Friday 5th March 2010

SOTW: Rover SD1/Metro Vanden Plas

Shed becomes a temporary 1980s Austin-Rover dealer, with a pair of luxurious late British Leyland specials.

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Rover SD1
First to be offered by a sheepskin-clad Shed is a bells-and-whistles, last-of-the-line Rover SD1 2600 Vanden Plas automatic.

Despite build quality problems that would shame a cheap Ikea coffee table, there is something very appealing about the SD1. For a start, it is probably the only executive car ever to mix being built in Birmingham with looking like a Ferrari (365 GTB/4 Daytona, to be precise).

It also managed to mix a very forward-looking design (the fastback body and a distinctive 'Bache binnacle' dash were pretty avant-garde for a big saloon in the 1970s) with traditional plush and cosy Rover values.

The SD1 had a difficult birth, appearing in 1976 - just a year after the government had been forced to bail British Leyland out of bankruptcy - during a time of more or less constant industrial action. As a result the first cars were of poor quality and, although the motoring press praised the car's design and dynamics, the SD1's wonky build quality tempered their enthusiasm.

By the time this car rolled off the Rover production line in 1987, the SD1 had been in production for more than a decade and, although the early quality problems had largely been sorted, the legacy of them had left the SD1's reputation permanently tarnished.

But the allure of the SD1 is undeniable and, if you want to take a punt at one, a late one is surely a good bet. And this 1987 model must be one of the very last - production was discontinued in February 1987. Oddly enough, by this time the SD1's successor - the oh-so-dull Honda Legend-based Rover 800 had been in production for more than six months.

You really want a rumbling V8 in your SD1, but this is Shed of the Week, and sometimes you just have to make compromises. Therefore this car is a 2600, whose Triumph-based 2597cc straight six is down on cylinders compared with the V8, but still manages to muster an acceptable 136bhp and 152lb ft.

This one also has electric windows, central locking, tax until May and an MOT until November, and a lowly 57,000 miles on the clock from just two owners.

It ain't perfect - there's apparently rust on the doors and all four arches - but come on, it's big, it's comfy, it's British and they really don't make 'em like this any more...

Metro Vanden Plas
Nestled in the other corner of the Shed Motors forecourt this week is a real gem. PHer Justayellowbadge has this utterly magnificent 1984 A-reg Metro Vanden Plas Automatic for sale.

With just 12,400 miles from new it has to be one of the lowest-mileage Metros around. According to JAYB, it was modified from new and gets white leather with black piping, an electric aerial, modified dash trimmed in leather, and electric windows (which were never fitted as standard to an A-series powered Metro).

"I'm not sure who did the work," says Mr Badge. "It's Wood & Pickett 'ish' but probably influenced by rather than done by. It was put together for a member of the Royal family and apparently lived the first 20 something years of its life in a heated garage. If the sterling silver medallion on the steering wheel is to be believed, the car was called 'Vicky'."

Sadly, 'Vicky' failed her MOT in February over a front suspension bush and knackered tyres. The tax has run out as well, so it's up for £500 to anyone who can give it a good home.

Rover SD1 advert:

1987 E Rover SD1 2.6 Vanden Plas auto (1987)
57,000 miles £795

Model: E-reg Rover SD1 2.6 Vanden Plas auto
Year: 1987
Mileage: 57000
Tax: May 2010
MOT: November 24th 2010
Location: Fife, Scotland
Price: 795

Additional Information:
Another late plate sd1!!!!!!
Only two owners from new and showing 57,000 miles on the clock
It drives lovely and smooth
Central locking,electric windows,radio casette
Previous owner has done some repairs to the sills and carried out his own paintwork on both sides of the car
All four wheelarches are blistered and the rear doors are rusty
Alloys have been refurbed

[Stuart]

In one post the two extremes of the Dunham & Haines showroom that plagued me as a youth; my father is a driving instructor and so we had a brand new mini metro without fail on August 1st (and he'd have to change the clutch by February) and its arrival would always be greeted by a massive wave of disappointment by me.

Of course, it was never likely that he'd come home one August 1st in an SD1 fitted with dual controls and a white perspex box on the roof with his name and an L plate on it, but I lived in hope...

[smele]

Fond memories of a friends V8 SD1. Driving along at 30mph "What happens when you move the gear selector from D to R?" Cue, noise screeching and lots of tyre smoke.

[300bhp/ton]

SD1's just look so damn right, even now. Cool inside and out. Great SOTW.


Metro - highly underrated in this day and age. It really was a modern Mini in it's day.

Reckon that one would be prime to fit a tuned 160hp VVC unit in, and keep it looking stock otherwise

[varsas]

article said:

during a time of more or lest constant industrial action

• less

Hmm, all for SD1's (can even live with the auto box) but a rusty one will be a nightmare. Much more interested in the metro TBH!

[Johnspex]

I had a 2600 SDi and I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy.
Warped cylinder head and then finally camshaft seizure because the oilways weren't man enough for the job. I also replaced the self-levelling rear suspension with a standard set-up.
Nice car to ride in but terrible to own. Don't touch it unless you're completely insane.

[carmadgaz]

Would you buy a car from JAYB though ()

Wouldn't say no to either on my drive though tbh, always liked the SD1 and the Metro is something a bit different.

[FWDRacer]

Johnspex said:

I had a 2600 SDi and I wouldn't wish one on my worst enemy.
Warped cylinder head and then finally camshaft seizure because the oilways weren't man enough for the job. I also replaced the self-levelling rear suspension with a standard set-up.
Nice car to ride in but terrible to own. Don't touch it unless you're completely insane.

There are plenty on here

SD1 - Great SOTW. Twin plenum Vitesse anyone?

[mat13]

Wonder how much JAYB payed for the plug.....

[spoonoff]

My Mum used to have an old Metro, one of my favourite ever drives about 10 years ago was spanking the tyres off it over the moors from Pickering to Whitby. It had a suprisingly good chassis as I recall, and 80 mph felt like about 150 in that thing...

Fond memories though.

[Ex Boy Racer]

Borrowed my Dad's early SD1 (Mreg) and took it to school. Lunchtime, 6 mates in the car, an indicated 135 mph on the speedo down the Evesham Bypass... until i spotted roadworks a mile down the road. Just about stopped but sat at the red light with smoke pouring out of all 4 wheelarches.

What a car. Dad never found out.

[MarJay]

Do you know what?

Shed of the week is the highlight of my working week. Friday afternoon is looked upon with eager anticipation, not only of the impending weekend but also a fantastic suggestion or two of what I could spend a 'bag of sand' from my savings on as a weekend car or toy.

Then I open up PH to find an Auto Rover SD1 and a Metro Vanden Plas.

Scrappage has a LOT to answer for.

What has happened to stuff like the RX7 with a dent in the arch, or the E30 325i cab or the PH Mk1 MX5...?

This week is SOTW fail. As I said in the Facebook group SOTW seems to follow the 'Star Trek Movie' rule in that there is one good shed (Audi Coupe) and then one bad shed (SD1 and Metro). This has gone on as far as I can remember and, frankly being that my mood for the whole of Friday afternoon, indeed the entire weekend, hinges on the quality of SOTW, I hope that you guys can pull your socks up a bit. Next week I expect better!


Yes, I probably need to get out more...

Edited by MarJay on Friday 5th March 12:40

[andyps]

I would love both of those cars, would be a great pair on the drive.

Always loved the SD1, my Dad had a 2300 as a company car when I was learning to drive and I drove all round Scotland in it with L plates on - single track roads in a car almost as wide as they were was great experience, I remember my Dad saying I was too close to the left whilst I thought I was too close to the right! Also learned a lot about observation and reading the road ahead, looking for anywhere you might actually be able to see it and other cars.

The Metro is a real time warp one by the look of things - interior looks great but unless it can be kept in a garage now it would be a shame to own it.

If only they both had manual gearboxes...

[Hub]

I remember an Uncle had an identical SD1 on a D Plate when I was a kid. I loved the interior. Rear wheel camber looks wrong on this one!

The metro is horrible

Nice Escort in the garage though!

Edited by Hub on Friday 5th March 12:44

[king arthur]

Back in around 1978 my father was looking into which car to get next, and was considering either a Rover 2000 or a Rover 3500. "Ooooh get the 3500" we all cried, and so he did. Little did we realise, as young naive kids, that he couldn't afford an SD1 and the car he meant was a P6 3500, which turned out to be a cracking car but it meant that the SD1 is one British car that neither myself nor any member of my family has ever owned, unfortunately. I don't think it's quite enough of a classic to make me want to buy one now.

[Riggers]

MarJay said:

Do you know what?

Shed of the week is the highlight of my working week. Friday afternoon is looked upon with eager anticipation, not only of the impending weekend but also a fantastic suggestion or two of what I could spend a 'bag of sand' from my savings on as a weekend car or toy.

Then I open up PH to find an Auto Rover SD1 and a Metro Vanden Plas.

Scrappage has a LOT to answer for.

What has happened to stuff like the RX7 with a dent in the arch, or the E30 325i cab or the PH Mk1 MX5...?

This week is SOTW fail. As I said in the Facebook group SOTW seems to follow the 'Star Trek Movie' rule in that there is one good shed (Audi Coupe) and then one bad shed (SD1 and Metro). This has gone on as far as I can remember and, frankly being that my mood for the whole of Friday afternoon, indeed the entire weekend, hinges on the quality of SOTW, I hope that you guys can pull your socks up a bit. Next week I expect better!


Yes, I probably need to get out more...

If your theory is correct, then it inevitably will be

[Gridl0k]

What's silver worth these days?

Someone must be able to link that Metro with a HRH - c'mon...

[anonymous-user]

I'm a fan of both of these cars, but its no secret than the Metro's rusted just as fast as the Mini and the build quality on most was shocking with bits of the dashboard coming apart as you drove along, literally.

For months and months there was a low miles (I think it was 5,000 miles from new) Austin Metro on eBay but I can't find it now.

[Frimley111R]

300bhp/ton said:

Metro - highly underrated in this day and age. It really was a modern Mini in it's day.

Quite literally. Wasn't it a mini floorpan with a Metro body?

[Duftm01]

This is perfect timing. Me and two other associates hold a British Leyland Forum quarterly and next meeting, BLF09, is tonight. A review of the comments made in this item with be discussed at the forum after consumption of many worldly beers!

[Craiglamuffin]

I'd never made the Rover SD1/Ferrari Daytona association before, but now you mention it.... No. Never. The front indicators are a bit triangular. That's it.