R8 Rover 216 GTI sohc

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well, the MINI https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... didn't last long. I wasn't looking to change it because I had nothing better in mind for the price to replace it with. Then the Rover came up. A Rover GTI coming up for sale at this moment was fortuitous as my sister who now lives 3 doors away from me had recently sold her Audi and was looking for a run around. She'd been using the MINI for a few days and expressed an interest in it; this gave me the perfect opportunity to move on the Rover as I had a buyer for the MINI without advertising it.

I feel like I'm jumping ahead here so I'll start at the beginning.

This Rover interest came about from a GTI Twin Cam in white I owned (H35 OUH) when I was around 20, 16 years ago. It has always been the favorite car that I've ever owned, not because it was the best but because the memories I have of it. It was my first taste of a performance car, the fact that I bought it from a well known (not by me) drug dealer in Cardiff with his name on the number plates, driving too quickly around the local area listening to the most glorious induction note with my 12" subwoofer sliding around the boot and disconnecting itself on every left hand turn - it all added to the experience I had with the car and I love it for it, this is going some way to rekindle that.

I've had one eye on them for a while now but they're relatively rare and seldom come up. Wednesday just gone I was on FB and a chap posted a link to a Gumtree ad on the R8 Rover Club page. The ad stated he was selling a GTI for his father who, in his advancing years was finding the non-assisted steering in the Rover a little much and was looking to move it on after 10 years (and 2000 miles) in his ownership. The last GTI to come up that piqued my interest was in Northern Ireland and although it was perfectly specced it was just too far away and a bit too much money to make it viable. This one however was quite a bit less and was in frenchay, Bristol; not too far away from me in South Wales. The last GTI I owned (which I regrettably don't have a single picture of) and the one in NI were both white Twin Cam D-series powered GTIs with electric sunroof and brown half leather interior, wearing Roversport wheels, as I said above the 'perfect spec'. The TCs are the most sought after and most expensive variant, the one I've picked up is the lesser sohc D16a6 powered model. Strange that Rover had so many variants at around the same time - k-series / Honda single and twin cam / power everything / power nothing / no and half leather etc etc.

So onto mine in a little more detail. The guy selling stated there was some moderately severe rust on the leading edge of the bonnet but the rest of the body was good and that mileage was very low at 61k, amazing for a 27 year old car. Upon inspection in person the body turned out to be less good than described you could say with rust appearing on both front wings at the leading bottom edge, front and rear sills and a small amount of rust starting on the off side roof just behind the windscreen. None of this is terminal (jinx) or even particularly off putting as it was rather cheap and I'm happy to sink some money into it dragging it back to a less rusty condition. I've spoken to a local body shop already who have drawn air in sharply through closed teeth at first sight but then also stated it shouldn't be the end of the world to put right. £200 for the windscreen area for example, windscreen will have to come out though.

What is nice is the car came with every MOT from new, A very early (but not brand new main dealer) invoice for sale by Seaward (the dealer sticker on the boot lid) for £4,200 in 1993, that seems very cheap to me! Quite a lot of history inc' cam belt change and invoices for MOTs, brake changes, ignition component replacement etc, all great to have. Even a service book going up to about 40k. It doesn't have the half leather or electric sunroof that my last one did my that's by no means a deal breaker. The sagging head liner around the sunroof winder is a shame.

Anyway I know all of waffle is irrelevant without pics so lets get to that. I apologize for the lack of specificity in the following collage but a mix of me having the flu/snow/only having it for about 24 hours means I don't have many pictures of it and less pictures of the issues I'll be tackling first, but they'll be coming in the next few days rust assured.

some of the original ad pics

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

gah

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

From the images we can tell that:

it has the 'wrong' engine in it
it has the 'wrong' wheels on it
it has the 'wrong' spoiler on it
both spats are present - great success!
it's 4x4 like in its stance
the bonnet is indeed fked

Despite and because of all of the above - I'm absolutely in love with it.

A few terrible pictures I took of it before falling back into bed

I always take a pic of a new car on the way home for some reason

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

then this happened

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

First impressions are good. It's cockpit is pretty much identical to my previous one, those huge dials for revs and speed staring straight at you and winding around eagerly (revs more than speedo maybe). The GTI seats are incredibly supportive and comfortable, much much better than the Boxster seats. The gear change is accurate and precise with a short throw. Steering is positive with a relatively quick rack, although non assisted maneuvering at slow speeds is tricky even for my powerfully built physique at times. The unassisted brakes are firm and responsive, I haven't managed to fade them yet.. It drives like a car with 61k on it, everything feels tight and as it should. The clutch bite point is low and strong. It doesn't even wallow too much despite it's lofty stance.

