1983 Rover 2600 SE (SD1)
Discussion
The car has been pretending to be an estate car today. I drove from near Thame to Milton Keynes to pick up an Eames desk chair bought for a song on eBay. I stopped on the way back to have the car very carefully cleaned by some charming young Romanian and Kurdish guys. Those car wash dudes always love old and classy cars. I gave them a decent tip. I hooned well mightily on a great B road between Bicester and Long Crendon, with an Audi hot hatchback trying but failing to tailgate me (I do not have good skillz, but the car just goes really well, and probably gave Mr White Audi a bit of a surprise).
The 1970s style brakes were tested and passed the test when a 2002 Vectra suddenly swerved across the lanes on one of the larger roundabouts at Milton Keynes. We almost made contact, but didn't, as I was awake and the brakes and tyres squealed but held the car. The Vectra ended up on the grass bank, and serve the idiot right, but no one was hurt and no cars were damaged.
Lots of classic Fords out in Bucks today - some show maybe? Also lots of 70s and 80s motorbikes, and some real Sunday drivers almost killing bikers at random, but the bikers all seemed pretty alert, situationally aware and skilful, and avoided the attempts by spannocks to take them down. A 1960s Corvette Stingray (red, natch) spotted in Thame as I neared home. Cool dude driving it, top down of course. Also a burgundy Jensen Interceptor III seen on the way over, the driver a silver fox type of guy in his sixties. White Stag, four up, tonking along the other way, top down. Fun times.
The 1970s style brakes were tested and passed the test when a 2002 Vectra suddenly swerved across the lanes on one of the larger roundabouts at Milton Keynes. We almost made contact, but didn't, as I was awake and the brakes and tyres squealed but held the car. The Vectra ended up on the grass bank, and serve the idiot right, but no one was hurt and no cars were damaged.
Lots of classic Fords out in Bucks today - some show maybe? Also lots of 70s and 80s motorbikes, and some real Sunday drivers almost killing bikers at random, but the bikers all seemed pretty alert, situationally aware and skilful, and avoided the attempts by spannocks to take them down. A 1960s Corvette Stingray (red, natch) spotted in Thame as I neared home. Cool dude driving it, top down of course. Also a burgundy Jensen Interceptor III seen on the way over, the driver a silver fox type of guy in his sixties. White Stag, four up, tonking along the other way, top down. Fun times.
The SD1 now has a stone stuck in by the front offside brake disc. I will have to jack it up and free the stone. Also, the rear demister behaves like it is 32 years old or something. The car did not leak during yesterday's mega rain, but was a bit misty, hopefully just from moisture brought in by me/the atmosphere.
Careless parkers of modern monstrosities have done serial dingage to all four doors of the SD1, which were unmarked when I bought it. No notes left, of course. Hospital car parks, mostly, as I have been visiting my dad who is unwell. OK, people are likely to be pre occupied when at a hospital, but could they not be a bit more careful? Hey, First World Problems, and my dad is on the mend, so screw the car.
The Rover has been sat on its bum for a bit as the oil pressure switch that is screwed intoi the side of the block had failed and was letting the oil out. The switch operates a fuel cutoff so that the engine won't run with low oil pressure. It took a while to source a switch but now all is good and I have another switch spare, just in case.
Only just seen this thread, lovely looking car!
I had a 3.5 SD1 back when I was 18 (many many moons ago), it lasted about a week before I realised that I could never afford to run it in a million years. Great car though, like driving around in an armchair with a jet engine strapped to it's back.
I had a 3.5 SD1 back when I was 18 (many many moons ago), it lasted about a week before I realised that I could never afford to run it in a million years. Great car though, like driving around in an armchair with a jet engine strapped to it's back.
Breadvan72 said:
The Rover has been sat on its bum for a bit as the oil pressure switch that is screwed intoi the side of the block had failed and was letting the oil out. The switch operates a fuel cutoff so that the engine won't run with low oil pressure. It took a while to source a switch but now all is good and I have another switch spare, just in case.
love the BL Red-Ken mentality of the switch's behaviour; "I need to show how powerful my union is, so I am going to deliberately cause an issue so that I can then demonstrate my value...."It has been performance managed out, and a new and less bolshie replacement is in place.
Meanwhile ....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/guilty-pleasu...
Meanwhile ....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/guilty-pleasu...
