Our Cars: 1976 Rover 3500 SD1
5 February 2011: A handsome beast (bar none)
Slowly, but surely, I’m getting through the list of jobs one by one. I’ve almost cracked the gearlever problems, there’s fresh oil in the sump, eight new NGK plugs in the creamy smooth engine and the Polski-Rover no longer sounds like a NASCAR racecar. I simply ADORE working on a proper motor because it’s such a refreshing change from the plug ‘n play diagnostics of modern motoring – it’s all hands on and fault diagnosis relying on experience, skill and a good ear.
Keith was in two minds about keeping the Heath Robinson towbar but, after a sneaky text an hour after leaving my house last weekend, I was instructed to ‘get rid of the bloody thing.’ Thank god because, unless you are an avid caravanner or regular towing person, a towbar can blight the look of a car, especially something as iconic in shape as the Rover SD1.
Right from the first time I saw the car at Longbridge last year, I thought the towbar spoilt what I truly believe to be British Leyland’s best offering of the 1970s this side of the classic Range Rover.
When it hit the ground a reading of 6.1 was measured on the Richter scale in nearby Dorking!Today, then, I ventured outside in the strong winds armed with my sockets and wire cutters to relieve the Rover of its rear end wart. The towbar had, in fact, been fitted properly and I was chuffed to bits to find that the rear bumper did not have to be removed. After an hour, the car once again looked as mean and moody from the rear as it does from the front.
Carefully tracing the wiring loom into the rear lights, I set about removing the plethora of horrible scotch locks and carefully insulating any exposed wire. Driving at night brought up an earth problem in the rear light units which has also been dealt with by nipping up the earth terminals and cleaning up the spade connectors on the bulb holders – all relevant stuff as I hope to MoT the car in the very near future.
Well, that’s where we are at the moment – the only remaining issues include a weepy power steering system, one dodgy tyre and a damn good pre-MoT inspection. Everything else from the never-ending list of bodges and nasties I attended to last year seems to be holding together, so I’m quietly confident the MoT won’t throw up anything naughty – I hope!
« Earlier: Pipes of peace (at last) Later: A car with the right profile »
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