Rover SD3 - 216SE EFi MK1 - only two left!

Rover SD3 - 216SE EFi MK1 - only two left!

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Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Just bought this little Rover 216 SE Efi Auto. It's a 1989 F reg, and has covered just 54000 miles from new. An elderly couple have owned it since Feb 1997, during which time it has covered just 4500 miles!

Overall ,it's not in bad nick, as the pictures show. The engine is particularly clean, and it's not even leaking very much from the rocker gasket!

All the electrics seem to work, and it even has the original Rover stereo.The interior is A1 apart from a sagging headlining, and I will have to learn how to deal with this properly - it's not a major issue, but i'll try and get it done.

Body is ok and pretty straight - just a ding in the front panel in between the headlights and a trolley dent in the OSR door. The NSR wheelarch will need replacing at some point, as it is rusting in a couple of places, and the OSR will be heading the same way in a few years, as it is just starting to bubble now. Fortunately both arches and sills are still available for these SD3 Rovers, so it will be able to be done properly.


A quick look on How Many Left show it to be just one of two left on our roads at present, so I do think that it will be worth while getting the bits of rust sorted properly, but at present it's not a major issue.



Seems to drive OK - bit of wheel wobble at 70 MPH needs looking at, but otherwise it's fine!

I'm not really sure why I've ended up with it to be honest, but it is very clean and tidy so will be worth keeping up and together , and over time I hope to be able to get it looking immaculate again!

Some gratuitous pics -










Not much compared to some of the stuff on here, but it would be nice to try and keep it on the road - there are less than 300 left combined of all the 213s/216s made now!



Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
lyricalgangster said:
Looks great, nice one!

I am surprised at how 'square' these look - I dont remember them looking so angular...

Was the top of the range model called vitesse?

I have a fondness for off the wall car purchases like these...good call OP
Either the Vitesse or the Vanden Plas, depending on your point of view hehe

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Loving the love for the RedRover hehe

Tyres are certainly due for renewal I think, quite worn so likely to have been on the car yonks!

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Thursday 6th September 2012
quotequote all
Liquid Knight said:
The rears on my old 213S were the ones fitted in the factory. Britax sunroof? How decedent. wink
Nah, factory one dontcha know!

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Saturday 8th September 2012
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Liquid Knight said:
Look what's on my watch list now you git....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/austin-montego-1-6-l-/32...

... wink
The window switches are common across the late SD3s and Montegos

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
Should be going into a friend's bodyshop tomorrow (If I have time to get down there) so he can assess the repairs needed for the arches and possibly the sills. As panels are available, seems a shame not to bother doing them properly, and should also make the car pretty much immaculate apart form the headlining, which shouldn't be too difficult to get right.

Rollcage

Original Poster:

11,327 posts

194 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
quotequote all
shalmaneser said:
Not necessarily what I'd choose to drive but it looks in awesome condition! You'll be doing a Good Thing keeping it rolling!
Aye, it doesn't get driven much to be fair! Especially as it seems to be pissing down permanently now hehe