Breadvan72 said:
It has been performance managed out, and a new and less bolshie replacement is in place.
Meanwhile ....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/guilty-pleasu...
No need to proceed past no.1 on that list, no.2 at a real push.Meanwhile ....
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/guilty-pleasu...
Clutch a bit shagged at present - hopefully just air in the system and/or dodgy seals. I have a spare slave cylinder somewhere, but not a spare master cylinder. The clutch itself ought to be OK as the car has not done mega miles, unless it's old dude former owner rode the pedal a bit. At present I am still betting on the issue being hydraulicky.
Breadvan72 said:
Interior
What a lovely light and charming beige dash and view outward, compares nicely to the coalfaces and grey plastic edifices we face today. Also agree with others that the six is the one to have. Rovers should waft smoothly. A great dadwagon.You should say things like "no, no, no, that wont do" and other middleclassisms when referring to modern metal. Great thread.
MGJohn said:
Deliberately detuned... Hmmm... I wonder.
I've heard or read stories like this in the past. When I had the opportunity to sample one of the pre-production MG ZS factory mules prior to the ZS being launched I had to have one, but not with the V6, but a Turbocharged 1.8 K-Series version. I waited and waited but although they put it in the larger MG ZT and Rover 75s, it never was made available in the MG ZS. Having driven and owned 1.8 Turbocharged MG ZTs since, I now suspect the 1.8 K in turbocharged form was never put in the smaller MG ZS for much the same reason. So I bought a new ZS in normally aspirated form.
Since owning 1.8t MG ZTs, I've been told by other MG and Rover enthusiasts it's the best engine to have in the ZT bar the Mustang V8 version. I found that hard to believe when I first knew. Now I'm not so doubting ... If it showed up the ZS180 with the V6. I also wonder why there was a ZT190 ... Ten spots higher than the MG ZS 180 ... figures .... could be for the same reason.
Some folks have modified the ZS with a Turbocharger. Had one been available new from Longbridge I would have had that instead.
A long time ago now, but, my boss's new SD1 V8 Vanden Plas was one of the few cars I drove which gave me a really scarey moment. Not scared for my own well being, but, facing the boss with my explanation ... As it happens, the car was very forgiving and that coupled with my skill limitations, saved the day. I sure knew what an adrenaline release was after that 'moment'.
Finally, OP's 2600 SD1 left the Austin Rover Group production lines, not the British Leyland ones....
That V8 in the later Rovers was a bit like "Triggers Broom", so many changes it had little in common with the original Buick lump.
Trigger's Broom. Enjoy :~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUl6PooveJE
My Rover group detune story is for the 216 GTi which had a lower top speed than the turbo diesel which could pull vmax in 5th. The published figures were nobbled.I've heard or read stories like this in the past. When I had the opportunity to sample one of the pre-production MG ZS factory mules prior to the ZS being launched I had to have one, but not with the V6, but a Turbocharged 1.8 K-Series version. I waited and waited but although they put it in the larger MG ZT and Rover 75s, it never was made available in the MG ZS. Having driven and owned 1.8 Turbocharged MG ZTs since, I now suspect the 1.8 K in turbocharged form was never put in the smaller MG ZS for much the same reason. So I bought a new ZS in normally aspirated form.
Since owning 1.8t MG ZTs, I've been told by other MG and Rover enthusiasts it's the best engine to have in the ZT bar the Mustang V8 version. I found that hard to believe when I first knew. Now I'm not so doubting ... If it showed up the ZS180 with the V6. I also wonder why there was a ZT190 ... Ten spots higher than the MG ZS 180 ... figures .... could be for the same reason.
Some folks have modified the ZS with a Turbocharger. Had one been available new from Longbridge I would have had that instead.
A long time ago now, but, my boss's new SD1 V8 Vanden Plas was one of the few cars I drove which gave me a really scarey moment. Not scared for my own well being, but, facing the boss with my explanation ... As it happens, the car was very forgiving and that coupled with my skill limitations, saved the day. I sure knew what an adrenaline release was after that 'moment'.
Finally, OP's 2600 SD1 left the Austin Rover Group production lines, not the British Leyland ones....
That V8 in the later Rovers was a bit like "Triggers Broom", so many changes it had little in common with the original Buick lump.Trigger's Broom. Enjoy :~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUl6PooveJE
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