Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 As requested by Trigger, here's a thread for my Rover SD1. Apologies for length etc... When my first car (a Volvo 340) was written off just before I passed my test, I set about looking for a replacement. Naturally at 19 insurance on anything interesting was prohibitively expensive and my choices seemed limited to boxes of mediocrity with suitably weedy engines, which at the time didn't appeal. I then began looking admiringly at Rover SD1s, and decided that a Vitesse would be an ideal first car. Unfortunately the insurance companies said no to a Vitesse, but for the Vanden Plas EFi (which shares the same fuel injected V8 but with 3-speed auto as standard), the prices were lower than those for Fiesta 1.4s and the like. Naturally my mind was made up. Eventually what seemed the perfect car came up on eBay. Originally an Austin Rover press car, it had been purchased by a professor at one year old and he kept it for the next 24 years. The current owner had owned the car for a year, and made some rather bold claims about its condition which I naturally believed at the time (because I'm an idiot). Ultimately I put in the winning bid and the car was mine, sight unseen, and the seller agreed to deliver the car to me. Initial impressions were slightly spoiled when the seller came to my door and announced the car had broken down just outside my house, and I saw my new car for the first time dead at the side of the road. Still, apart from this, the body and interior looked to be in perfect condition, there were two large briefcases full of service history on the passenger seat and a boot full of spares. Having identified the failure to proceed as fuel pump related, the seller gave me a discount and with that he was on his way. It soon became clear that the professor who'd previously had the car had spent rather a lot of money on it: it had had every panel replaced and a full bare metal respray carried out a few years before; the underside had more rustproofing than paint applied to it; much had been spent at electrical and fuel system experts to ensure that all the electrics and the troublesome Lucas fuel injection worked properly (and they did) and everything that had ever needed doing had been done, no matter how expensive. Surely this was the best (i.e. most functional) SD1 in the world? Unfortunately a few months after the purchase this proved not to be the case. Pulling up at traffic lights, the engine cut out and any attempts to re-start it resulted in the most horrible, piercing screeching sounds imaginable. Towed back to the garage, it was found that the one garage it had been taken to for much of its life hadn't really cared much for what they were doing, and various bits of debris from other parts of the engine had managed to find their way into the cylinders, melting and in the process siezing the engine. Wanting it back on the road, I coughed up the £1000 to have the engine rebuilt by a highly recommended guy who built Porsche engines for a living. All was well for a few months until one day the engine stopped running properly. After having the AA out to rescue me three times in one day, the source of the problem turned out to be my specialist Porsche engine builder fucking up my engine almost beyond economic repair. The job he'd done was a bad 'un, perhaps topped off by the incorrect piston rings being fitted thereby causing some drastic scoring to the bores. So, engine rebuild no.2 appeared on the horizon, together with a refurbishment of the cooling system for good measure. The Rovah then gave me a year's faithful service before it became clear that more work was going to be needed: the suspension was knackered; a hole had been drilled in the diff housing for seemingly no reason, so due to fluid starvation the diff would now need replacing and the rear axle would require a rebuild; and the exhaust and manifolds would need to be replaced. At the time I simply didn't have the money to do all this, and so the SD1 was laid up until I had the financial wherewithal to get the work done. And so it sat for a year. SD1s are designed to use airflow on the move to dry themselves out to avert rust. Mine naturally hadn't been able to do so, so replacement of the sills has become necessary alongside the other work, but recomissioning is well under way and my spanner guy reckons it should be back on the road fairly soonish. I shall update the thread as I go along when this happens, perhaps even doing a HubNut-style video review when it's back on the road. It'll make a change to be using it rather than fixing it for once! Angrydicky, michael1703, Jim Bergerac and 32 others 35 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 By the way, I can't take the credit for the welding before anyone begins admiring my skillz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 You Sir are my new years Hero I had one when I was 18, but that was way before Litres per gallon and fecking Silly insurance costs In my sad old mind Rover SD1's do this to me alf892 and EssDeeWon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Why thankyou sir. It's satisfying to know that where most people may have given up on it by now, hopefully by working through its faults it should have years more life in it yet. I have similar feelings to you about SD1s, I adore this car when it's up and running. Even taking into account the knackered suspension I don't think I've driven anything that handles better (which may be more of a relection on the other cars I've driven than a compliment to SD1s, but there we go), and no Fiesta has ever made a noise like it fred 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulgalour Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Handsome old thing that, look forward to more updates. I begin to wonder if the dashboards I've seen in SD1s have been earlier ones, I don't recall them being so curvy with big slabs of wood. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Handsome old thing that, look forward to more updates. I begin to wonder if the dashboards I've seen in SD1s have been earlier ones, I don't recall them being so curvy with big slabs of wood. Yes, earlier pre-facelift cars had a much starker dashboard which was all-plastic, whereas Series IIs such as this got a wider instrument binnacle and slabs of walnut on upper-spec cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djimbob Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 The first automatic car I ever drove was one of these my mate owned, and I offered to be the designated driver for the night - and have never looked back, prefer auto's above stick, it was like driving a settee along the road, in stark comparison to my then wheels, the Reliant Robin Supervan The joy of luxury barge ownership was inspired by that wonderful motor, and set me off onto a path which started with a Capri, followed by a number of worthy shitters such as Scimitar, series Jag, couple of sierra's (ok they were cheap), and a load of lesser cars of equal shiteness, but sadly no more sd1's, the nearest being a 2.7 Vitesse with a blown headgasket that I drove for about a week and then stood up at the local garage for a year whilst the proprietor unbeknownst to me had an alcoholic meltdown and my car went to the scrapper probably Full marks anyway for keeping this one alive, they are well worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joey spud Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 There is some bloody good stuff getting posted up this year. :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 The first automatic car I ever drove was one of these my mate owned, and I offered to be the designated driver for the night - and have never looked back, prefer auto's above stick, it was like driving a settee along the road, in stark comparison to my then wheels, the Reliant Robin Supervan The joy of luxury barge ownership was inspired by that wonderful motor, and set me off onto a path which started with a Capri, followed by a number of worthy shitters such as Scimitar, series Jag, couple of sierra's (ok they were cheap), and a load of lesser cars of equal shiteness, but sadly no more sd1's, the nearest being a 2.7 Vitesse with a blown headgasket that I drove for about a week and then stood up at the local garage for a year whilst the proprietor unbeknownst to me had an alcoholic meltdown and my car went to the scrapper probably Full marks anyway for keeping this one alive, they are well worth it The autoboxes in these are pretty good actually, considering most autos I've tried have been pretty dismal. It's only an old GM 3-speed unit but it changes up through the box quickly and is usually in third by about 25mph, which is just how I like it. And it slurs changes like it's drunk, compared to my old Peugeot which clunked and shoved its way through the gears (if it remembered to change gears at all without manual assistance). That's an impressive list of British shite you've had there, all of which are on my list to own some day. I would really like to try a Rover 800 one day, just for comparison, although I realise they're probably pretty dissimilar to the SD1. Sad that yours disappeared though. I do miss my red 2600SE manual very much, maybe, one day I shall have another. Even if it is so fucked I can only sit in it making brum noises haha A straight-six SD1 is another one I'd like to try. Get one before they're all gone*. *And let me drive it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 This thread makes me shudder - it reminds me of the horrors I found while restoring mine. Mine is the same as yours save for the leather - mine is a caramel colour. I replaced both outer sills, lets lots of 16 swg zintec into the inner sills so it should never rot again, also a front wing and rear arch, along with lots of other repair sections to the floorpan / boot floor. Fortunately I used to be a welder otherwise the car would have been crushed- not economical to pay to have the work done. When buying one of these I look at three areas - sunroof aperture, rear of sills ( inner and outer) and the windscreen surround / scuttle. Any rot here and you should look for another example. If you keep it outside I would learn some skills - otherwise you will be bankrupt taking it to bodyshops. Plus a lot of them are shite and will dry bum you for a quick bodge. Here's a pic of mine - hopefully it will get some paint in 2016. scruff, Laseraligningfoofooflanges, CGSB and 18 others 21 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi paul Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 My mate had one of these in 1984. We used I has our wedding car, seeing as it was white. It was a lovely car and was only a couple of years old. Sadly he lost his job a year later and the car sort of ground to a halt and broke. With no money to repair he sold it back to the garage from whence it came at a loss. He still moans about losing a bloody fortune on the rover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Rustbucket Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 They're fabulous old things - I am glad this one gets the love (and money!!) it deserves. Laseraligningfoofooflanges 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamworthbay Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I have always lusted after one of these, prices are going up rapidly though it seems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squire_Dawson Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Nice car, shame about the succession of cack-manglers who've been entrusted to 'repair' it over the years. It annoys me when people do a shit job when you trust them and pay them well. The autoboxes in these are pretty good actually, considering most autos I've tried have been pretty dismal. It's only an old GM 3-speed unit but it changes up through the box quickly and is usually in third by about 25mph, which is just how I like it. If there is one thing American auto engineers did well, it was the automatic gearbox. Cleon-Fonte 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 This thread makes me shudder - it reminds me of the horrors I found while restoring mine. Mine is the same as yours save for the leather - mine is a caramel colour. I replaced both outer sills, lets lots of 16 swg zintec into the inner sills so it should never rot again, also a front wing and rear arch, along with lots of other repair sections to the floorpan / boot floor. Fortunately I used to be a welder otherwise the car would have been crushed- not economical to pay to have the work done. When buying one of these I look at three areas - sunroof aperture, rear of sills ( inner and outer) and the windscreen surround / scuttle. Any rot here and you should look for another example. If you keep it outside I would learn some skills - otherwise you will be bankrupt taking it to bodyshops. Plus a lot of them are shite and will dry bum you for a quick bodge. Here's a pic of mine - hopefully it will get some paint in 2016.image.jpeg I look forward to seeing that when it's done. The hope with this one is to get a lockup garage at some point to keep it in (to placate the neighbours as much as to protect the car from the elements - car no.3 may be added to the fleet soon). In fairness to this one it was immaculate and rot-free when