The best part though, the engine. It goes well, very well. I'm amazed by its eagerness to rev and it's turn of pace. It really shocked me just how well it does go! It's 110hp by all accounts, 20hp down on the TC but feels every bit as lively and rev happy as H35 from memory (16 years old memory mind..) It feels leages quicker than the MINI One it replaces with 90hp, night and day. It might be something to do with weight, 1007kg for the Rover apparently, very light! I am slightly hesitant however to rev on too much at the moment as although the cam belt has only done 2000 miles since it was changed - that was 10 years ago. The D series is interference also so it would be a shame if it snapped with the first 'proper' driving (i'd wager) it's seen for the first time in a decade.

Plans for it are to sort the rust primarily whilst booking it in for a belt change, I'll give it a service myself too. when the rust and service items are done it will be on to getting it to how I want it. Which will consist of:

Lowering it
induction kit
Roversport wheels
'high level' spoiler (nothing garish it's just the slightly raised spoiler that my old one had)
good sound system

This is a renaissance project, basically build it back to the spec my old one had

It pains me as I still haven't sorted my garage yet and the Rover/Boxster are living outside. It's a single garage but would be nice to have the option to put one of them away, especially in this weather. Hopefully I'll clear the garage tomorrow and shelter one of them from this awful weather. This thread should be a bit more eventful than some as this one has plenty that needs doing on it. Think that's about it for now.

I love this old Rover

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cheddar said:

Does the off kilter odometer alignment suggest clockage?

I have every concurrent MOT from new so I'm guessing not

Nine-Eighty-Six said:

At least the rusty bonnet gives you an excuse to get one painted in the right colour! That's a shocking match.

Strange things, those GTIs. A GTI in name only. And utterly poverty specification, not even electric windows!

I think the light effect shows it differently in some pictures, the panels are all the same colour as far as I can see you're right though I do need a new bonnet! urgh

The specs are odd, maybe mine is the lightweight option

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stewjohnst said:

Can relate to the OP’s motivations, I used to have a 220GSi one of these with the right spoiler and leather seat bolsters (L97 VVL If memory serves correctly) until some old gimmer in an Astra did a u turn on the m621 and I wrote it off for me.

I always felt the gearing seemed long having come from a 2.0 MK3 Cavalier although the rover was probably faster as I had a 2.0CDi cav - You haven’t lived until you’ve had blue velour...

Have fun op, shall be watching and resisting the urge to buy one.

Shame about the Astra.. The gearing in the sohc is taller than the TC apparently but this one still sits at 3250 @ 70, guess that's about right but it's not too leggy thankfully

Don't resist or do, think this one at least is going to swallow quite a bit of money. And all this whilst I'm having a new bathroom fitted

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stewjohnst said:

I’m resisting as I’m knee deep in Alfa 147s at the same time as planning an extension (well, the wife is)...

Ah jeez, don't do it, the Alfa will keep you busy enough..

Ah the wife, I just got rid of my one so my building plans are at least my own, if still not ill advised

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It's nice to see quite a few have had good experiences with the R8s, hardly ever see them on the roads now. As someone said they do seem to suffer with rust but what 25+ year old car of the Rovers standing wouldn't?

I've hatched a mid/long term plan for the Rover, it involves selling the Porsche. I've got a trip to France booked for May which I really want the Boxster for, assuming we have the weather the Boxster will be the perfect road trip car and wafting (mobbing) around rural France with the roof down and exhaust opened up is a lovely prospect. After France, sell the Porsche & put some money to one side, use maybe half the proceeds of the Boxster to fully fund the Rover restoration. I hadn't thought about it as a restoration really but as a few have called it that on this thread; I'm thinking it is now. I just hope the rot hasn't gone too far into the body and costs spiral when we start opening her up to do the repairs. Time will tell.

I'm on a line to some Roversport 15" alloys also through the Rover 200/500 Owners Club. They'll be shod in Toyo T1R's after their refurb, just like H35 OUH wore circa 2000

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I know I'll be terrified when it goes in for the body work to get done. The the body shop guy saying "do you want the bad news?" is already ringing in my ears

This one may have actually faired quite well if it's not too rotten within. I'm still thinking it will take around £1,500 - 2k to get the body back to no rust/fresh. But hopefully I'm slightly over estimating. The other things that need doing are very minor in comparison - cam belt change, wheels, exhaust, induction kit, stereo, lower springs and she's done in the main.

I really do wish it was the TC to potentially get some more ROI but alas..

