auto. So here we go again.
It needs some TLC, mostly cosmetic stuff and a really good polish. There is absolutely no rust that I can find - tailgate, doors, sills, floor - and had a new clutch less than 500 miles ago. 11 months MOT and the tyres were fitted in South Africa so well overdue! Headlining kit needs to be ordered.
Looking forward to getting stuck in to her and possibly going to shows maybe next year.
This will be my 5th SD1 so I must have some sort of disease. First was a brown Mk1 3.5 auto followed by an early 2.6 manual, then a gold 2000 manual and lastly a red Vitesse auto. So here we go again.
It needs some TLC, mostly cosmetic stuff and a really good polish. There is absolutely no rust that I can find - tailgate, doors, sills, floor - and had a new clutch less than 500 miles ago. 11 months MOT and the tyres were fitted in South Africa so well overdue! Headlining kit needs to be ordered.
Looking forward to getting stuck in to her and possibly going to shows maybe next year.
It is a healthy disease.
Still on my first, a 2300S from 1981 for 20 years now that lives next to three 75s, and it is being handed to my son this year and will go on for many years to come.
Sounds like a nice SD1. A good and rare find I think.
EFI manual, don't think so, all automatic, perhaps if a customer has twisted the arm of the salesman long enough for a manual
, but can be 'downgraded' if you want (gearbox and related parts, flywheel, prop-shaft, peddle box, clutch master&slave and a few bits and bobs). Especially at the end of the production they sort of only built automatics and you were not charged extra for it. Exception Vitesse, but even those could be automatic in the UK, not on the continent.
Would buy a Vitesse if wanted a manual myself....
They are the basically the same except Vitesse had cloth interior, EFI leather if not mistaken. Think it is easier to find a leather interior and put that in a Vitesse, then to convert from auto to manual.
Rob
Still on my first, a 2300S from 1981 for 20 years now that lives next to three 75s, and it is being handed to my son this year and will go on for many years to come.
Sounds like a nice SD1. A good and rare find I think.
EFI manual, don't think so, all automatic, perhaps if a customer has twisted the arm of the salesman long enough for a manual
, but can be 'downgraded' if you want (gearbox and related parts, flywheel, prop-shaft, peddle box, clutch master&slave and a few bits and bobs). Especially at the end of the production they sort of only built automatics and you were not charged extra for it. Exception Vitesse, but even those could be automatic in the UK, not on the continent. Would buy a Vitesse if wanted a manual myself....
They are the basically the same except Vitesse had cloth interior, EFI leather if not mistaken. Think it is easier to find a leather interior and put that in a Vitesse, then to convert from auto to manual.
Rob
Sent my order off to Rimmer Bros for a list of odds and ends plus a headlining so that's a good few hundred pounds spent!
Can only work on it at odd times so it wont be done in a week. Managed to get all the central locking freed off - good old WD40 - and the exhaust properly mounted so the story begins.
Must get some before and after pics.
Already a few people have commented how it reminds them of their childhood. Seems to be quite a popular car.
Can only work on it at odd times so it wont be done in a week. Managed to get all the central locking freed off - good old WD40 - and the exhaust properly mounted so the story begins.
Must get some before and after pics.
Already a few people have commented how it reminds them of their childhood. Seems to be quite a popular car.
350zwelgje said:
It is a healthy disease.
Still on my first, a 2300S from 1981 for 20 years now that lives next to three 75s, and it is being handed to my son this year and will go on for many years to come.
Sounds like a nice SD1. A good and rare find I think.
EFI manual, don't think so, all automatic, perhaps if a customer has twisted the arm of the salesman long enough for a manual , but can be 'downgraded' if you want (gearbox and related parts, flywheel, prop-shaft, peddle box, clutch master&slave and a few bits and bobs). Especially at the end of the production they sort of only built automatics and you were not charged extra for it. Exception Vitesse, but even those could be automatic in the UK, not on the continent.
Would buy a Vitesse if wanted a manual myself....
They are the basically the same except Vitesse had cloth interior, EFI leather if not mistaken. Think it is easier to find a leather interior and put that in a Vitesse, then to convert from auto to manual.
thank you
Rob
Still on my first, a 2300S from 1981 for 20 years now that lives next to three 75s, and it is being handed to my son this year and will go on for many years to come.
Sounds like a nice SD1. A good and rare find I think.
EFI manual, don't think so, all automatic, perhaps if a customer has twisted the arm of the salesman long enough for a manual
, but can be 'downgraded' if you want (gearbox and related parts, flywheel, prop-shaft, peddle box, clutch master&slave and a few bits and bobs). Especially at the end of the production they sort of only built automatics and you were not charged extra for it. Exception Vitesse, but even those could be automatic in the UK, not on the continent. Would buy a Vitesse if wanted a manual myself....
They are the basically the same except Vitesse had cloth interior, EFI leather if not mistaken. Think it is easier to find a leather interior and put that in a Vitesse, then to convert from auto to manual.
thank you
Rob
)
but run out of room (and money)
Well, I will be selling it in the near future once I have done the little jobs that always seem to be needed. It was never my intention to keep it, just a winter project to keep me out of trouble for a few months.
And I need the money for my next project too.
And I need the money for my next project too.
Edited by N7GTX on Tuesday 3rd February 19:43
Furyblade_Lee said:
I have just found this 3.5 manual bizzarely in my mums garden, seriously.. Having thoughts of turning it into an '81 Triplex Group 1 touring car.
Used to love watching Tony Pond race the SD1 many many moons ago. Sold mine now, goes on Monday to its new home. Just wish I had the room to keep it and the money to put an LS 6.2 into it (quoted £19k for a proper job by Lloyds Specialists near Bristol).Gassing Station | Rover | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff