Amazosan
Part of things
The Stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' dealin' son of a gun!
Posts: 188 
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Nov 11, 2013 12:47:44 GMT
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'Love for the unloved', a popular term on RR. Well, the Rover 800 is certainly in need of some old-school lovin'. Near-forgotten by the mainstream and the enthusiast, these cars are rapidly nearing extinction; when was the last time you saw a pre-facelift Rover 800? The R17 (the facelift model) is faring a little better; helped by the poster boy of the 800 line, the Coupé. Every time I see one of these cars, I get the urge to scour eBay and buy one; I've fully-specced 820 turbos (and the Honda/Rover V6 models if you're really lucky) going for the price of a cheap flatscreen TV, which is not much in the way of Sterling (arf) for a car that to my mind has the junior-league Bentley thang sewn-up like a Barbour Putney Sportsquilt. Add a little altitude adjustment to the ride height, and I think the air of authority is complete.
More here, perversely from a German classic site; just add translation. And no, I'm not sure if the pictures are of two cars or it can change wheels at will. 
- Amazosan          |
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2013 22:38:06 GMT by Amazosan
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Foxy
Posted a lot
Making pink manly in the north!
Posts: 1,913
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Nov 11, 2013 13:00:54 GMT
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Always had a lot of love for these. back in the 90s a local gentleman who liked selling sherbert and making friends with policemen had one and it was awesome. It had a full stainless exhaust, black windows the whole "THUG" life going on. It was ace.
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I'm the handsome fella with the cheesy white specs or is that the cheesy fella with the handsome white specs?
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tdk
Part of things
Posts: 958
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Nov 11, 2013 13:19:23 GMT
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These are fabulous things, so uncool they are cool, if that's not a contradiction. I remember the TV advert too "Britischer Arkitekt". I'll have the 2.0 Vitesse turbo, please, in BRG.
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Nov 11, 2013 13:56:54 GMT
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I have to agree with you, I do from time to time find myself writing the words 'Rover, 800 and Sterling' into eBay's search filter... it's shocking how cheap they are if there's any on offer at all.
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Nov 11, 2013 14:06:57 GMT
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My Grandad had one of these, it was nice.
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Nov 11, 2013 14:07:51 GMT
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My dad had a Vitesse fastback and a Vitesse coupe.
Personally, I can't see that a Sterling offers more than a Vitesse, but either way, they make a pretty good case for themselves.
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ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,117
Club RR Member Number: 134
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Nov 11, 2013 17:07:07 GMT
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Nov 11, 2013 18:38:54 GMT
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So much good stuff on these on AROnline, of course: www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/rover/800/Specifically on the coupe www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/cars/rover/800/the-cars-rover-800-coupe/Always loved the coupe, still see one very similar to the one pictured driving about. Seem to recall (probably read it on ARO) that it was designed to be aimed at the US luxury tourer market (ie. cadillac eldorado etc). Its proportions aren't very european, design wise, which I think makes them genuinely cool, not just cool for being uncool... |
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Nov 11, 2013 19:40:12 GMT
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Good point, well made. A totally overlooked model. Interior or exterior, the ancestry shared with the SD1 is striking.
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Nov 11, 2013 19:50:27 GMT
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A mate has been offered a v6 coupe for about 'scrap value' (no idea how close to actual scrap value it will be mind). He keeps dropping hints about us going halfs on it. As appealing as the thought of pimping around in one of those slammed and running straight through pipes is, I just have far too much going on car wise right now  |
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60six
Posted a lot
(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻
Posts: 1,658
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Nov 11, 2013 20:32:19 GMT
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Great cars - Far preferred the Honda Legend as it seemed even cooler, and doesn't have that awful front grill that still doesn't look right!  Was offered one of these for 750 half my life ago (20) but even then insurers didn't want to know. |
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Some 9000's, a 900, an RX8 & a beetle
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Nov 11, 2013 21:02:50 GMT
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You can't have a thread about these without this...
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Amazosan
Part of things
The Stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' dealin' son of a gun!
