20th January 2019
I changed my mind. I'm keeping it. I'm sure I'd regret selling this if I did.
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1994 Rover 414Sli manual
MoT until 11th September 2019
£500
Located in TS17, Stockton-on-Tees
I've had this car for a few years now and it has gone from being a down-at-heel stop-gap car to an utterly dependable, comfortable, and frugal daily driver. I'd trust it to take me anywhere at a moment's notice and have used it regularly to travel from Stockton-on-Tees to Maidstone and back again, with no bother at all.
The usual R8 problems have all been attended to.
Head Gasket - It's a K series, they have a reputation, I know. However, this one has had the head gasket done properly a couple of years ago in my ownership and provided faultless service on a daily basis since. Just remember to never thrash it from cold and change the coolant at the appropriate intervals and it should never be a problem again. The timing belt was done at the same time.
Rear trailing arm bushes - these, and all other bushes on the car, have been replaced with new OEM bushes.
Rear arch/sill rot - a common problem on the R8. This one had minor rust to this area and this has now been replaced with fresh steel. This car is remarkably solid underneath and in need of no welding.
Spare wheel - the hold-down bolt is present and undamaged, these are often seized and the plastic top snapped off.
Interior
Half-leather seats. These are from a hatchback so you get the benefit of a folding rear seat, something the saloon did not have as standard.
Refurbished wooden trim
Original Rover rubber floor mats, which are quite rare.
Original radio-cassette with code, in full working order, including the often missing end caps
Burgundy carpet
Exterior
Lower half painted Rover Diamond White
Front bumper is standard SLi fitment
Boot lip spoiler (standard fitment on the hatchback, not on the saloon)
Pre-facelift front end. Originally was fitted with the large chrome and plastic grille, bolt holes for this were welded, and an early grille and badge installed for a cleaner look
De-badged boot lid
Gold wrapped chrome trim to match the wheels
Alloy wheels with original Rover R8 emblems on the centre caps so they look factory.
If you wanted to, reverting the car back to factory trim would be easy since everything I've changed can be swapped straight over for original equipment. Original springs, steel wheels, and a full compliment of early R8 wheel trims do come with the car.
Amongst other things, the car has recently had a brand new windscreen fitted to replace the scratched one it came to me with. During my ownership it's benefitted from new shocks, springs, radiator, brakes front and rear, clutch, all fluids including gearbox oil, all bushes, and likely other things I can't remember right now. Basically, anything it's needed it's had and some things it hasn't needed it's got anyway so everything is in the best health it could be. I've spent considerably more than £500 on this car so you won't have to.
This is an excellent starting point to make the project your own, or a good affordable way into reliable retro ownership. Cheap to tax, cheap to fuel, and usually cheap to insure, this is very likely a car I shall regret selling and will miss, but there's a lot more cars out there I want to own and experience.
If you wish to purchase this car, then please send me a message here on Retro Rides, or via Twitter to @angylroper I work funny hours, so I shan't provide a phone number until the point of collection or viewing.