I first saw this car when it popped up on the 800 owners club page on Facebook. There was some 'back and forth' among the members about the genuineness of the advertised low mileage. Plenty of comments about it being clocked, or something being 'dodgy' about it. The reason for the comments was the MOT history, or more specifically, the mileages recorded in that history. Have a look....
Is it just me that could instantly see that the mileages recorded in 2008 and 2009 were inaccurate, with the tenth of a mile digit added in?
2006 was 13,034
2007 was 14,617
2008 was recorded as 164,845 but should have been 16,484
2009 was recorded as 169,350 but should have been 16,935
2010 was 17,363
2011 was 17,654
It just seemed pretty obvious to me. Not to some. Anyway, whilst the arguing rumbled on, I saw the potential of this super low mileage example and contacted the seller. I was told it was a runner, quite damp inside, a bit rough, but an honest car which had been owned by the same elderly gent in Birmingham since 2004, and had been parked up in his front garden for the last four years. On this info, I agreed a price, and arranged to get the car collected.
I'm quite full on trying to run two coffee shops during a global pandemic, with all the stress that is dishing out, so I arranged for the Rover to go straight to a mates garage, when he has been tasked with sorting the mechanicals on this one.
First impressions weren't good. Paint was like sandpaper, there's filler and diy paint repairs here and there. The nearside sill wasn't as solid as the offside, but perhaps not terrible. The interior was very damp, from the seats to the mouldy headlining. The boot was pretty wet too. The roof where it meets the top of the windscreen is a bit crusty and was badly filled with some bathroom sealant. But... the basics were there ...it starts, runs, drives and stops, with a smooth auto gear change, so there's definately promise. Sounded a bit rough, felt a bit rough, but it's an 18k mile Mk1 Rover 820 auto. How many of them are there? Not many I reckon. Quite surprisingly, electrically it's pretty good, with the central locking, digital clock, radio, electric windows, mirrors, and sunroof all working. The heating system and fans need to be sorted, but for a 30 years old Rover 800, I'll take that.
Some pics as it was when it was delivered...
The Mk2 grille will be coming off of course when it's time for some bodywork.
Lovely, if a little damp, blue velour interior...
Engine wise, it's a 2 litre M series, so single point injection, coupled to an automatic transmission. And, of course, only 18k miles covered.
After some fresh fuel, oil and filters, and swapping some Mk2 Sterling alloys on for their decent tyres...
...I decided to get it in for an 'exploratory' MOT. See where we are with it, and get a starting point with it. The result of that first MOT was a pleasant surprise. It failed on emissions only, with an advisory for a slight exhaust blow.
More fresh fuel, some Redex, and a bit of tweaking gave us a positive result next up....
And that's kind of where I am with it at the minute. It needs two rocker gaskets, which are proving a little difficult to find, timing belt kit, more service items, bodywork & paint etc etc.
Updates to come.
Is it just me that could instantly see that the mileages recorded in 2008 and 2009 were inaccurate, with the tenth of a mile digit added in?
2006 was 13,034
2007 was 14,617
2008 was recorded as 164,845 but should have been 16,484
2009 was recorded as 169,350 but should have been 16,935
2010 was 17,363
2011 was 17,654
It just seemed pretty obvious to me. Not to some. Anyway, whilst the arguing rumbled on, I saw the potential of this super low mileage example and contacted the seller. I was told it was a runner, quite damp inside, a bit rough, but an honest car which had been owned by the same elderly gent in Birmingham since 2004, and had been parked up in his front garden for the last four years. On this info, I agreed a price, and arranged to get the car collected.
I'm quite full on trying to run two coffee shops during a global pandemic, with all the stress that is dishing out, so I arranged for the Rover to go straight to a mates garage, when he has been tasked with sorting the mechanicals on this one.
First impressions weren't good. Paint was like sandpaper, there's filler and diy paint repairs here and there. The nearside sill wasn't as solid as the offside, but perhaps not terrible. The interior was very damp, from the seats to the mouldy headlining. The boot was pretty wet too. The roof where it meets the top of the windscreen is a bit crusty and was badly filled with some bathroom sealant. But... the basics were there ...it starts, runs, drives and stops, with a smooth auto gear change, so there's definately promise. Sounded a bit rough, felt a bit rough, but it's an 18k mile Mk1 Rover 820 auto. How many of them are there? Not many I reckon. Quite surprisingly, electrically it's pretty good, with the central locking, digital clock, radio, electric windows, mirrors, and sunroof all working. The heating system and fans need to be sorted, but for a 30 years old Rover 800, I'll take that.
Some pics as it was when it was delivered...
The Mk2 grille will be coming off of course when it's time for some bodywork.
Lovely, if a little damp, blue velour interior...
Engine wise, it's a 2 litre M series, so single point injection, coupled to an automatic transmission. And, of course, only 18k miles covered.
After some fresh fuel, oil and filters, and swapping some Mk2 Sterling alloys on for their decent tyres...
...I decided to get it in for an 'exploratory' MOT. See where we are with it, and get a starting point with it. The result of that first MOT was a pleasant surprise. It failed on emissions only, with an advisory for a slight exhaust blow.
More fresh fuel, some Redex, and a bit of tweaking gave us a positive result next up....
And that's kind of where I am with it at the minute. It needs two rocker gaskets, which are proving a little difficult to find, timing belt kit, more service items, bodywork & paint etc etc.
Updates to come.
