R8 Rover 216 GTI sohc
Discussion
JLC25 said:
Hate to be the bearer of bad news... http://mg.co.uk/offers-finance/mg3/simple-scrappag...
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. Getting rare now - I'd definitely have another twin-cam with the half-leather seats (or an ultra-rare 220Gsi Turbo...)
Banger rallied though
Which is the model - Turbo with 4 doors and a boot? Pretty sure it had GSI on the back and a really small Turbo badge? Someone local to me had one for years and years, knightfire red, was always mint and seemed to be used only on weekends. Not seen him for a few years, hope the car lives on. Was in the Whinmoor area of Leeds if anyone had seen it.
Mr Teddy Bear said:
The 220/420 came with the T Series engine and a Turbo.
The 216/416 GTi came with the Honda D16 always N/A.
Ah so the car I saw was a 420, must be an incredibly rare car now. Not something I'd buy but I do have an 820 Vitesse Coupe Sport Turbo itch that needs scratching badly. Those "Turbo" Recaro's, just Rover epic ness. The 216/416 GTi came with the Honda D16 always N/A.
exgtt said:
Ah so the car I saw was a 420, must be an incredibly rare car now. Not something I'd buy but I do have an 820 Vitesse Coupe Sport Turbo itch that needs scratching badly. Those "Turbo" Recaro's, just Rover epic ness.
The 420 GSi Turbo was rare as feck back in the late 90s, nevermind now 
Just like the 3-door 220 GSi Turbo (has to be in Tahiti Blue).This brings back some happy memories! In my early days of driving I had a 214 Si followed by a 214 GSi. IIRC the Si was single point injection, whereas the GSi was multi point and felt like a rocket ship in comparison. Later on I had a British racing green 3 door TC which was lovely. Very willing engine and a really good looking car IMHO. I'd still be very tempted by the turbo these days!
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.
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.
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 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.
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!
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
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr
and new in
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickr
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.
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 Flickrold battery out
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on Flickrand new in
Untitled by Kaeser Devon, on FlickrAs 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.
Ah, the joy of a new battery, other than starting everything else seems to work better with a nice new one, not worth messing about if its looking iffy, for seventy quid its worth it, one incidence of it not starting is more of a faff and you have to change it then anyway.
Always liked these, we have them as company cars back in the nineties, used to buy them off the company when they had done with them, clean them up and then punt them on, did three or four and made a grand a piece, until they realised I was making money out of it. They were 214 SLI's mainly, they felt pretty quick for the time, 104 bhp and a very revvy engine, spent many a happy hour giving them utter death round the country roads of Cheshire and Shropshire, I had a MK1 Golf GTI at the time and these were near enough as quick, didnt have the low down grunt but get them spinning they were a sweet little engine.
I had a green coupe one I bought, was an auto 1.6, great little car, seemed to handle a bit better as well.
Always liked these, we have them as company cars back in the nineties, used to buy them off the company when they had done with them, clean them up and then punt them on, did three or four and made a grand a piece, until they realised I was making money out of it. They were 214 SLI's mainly, they felt pretty quick for the time, 104 bhp and a very revvy engine, spent many a happy hour giving them utter death round the country roads of Cheshire and Shropshire, I had a MK1 Golf GTI at the time and these were near enough as quick, didnt have the low down grunt but get them spinning they were a sweet little engine.
I had a green coupe one I bought, was an auto 1.6, great little car, seemed to handle a bit better as well.
A very quick word of warning, do your research on who you get your lowering springs from.
Have a look at https://www.gb-ent.com/collections/suspension-kits
He has been around rovers for years.
Also have a browse on rovertech and rover200.org.uk
Have a look at https://www.gb-ent.com/collections/suspension-kits
He has been around rovers for years.
Also have a browse on rovertech and rover200.org.uk
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
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
squareflops said:
TRM, it seems Moto-Build are highly thought of in Rover circles and have been modifying them for a good while.
I had a 220 Coupe for 20 years and a 220 GSI Turbo for 13 years, just trying to help like I say you probably want to do some research.I take it you are talking about Moto-Build Racing? not Moto-Build who look after classic MG stuff.
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