RE: SOTW Rover SD1 3500
Discussion
I too have bad memories of the SD1,but to be fair it did push new technology available at the time,and it did not always work eg: The w/screen was bonded in using an electrical charge,when the bonding failed you needed wipers on the inside of the screen and no amount of Bostik would ever cure the problem,I had the 2300 and that used to blow cylinder head gaskets so often that in the end I could change one in 45 minutes! I used to amuse myself by looking through the rear screen of other Rovers that I followed , to see how many warning lights were lit,seldom were they all out.
I would stiil dearly love a late 3500 Vitesse.
In the early seventies some bright salesman managed to sell African steel to most of the European car makers and all paid the price,Lancia and Alfa were probably the worst hit but Fords rotted faster than you could repair them,and Rover were no worse than any other.
I would stiil dearly love a late 3500 Vitesse.
In the early seventies some bright salesman managed to sell African steel to most of the European car makers and all paid the price,Lancia and Alfa were probably the worst hit but Fords rotted faster than you could repair them,and Rover were no worse than any other.
M0BZY said:
The w/screen was bonded in using an electrical charge,when the bonding failed you needed wipers on the inside of the screen and no amount of Bostik would ever cure the problem
The reason that you couldn't repair the screen was the water trapped in the failed seal. I garaged mine for a couple of weeks in the summer and cleared the edges of the screen out every day with an airline. Once it was dry, I filled up the screen surround with clear silicone, which worked fine until I sold it.Keeping the tin-worms at bay was a different matter.
Drive Blind said:
Everytime I saw one on the roads the rear shocks looked done as the rear would bob up and down.
Was this a 'feature' or a common problem?
They had Boge Nivomat self-levelling rear suspension which cost an absolute fortune to replace when it failed, so many people didn't bother...Was this a 'feature' or a common problem?
Bought one (series 1 V8) for £250 in 1991, loved it although it was a complete, 5 figure, money pit for years. I lost count of the number of weekends I spent in scrapyards getting window motors out of doors (or sometimes just changing the whole door if I found one with less rot!). Leda struts and springs solved the handling issues along with RIAL 8x16's with some wider tyres, it was incredible fun on country roads.
About 10 years ago I took the plunge and bought a straight 2600 with a shot gearbox (see above note regarding country roads to appreciate why mine was a little wonky
)stripped it and had the straight shell bare metal resprayed (genuine Vitesse front and rear spoilers, and the rear arch things!), rewired the whole thing and re-trimmed it in 'Vitesse' grey. Alas the engine side of the project never got finished but it's still mine, and SORN, and maybe SOTW will inspire getting it out from under its sheet and doing it justice...
About 10 years ago I took the plunge and bought a straight 2600 with a shot gearbox (see above note regarding country roads to appreciate why mine was a little wonky
)stripped it and had the straight shell bare metal resprayed (genuine Vitesse front and rear spoilers, and the rear arch things!), rewired the whole thing and re-trimmed it in 'Vitesse' grey. Alas the engine side of the project never got finished but it's still mine, and SORN, and maybe SOTW will inspire getting it out from under its sheet and doing it justice...
I even forgot that was there, have to love Knight Rider. I guess you checked my profile in true PH style to look at what cars I have to insult them.
Im not a fan of the SD1 only liked seeing thme as police cars. Never have been a fan of extreme large hatchbacks, the size of car is better as a saloon imo. Never liked the hatchback Scorpio Granada either. Now the abomination seems to be returning with these stupid fastback German barges now.
Im not a fan of the SD1 only liked seeing thme as police cars. Never have been a fan of extreme large hatchbacks, the size of car is better as a saloon imo. Never liked the hatchback Scorpio Granada either. Now the abomination seems to be returning with these stupid fastback German barges now.
rovsd1]scort Si-130 said:
Should that be a -11, lol. I guess the SD1 owners clubs have reached on this thread to glorify the car.
Says the one with only a model car on his profile.
Says the one with only a model car on his profile.
ukaskew said:
There was a stunning example in the car park at Castle Combe on Monday, made a lot of modern cars look very ordinary, fantastic presence.
Could never own one, but always brings a smile when I see one.
Cheers, that one's mine. Totally reliable, out in all winds and weathers, and through the whole of last Winter. Never misses a beat and goes like a train. Makes people smile, and makes me smile too, mind you a good one ain't cheap to buy unless you're lucky. Mechanically bombproof, Jag XJS V12 brakes make sure it stops, but you have to get used to Lucas Prince of Darkness electric switches.Could never own one, but always brings a smile when I see one.
AJS
I used to have a 1986 Vanden Plas 3500 which was great. I still have a 1984 Vitesse which has never been near as good from a perceived quality-point of view, but it looks and drives sooo fine.
There's a "brand new" 2600 SE for sale in Switzerland:
http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from...
There's a "brand new" 2600 SE for sale in Switzerland:
http://www.autoscout24.ch/AS24Web/Detail.aspx?from...
This for waynester, sorry, no pics, as, being quite well on in years,(closer to 50 than i like to admit),and so forgetful (and welsh to boot!), i have lost the pics i cherished for years. There are, however, if you can find them, a couple of back issues from the mid to late 80s of 'performance marque'magazine, in which the car was featured. This was largely due to the obscenely loud straight through stainless big (as in ,how the hell did he fit that car to that sewer pipe), big, exhaust, and the fact that it used to outrun the fastest car plod had at the time, which was a large bmw f some sort, the model escapes me. (yes, i know, age related etc,etc). Anyway, if you can find said back issues, the car is featured in the centre pages under the heading, 'barking up the right tree'. Yes, it is cheesy, but the reporter came up with the leadline, not me. I was all for something along the lines of, 'WTF was that????' The cars reg (private plate), was b16 bhp! I thought it was cool back then!
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