Posts: 188
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Nov 11, 2013 22:34:56 GMT
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Not really; the C25 is the engine in the 800 while the C30A and C32B are the ones used in the NSX. They apparently don't share any components except for the 90 degree angle and general dimensions, but wouldn't it be fun to drop one in a R17 Sterling to create a Anglo-Japanese Thema 8.32 rival, both torque-steering for fun. |
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ToolsnTrack
Posted a lot
Homebrew Raconteur
Posts: 4,117
Club RR Member Number: 134
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Not really; the C25 is the engine in the 800 while the C30A and C32B are the ones used in the NSX. They apparently don't share any components except for the 90 degree angle and general dimensions, but wouldn't it be fun to drop one in a R17 Sterling to create a Anglo-Japanese Thema 8.32 rival, both torque-steering for fun. Or drop a C25 in a MK1 MR2... similar to the 3vz:  ..for a poor mans NSX. |
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I've a vitesse saloon sat on my drive. Great car, just worth so little it's hardly worth selling. I'll have to update the thread soon.
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I've got Rovers.
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Amazosan
Part of things
The Stylin', profilin', limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin' dealin' son of a gun!
Posts: 188
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Not really; the C25 is the engine in the 800 while the C30A and C32B are the ones used in the NSX. They apparently don't share any components except for the 90 degree angle and general dimensions, but wouldn't it be fun to drop one in a R17 Sterling to create a Anglo-Japanese Thema 8.32 rival, both torque-steering for fun. Or drop a C25 in a MK1 MR2... similar to the 3vz: ..for a poor mans NSX. Or a C25 into an MGF for a poor mans E-XE. |
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2013 9:15:00 GMT by Amazosan
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Nov 12, 2013 11:47:05 GMT
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I've a vitesse saloon sat on my drive. Great car, just worth so little it's hardly worth selling. I'll have to update the thread soon. There's a red one up the road from me. It was up for sale previously but I just don't have the time or space. They are great cars. |
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79cord
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,609
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Nov 12, 2013 12:07:41 GMT
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I'm another admirer of the early Legend coupe as well, though both are such suave elegant machines, Honda's looking a little less traditional & more delicate/glassy. Surely the Americans must have dropped a newer (USA) 3.5l Accord V6 & 6-speed manual into this chassis?. (later Legend went to an unusual longitudinal mounted V6 -still FWD, engine over or behind transmission like Older Citroen & Renault. edit: Well I found evidence of an NSX-powered Legend saloon anyway; Supercharged no less... linkeven it its paint looks garish. |
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2013 12:25:15 GMT by 79cord
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Nov 12, 2013 12:51:42 GMT
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About four years ago I was offered an 800 coupe' with the 2.7 lump and a manual box - something which supposedly didn't exist.
Unfortunetly, with the condition of the bodywork and the low value of these cars I didn't buy it and I imagine it's probably scrapped now.
This thread has re-ignited my interest for a Coupe' though and I'm going to keep my eye out for a 2.7 project.
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'03 Porsche 996 C2 3.6 - Sort of Retro
'84 Porsche 924 - Definitely Retro!
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Nov 12, 2013 21:46:40 GMT
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Said to be 80% handbuilt - probably cheapest mainstream car to offer this distinction Oddly lowly 2.0 is rarest of coupes Alexei Sayle had a 827 coupe one new My dad had a Vitesse fastback and a Vitesse coupe. Personally, I can't see that a Sterling offers more than a Vitesse, but either way, they make a pretty good case for themselves. Sterling has more luxury items Not really; the C25 is the engine in the 800 while the C30A and C32B are the ones used in the NSX. They apparently don't share any components except for the 90 degree angle and general dimensions, but wouldn't it be fun to drop one in a R17 Sterling to create a Anglo-Japanese Thema 8.32 rival, both torque-steering for fun. C25 was Honda's first V6 ENGINE |
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Last Edit: Nov 12, 2013 21:51:47 GMT by tali100
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