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More of a pre-update than an update.

Well in true form I've been going into getting the Rover sorted at full steam rather than taking my time. As such I've been tackling the issues I can without the need for a body shop just yet. Namely the front end and some other fun stuff.

I need a replacement bonnet as I may have said. This has proved harder to come by than some may have thought. I've spoken to Rimmerbros (MG parts supplier) in the UK as they have a damaged new/old stock bonnet for a 'MG Rover 200/400 up to 95' advertised on their site. Turns out this is the wrong bonnet; that's the bad news, the good news is they sourced 2 correct bonnets that another company had in stock, great. The bad news is those bonnets are stocked by a company in the Netherlands, Damen & Kroes, Boxtel, the only 2 'new' bonnets left in Europe that I can trace. A plan started to hatch. Quick message to OH "do you fancy a weekend in Holland?" The response was positive so I planned to drive the Rover over there, ditch my knackered bonnet outside their front door, fit the new bonnet (assuming it was in a state to be affixed to the car) and drive home whilst enjoying the best The Netherlands had to offer for an evening in the process. Longish story short they wanted 400 euro for the bonnet and the ferry trip alone was £300. Not a very economical way to obtain a bonnet for a £1,200 car. Would have made an awesome road trip but I just can't justify it, doubt many could.

I have now found a dark blue bonnet from a K 93' Cabriolet in a breakers in Bury St Edmunds (4 hours way urgh) that is in great condition for £50 that I'll likely pick up this weekend (rather than doing the obvious thing of buying it and then collecting early in the new year when there's less stuff going on). The car will look a little taxi like for a while but it gets the ball rolling on repairs.

I've also managed to source a GTI rear spoiler and Roversport 15" 5 spokes from a chap - somewhere in the UK so will hopefully be collecting those soon too.

Can still see this thing swallowing £1,500 in rust repair/bodywork easily, gah!

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Very good point dude I shall make enquiries. I'd still rather not have to drive 4 hours each way if I can help it

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TOL, I'm hoping to 'beautify' it somewhat, although I realise that's a relative term I do love the dash it's probably my favourite feature of the car. The large indicator lights especially very specific I know ha

fido, indeed they do go well, as said I'm still surprised by it's turn of speed. I never really clicked with the coupes, although I did have a coupe turbo half leather interior in my Mini many years ago, that's as close as I got to coupe ownership

TheRainMaker got me thinking, and enquiring, spot on with the info and I'm now expanding my search to later spec bonnets which will hopefully help hugely, thanks TRM!

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I thought nothing of that when I wrote it, but in isolation it does seem less than rational

Your reply did make me laugh exactly as much as it should have though

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That looks great RS! quintessential 90's british hot hatchness

I feel your pain. I firstly wish I'd kept my first TC in better condition and held onto it but hindsight is a terrible thing huh, allows you to pinpoint mistakes huh

Secondly and much more recently I wish a situation involving a 216GTI had gone differently. I found a J reg TC in black with 50k on it owned by an elderly lady on my estate of all places! Literally 300 yards from my house. It was immaculate. I politely approached the couple a few months ago and asked if they ever intended to sell the GTI. The lady replied that it just kept passing MOTs and that it was her "little sports car" she clearly had an affection for it. The husband informed me after his good lady wife had left the door that she was suffering with some health issues and wouldn't be able to drive for much longer. As much as this news saddened me... there was hope. I visited the couple on 3 occasions, never being forceful but just to check in and to drop my number off just in case they'd misplaced the last copy I gave them. The husband assured me he would be in touch when the time came to move the Rover on.

I rolled past their house a few weeks ago and what do I see? a brand new MG 3 wearing the Rovers number plate parked on the drive in place of the Rover. It's gone. No phone call, no notification. Where did it go? No idea.. I haven't had the heart to knock the door again and be informed of what actually did happen to it. Maybe it went to a family member? maybe it was scrapped? Regardless, it didn't come to me which severely irks me ..

Ah well..

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JLC25 said:

Hate to be the bearer of bad news... http://mg.co.uk/offers-finance/mg3/simple-scrappag...

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Usget said:

Love the R8 and very briefly had a TC but it was a total and utter dog. Ended up being banger rallied.

Getting rare now - I'd definitely have another twin-cam with the half-leather seats (or an ultra-rare 220Gsi Turbo...)

I'm dicing between the idea of keeping my standard/original and going full retard with it and putting in a TC D16 and a half leather interior.

