The new purchase a Rover obviously....

[Motown]

My new purchase a Rover 820Si Fastback with only 55k on the clock and headlight protectors apparently it was owned by a man who worked for Rover in Longbridge since 1946 and this was a retirement gift from the company. I have no reason to disbelieve this as the car has a Rover fleet registration either way its a Rover and i love it!

Its been off the road since 2019 but shouldn't take me much to put it right once it arrives as first indications look good. Sills are solid brakes aren't ceased and it has a windscreen for starters. Oh and did i mention it has headlight protectors!!!

I am planning to restore it once ive sorted the brakes on the Castle Gresley 820 wish me luck 👍

[stripped fred]

That looks lovely and the seats and cabin look a very comfortable place to sit. It all looks in good condition too. Good luck and well done!

[stripped fred]

I just looked at the MOT history. Clean passes up until 2019. Looks promising.

[Mr Laurence]

After the Castle Gresley one restoring this should be a walk in the park: it already looks lovely!

How many 800s do you own now?

[vulgalour]

mmmm pre-facelifty goodness.  It looks vast in that red and it has something even rarer than the headlight protectors which appears to be (from the photos at any rate) a complete lack of lacquer peel.  Even the interior wood looks like it hasn't had the varnish go all yellowed and cloudy.  What a treat.

[chaseracer]

@Lord Sterling has some competition!  Is the 800 becoming the new BX/205/Laguna of this electronic parish...? 😉

[Split_Pin]

I'm loving everything about that! Red, fastback, velour, very nice.

[gadgetgricey]

That looks lovely. Any dash lift?

[Dick Cheeseburger]

That fastback is the business Motown. You seem to have a knack of sourcing some belters. Still reckon you should have purchased the black bodykitted one as well obviously 😉 

Looking forward to seeing it returned to minty freshness. 

[RoadworkUK]

Saw this on eBay and really hoped it would end up in the right hands.

And it definitely has. Top bombing.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Interesting back story.

In 1990 , the company I worked for always had a few long term Fleet Demos from Manufacturers . I would snaffle whatever was the best , to abuse the absolute crap out of.

It was my my Grandmother’s 80th birthday and there was a big party at her house in Wales, I grabbed an 820 SE Fastback big bumper facelift , almost identical to your lovely new ride, just less power and 14” wheels with these trims

Anyway everyone parked in a field around the corner and I parked nose to nose with a bright red 820Si Fastback , with a reg about 5 away from mine .

During the day I met the driver , who was an old neighbour of my Grandma from when she lived in Birmingham, can’t remember his name , but I do remember he worked at Longbridge and it was his first 800. He usually chose a Maestro and changed every 6 months, but this was going to be his last car before retirement and he hoped he’d be offered it as part of his leaving package...

Granny died years ago and my Dad can’t remember this guys name, it’d be great if it was this one. At least you know I didn’t abuse it, we had an  820 and later a lovely green Vitesse 2.7 with practically Sterling spec. Which I managed to hold onto for 3 months and would often see 150 on the clock. When it went back the collection driver thought the sheepskin mats didn’t belong in the car and left them with reception, those mats went in every brown or beige interiored car I had for years.

[inconsistant]

Lovely car, was watching this on ebay with interest as it looks like a fab one. They look great in strong colours. Much prefer these to the facelifted ones with grilles those look way less elegant.

[Motown]

16 hours ago, stripped fred said:

I just looked at the MOT history. Clean passes up until 2019. Looks promising.

I know makes a change doesnt it 😆👍

[Motown]

16 hours ago, Mr Laurence said:

After the Castle Gresley one restoring this should be a walk in the park: it already looks lovely!

How many 800s do you own now?

Aye a piece of piss i think is the correct term or expression 😆

I currently own four and two that the wife doesn't knows about with another coming this week and one more coming in April 

[Motown]

15 hours ago, chaseracer said:

@Lord Sterling has some competition!  Is the 800 becoming the new BX/205/Laguna of this electronic parish...? 😉

Ive just bought one off him as well 🤣

[Motown]

7 hours ago, NorfolkNWeigh said:

Interesting back story.

In 1990 , the company I worked for always had a few long term Fleet Demos from Manufacturers . I would snaffle whatever was the best , to abuse the absolute crap out of.

It was my my Grandmother’s 80th birthday and there was a big party at her house in Wales, I grabbed an 820 SE Fastback big bumper facelift , almost identical to your lovely new ride, just less power and 14” wheels with these trims

Anyway everyone parked in a field around the corner and I parked nose to nose with a bright red 820Si Fastback , with a reg about 5 away from mine .