I bought it, and has never been welded underneath (the underside is still pretty much perfect). It's just the sills tend to go on these things when the car's not used, and I regret that the rot has set in on my watch. Luckily the guy who's looked after it for me since the second engine rebuild is a friend who's pretty multi-skilled, as well as mechanical stuff he can weld, paint, rustproof and can also fabricate up any parts that are NLA quite cheaply (which has helped with parts prices for my Daihatsu no end). Ultimately though I do need to develop my skills, which are coming along well enough with the mechanical side of things but not so much with welding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trigger Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Fantastic! Thank you for making this post. What a handsome beast, those period Coventry plates really complete the look and I genuinely shouted YES! when I saw the car phone! Yes, I'm that sad. Shame to hear that the engine builder fucked you over, you hear so many similar horror stories on the web but at least your sorted now. Cleon-Fonte 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoadworkUK Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Amazing stuff. I've made a verbal promise with my 825 that it'll get whatever attention it needs, irrespective of how financially insane it is. And even then it'll never be an SD1. What I really need is a mate with one, so I can enjoy it with none of the responsibilities that come with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Firstly - Well done for sticking with the car after all those rather major breakdowns and not scrapping it like so many have now, sadly. Secondly - What a great post, this is what Autoshite is really about. Persisting with an old motor that so often would be booted off to the scrappy at the first big bill / or ebayed off to some V8 trike knob. Lastly - Welcome aboard, you already have legend status round these parts. Now I have to put my anorak on - Being an EFi that boot spoiler shouldn't be there - Anorak off again Lovely, 'Rare' car, keep hold and cherish it. agw9262, trigger, Magnificent Rustbucket and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlo Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Love the look of these outside and especially the interiors, fabulous. Hope you managed to get some recompense from the 'Porsche' engine man, perhaps that moniker was used to boost his profile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 5, 2016 Author Share Posted January 5, 2016 Now I have to put my anorak on - Being an EFi that boot spoiler shouldn't be there - Anorak off again Thanks for your post. The spoiler is one of a few mods that was done when the second owner bought it way back in 1987, so it seemed a shame to take it off. Plus it (apparently) gives a fair aerodynamic advantage over a non-bespoilered SD1 (and I get to pretend I'm in a Vitesse, which is always fun). Hope you managed to get some recompense from the 'Porsche' engine man, perhaps that moniker was used to boost his profile. That tale would be a thread in itself. I got bitten quite badly with that one, despite the signs all being good: the bloke was highly recommended by a few people, the array of exotic customers' cars outside led me to believe he would probably be decent, and he seemed a real SD1 nut as well. He's still trading so there must be engines he doesn't fuck up sometimes. EssDeeWon and andrew e 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mercrocker Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 Well, this just about sums up Autoshite.....Someone chucking hard earned money at a flawed, but worthily designed car that never seemed to be built well enough to drag itself into the 21st century without assistance from a budget the size of a medium-sized African country's GDP. Top stuff, its a rare pleasure to see SD1s these days. tooSavvy and Skut 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magnificent Rustbucket Posted January 5, 2016 Share Posted January 5, 2016 I can't remember the last time I saw one on the road. Urko 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xtriple Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Lovely car and keep up the good work! Keeping old but interesting cars on the road in fine fettle should be made a law. O had loads of these back in the day and always liked them though they did have their faults... many and varied! But, on a good day they were real class. They handle far better than they look like they should and the V8s sound lovely. Keep on with the updates please. tooSavvy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain_70s Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 Cor, that's nice! Great colour for an SD1. Also nice to find a fellow WAC owner! Uncle Jimmy and Laseraligningfoofooflanges 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Partridge Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 What a great story of following your heart and sticking to your guns! Think it will done in time for PoL? I can relate, having a Rover Sterling as my first proper car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cleon-Fonte Posted January 6, 2016 Author Share Posted January 6, 2016 Think it will done in time for PoL? It should be finished by the end of this month (but I said that last month as well), so hopefully it shall be able to attend. It will be at Shitefest as well, provided it isn't broken again by that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Slow Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 You can't be much older than Partridge, 70s and me - if at all. Big kudos for the SD1 - I couldn't insure one or I'd have done something very similar. Mildly envious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Spares & Tyres Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I would love another SD1 Had a 2300 and a 2600 in my late teens! Really liked them both. Yet another car I wish I still had EssDeeWon 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssDeeWon Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I had my first SD1 V8 when I was 23, the insurance was really cheap and that was 10 years ago!!! Shit, time really does fly when your having fun (driving Rovers) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D Spares & Tyres Posted January 6, 2016 Share Posted January 6, 2016 I fitted a Kenwood tape player to mine and filled both gloveboxes with my favourite albums. It rained heavily the next day........ So upsetting Pillock 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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