Banger rallied though

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I miss-spoke, I meant non ABS, wasn't thinking

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horico said:

Great work op. We must have been running round at the same time - I bought my old mans TC in black over grey vintage and it was my first quick is he car. Lowering springs, induction kit and janspeed exhaust iirc. Bottom end went showing a golf Gti how to get past 3 figures down the A1. Shoved another engine in and sold it to a mate. H868 YCP is long dead now I think.

A couple of years later, I picked up my second TC in white over grey. I didn't love it like the first so moved it on for a tomcat. I look forward to the updates.

Funny how we remember our old reg numbers. I doubt I'll ever completely rekindle the feeling of my first TC but despite this one being slightly rough around the edges (for now) it still gives me that same vibe. phew ha. Yea I'm pretty sure my exhaust was janspeed too! The boys still talk about the induction note on my first TC, it sounded amazing! H868 YCP & H35 OUH RIP

aaron_2000 said:

Seems so weird thinking cars like these, MK3 Cavaliers, MK1 Mondeos, and MK1 Audi A4's are a rare sight now. Not long until we say the same about the MK1 Focus.

I was thinking the same last night; out in the rover and thought when did I last see one of these? and just then a mk1 Focus pulled up in magnum grey, I looked on it as something pretty cool and retro although it only seems like it came out yesterday. The mondeo the same! remember that coming out but was what, 95? eek.

Well it's unofficially official that the Rover has exactly the same performance as a road rally prepped L 93' Corsa GSI. My buddy has just bought himself a lovely little B for night events, stripped out, cage etc, hard to determine weight but we popped out for a little drive last night and up the bypass 30mph, 3 honks and go - the cars may have well been parked, neither car pulled even an inch right up to ... the national speed limit. Pretty interesting but on paper their specs are surprisingly similar. Who has the best bragging rights

"my car's as fast as a road rally Corsa GSI" - "my Corsa GSI is as quick as a 27 year old Rover"



It was a bit of a time warp though, I guess were at that age now where we're looking back fondly on the past and lucky enough to relive a very small part of it.

Well, I should have been clearing the garage out at 8am this morning, instead I'm sat here drinking coffee and rambling.. To the garage!

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Not many at all left..

Well had to replace the batteries on both the Boxster and the Rover today. Porsche battery was from eBay at a good price and ECP have a good discount on atm so managed to get an Exide Premium item with better CCA & ah specs than the equivalent Bosch. I had to jump start the Rover last night at my mates house, that was after an overnight charge so it was definitely in need of replacement.

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

old battery out

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and new in

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As one would imagine it spins over much more readily now which is reassuring.

I've also bought some Bosch wipers for the front as the existing ones have seen better days.

I spoke to Moto-Build who are.. I'm not really sure tbh, a classic Rover/British sports car restoration company? Spoke to a very helpful and knowledgeable chap there who confirmed they could supply made to order lowering springs to my spec for about £140, excellent! (eBay wasn't turning up much). He said they'd be the same spec as they've been supplying for the last 25 years plus. They'll be black to be inconspicuous and we agreed on a drop of 40mm. They should be here in mid January.

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TRM, it seems Moto-Build are highly thought of in Rover circles and have been modifying them for a good while. The stuff on GBE looks lovely, but from what I can see it's mostly expensive coil overs rather than just springs.

I'm currently fighting the urge to not buy a Pioneer head unit as I have my bathroom to pay for, a £670 tax bill in Jan and potetially two holidays next year

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all help and advice greatly appreciated dude

Yes that's them, Moto Build Racing, although I did have to check! Slightly confusing

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Not a bad shout aaron, I'll probably just get the Pioneer though

I thought about going back to the standard HU but then thought - why tho I would like the period radio for retro coolness but I do like my sounds, this is the unit I'll likely get

https://www.caraudiocentre.co.uk/product_m-pioneer...

The existing head unit is actually period correct aftermarket I'd say! When did you last see a goodmans replete with old school dancing eq bars

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

It's awful though, as you'd expect, can't pick up any radio stations and it shows the speakers in the car are horrendous also. Will all be changed in the next few months.

Shame about the headlining too, sure this can fixed easily enough though

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

Car doesn't smell of smoke so not sure what the discoloration is but will be sorted soon too

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Could potentially. On that topic I thought I'd pop out quickly and take a few pictures of the areas that need attention, re the sunroof; not sure if this area is symptomatic of the issue and this will be a screen out job to repair properly, £200 quoted by the body shop I'll most likely be using

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

and the other areas, front OS wing

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

front OS lower wing/sill

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

rear OS lower arch

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

rear NS lower arch is fine to the naked eye.

front NS lower wing

Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr

and the bonnet of course which we've already seen. I'm still getting lowering springs first though