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Honest John Classics Our Classic Cars 1976 Rover 3500 SD1
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Our Cars: 1976 Rover 3500 SD1

18 July 2011: Soldiering on

Well it’s been a few weeks since I managed to prise the keys for my Rover SD1 from the hands of my mate Scott Brownlee, and all I can say is that it’s running like a train. Mike Humble has done a truly magnificent job turning this good looking but mechanically glitchy classic into something you can jump in and actually use. And that has definitely been the case recently – it’s taken me to Goodwood and to various other events without missing a beat; and it even managed to seduce a number of AROnline readers this weekend at the 10th anniversary celebrations, when they had the opportunity to drive it.

I must admit that I’ve been finding it hard to fault – and I guess with me being me that makes it almost too boring to run. But I only think in these terms when I am out of the car. When driving it, the sound it makes; the way it feels through the wheel; and its whole demeanour have me questioning the idiocy of building it so badly in the first place. But that’s life, and it can’t be changed now.

So, as running reports go, this one’s going to be quite boring. It pulls well, the V8 uses little oil, the gearchange is spot-on, the exhaust is quiet, and most importantly it stops and corners nicely on those new Sava tyres. The car hasn’t let me down at all in some quite trying conditions, and that’s all one can ever ask for. So, sorry for being dull, but let’s hop in this case that pictures speak louder than words.

Thanks as ever to the brilliant Richard Gunn for taking this rather nice snap!

« Earlier: Mission accomplished!     Later: SD1 heads for Perfection »

Updates
We decide to take a £200 Rover SD1 to receive a full body restoration. Here's the story...
The work in Poland carries on in earnest
The Rover SD1 goes to a new home. It's been emotional...
Back in daily use, the SD1's odo ticks past 50K
The SD1 enjoys another MoT test - and passes, with a few advisories...
An incapacitated Keith Adams hands over the SD1 to Richard Kilpatrick
Time to get the SD1 out to a show... and look what we bump into.
Now it's up to scratch, it's time to get the SD1 looking as good as it drives...
18 July 2011: Soldiering on
This running report is boring - nothing has happened. And that's a blessed relief
Rover SD1 powers to the Pride of Longbridge... and suffers not a single breakage!
Pride of Longbridge approaches and Mike Humble is looking forward to taking the Rover SD1
Mike Humble carries on working on the SD1 - it's nearly finished. Promise!
Mike Humble gets the SD1 through its MoT without too many issues
Mike Humble is never 'tyred' of working on a classic motoring icon, only a few more details and the mission is complete.
Let's get rid of that carbuncle off the rear of the SD1!
Mike Humble - once again - sets about fixing another set of SD1 maladies
Getting the SD1 up and running again...
Something's not clicking with the SD1. Maybe some factory alloys might improve matters
Mike's spent weeks getting the SD1 into a roadworthy condition. He's literally sweated cobs over it - and we're not sure he'd like to repeat the experience.
Mike Humble has been having some truly epic battles with the Rover SD1. He's winning, though.
We've handed the SD1 over to Mike Humble in order to fix all those niggles. It proved to be a bit of a battle
It's getting a thorough work-put now, and one or two teething problems are working their way through
To to start undoing some of the unwanted cosmetic modifications
We're now trusting the Rover to take us out and about on jobs. Good idea?
Has it been worth the wait. Five years after buying it, we're finally able to legally drive the freshly MoT'd Rover SD1
Plenty of work needed for the MoT - and we're not there yet!
The Rover's been shipped to MOTest in Farnham for its first post-restoration MoT. Fingers crossed.
First drive, and we're going to have a bit of work...
So now it's home, it's time to take stock of what needs doing on the project Rover SD1
The SD1 is pretty much paid for, now we just need to get it back to the UK
We've just dashed to Poland to drop off a few finishing touches to our SD1 restoration
After three years, the Rover SD1 restoration in Poland is finished. Now the work begins
 

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