During the day I met the driver , who was an old neighbour of my Grandma from when she lived in Birmingham, can’t remember his name , but I do remember he worked at Longbridge and it was his first 800. He usually chose a Maestro and changed every 6 months, but this was going to be his last car before retirement and he hoped he’d be offered it as part of his leaving package...

Granny died years ago and my Dad can’t remember this guys name, it’d be great if it was this one. At least you know I didn’t abuse it, we had an  820 and later a lovely green Vitesse 2.7 with practically Sterling spec. Which I managed to hold onto for 3 months and would often see 150 on the clock. When it went back the collection driver thought the sheepskin mats didn’t belong in the car and left them with reception, those mats went in every brown or beige interiored car I had for years.

Thats an amazing story thanks for sharing it could very well be the same car. The car has stacks of paperwork am hoping to find time to go through it soon so if i find out anymore information il let you know 👍

[Motown]

10 hours ago, Dick Longbridge said:

That fastback is the business Motown. You seem to have a knack of sourcing some belters. Still reckon you should have purchased the black bodykitted one as well obviously 😉 

Looking forward to seeing it returned to minty freshness. 

I wasn't aware of the black one until it was too late i was busy sorting this one out and only saw your tag after it had eneded. Its a real shame but you cant win em all. Ive been trying for an automatic SD1 for the 9 years 🤣

[Motown]

10 hours ago, gadgetgricey said:

That looks lovely. Any dash lift?

Nope 😃

[Low Horatio gearbox]

Seriously good catch there. I'm vicariously living my rover 800 dream thru you for the moment..  at least.

[Bstardchild]

lovely - hardly see any on the roads these days

[Motown]

2 minutes ago, Bstardchild said:

lovely - hardly see any on the roads these days

Thats true well unless you come to my house that is.. i think i probably have 40% of what remains 😆

[Low Horatio gearbox]

20 minutes ago, Motown said:

Thats true well unless you come to my house that is.. i think i probably have 40% of what remains 😆

I seeit now..  playing the long game and cornering the market in well loved Rover 800s!

[Motown]

16 minutes ago, Low Horatio gearbox said:

I seeit now..  playing the long game and cornering the market in well loved Rover 800s!

Naah i find it incredibly difficult to let go of them ive sold a few in the past that i have restored and although they went to good homes it didn't feel right. I love these cars and Rovers in general so i desperately want to preserve the marque or at the very least the cars i own for myself.

I think  the Rover 800 especially the 827 is the best car ever built i can safely say its the only car i wanna drive and now i have several il still be driving one ten years from now... Well that's the plan anyway

[Austin-Rover]

I'd admired that one on eBay, too! It looks like a really good example. The Birmingham area numberplate is a good indication that it started off with Rover Group, Company Vehicles, PO Box 395, Longbridge on the first registration document. 😄

I look forward to hearing more about it!

I have two 800s; a Mk2 saloon and this Mk1 Fastback, but with the earlier slimline bumpers.

 

[Motown]

27 minutes ago, Austin-Rover said:

I'd admired that one on eBay, too! It looks like a really good example. The Birmingham area numberplate is a good indication that it started off with Rover Group, Company Vehicles, PO Box 395, Longbridge on the first registration document. 😄

I look forward to hearing more about it!

I have two 800s; a Mk2 saloon and this Mk1 Fastback, but with the earlier slimline bumpers.

 

Oh my that is a beautiful example and your in Huddersfield? There i was thinking i was the only chap in South/West Yorkshire with Mk1s.... I salute you! 👍

I have a few Mk1s and a few other Rovers maybe when this covid malarkey has gone away we can meet up

[Austin-Rover]

I have a friend in Hudds also with a Mk1 Fastback! 😄

[Motown]

16 hours ago, Austin-Rover said:

I have a friend in Hudds also with a Mk1 Fastback! 😄

Well we should all meet up sometime in the near future! Here's my two 827 Vitesse and SLi

[motorpunk]

On 17/02/2021 at 18:29, Motown said:

I currently own four and two that the wife doesn't knows about 

😂

[sierraman]

You could line them up outside Eric Steads at Ecclesfield, they used to be a Rover garage back in the day.

[sierraman]

On 2/17/2021 at 8:22 PM, Austin-Rover said:

I'd admired that one on eBay, too! It looks like a really good example. The Birmingham area numberplate is a good indication that it started off with Rover Group, Company Vehicles, PO Box 395, Longbridge on the first registration document. 😄

I look forward to hearing more about it!

I have two 800s; a Mk2 saloon and this Mk1 Fastback, but with the earlier slimline bumpers.

 

Aren’t they Serck plates as well for added shite?