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Our Cars: 1976 Rover 3500 SD1

19 April 2010: It's in the detail

Following a nice day out at Longbridge yesterday, I decided it was time to stop ignoring all those little cosmetic issues that my Polski-Rover has and get them sorted once and for all. 

Don’t worry – by that I don’t mean that it’s rusting or has picked up some nasty stonechips – but what has been niggling me (and you, judging from the feedback I’ve had) is the lack of a bonnet badge, the incorrect door mirrors and the hubcaps, all of which are missing their centre caps. 

The mirrors had been bothering me the most and, considering the rarity of the rubber items used on the original SD1, I thought it might be a case of living with them for quite some time. Except that the day I rolled up into the office for the first time in my new car, colleague Mark Dixon, produced a brand new one from a fresh Unipart box. Wow. 

Of course, one isn’t good enough really so, after posting a notice on the Rover SD1 Owners’ Club forum asking for one, fellow member Tim Leech shouted that he had one. And so, that’s why at Longbridge yesterday, he’s coming up to me with another fresh Unipart box in his hand, saying ‘here you go’. Wow again. 

So, it seemed churlish of me not to fit them. And you know what, despite my reservations, I love them. So, thanks guys for being so generous. Karma is a great thing and it’s nice when something nice like that happens to me… 

Boxes filled with joy...Boxes filled with joy...

The bonnet badge was also a problem. The Poles had lost the original and, when restoring the bonnet, they decided to fill the mounting holes with brass. Not good when you need to fit a new badge. Anyway, in the end, I removed the fixing pins from the back and trim-taped the elegant looking skeletal badge to the front of my car. Again, I haven’t particularly missed it, but now it’s on, I think it looks great. 

The hubcaps – again – have their correct badges in the middle and look great all polished up. 

My car now therefore looks complete. Those missing items may not have been any real significance but, now they’re on, the magnificence of Bache’s design stands up under even the closest scrutiny. 

Speaking to people at the Pride of Longbridge show yesterday, it’s clear that there are many who have been delighted to see my old SD1 restored to (more than) its original glory. And to see the delight in show-goers’ eyes when they saw the car gave me real pleasure indeed. I hope it’s also inspired a few of you to follow suit… 

See you at the next one! 

Polski-Rover has the correct mirrors now!Polski-Rover has the correct mirrors now!

« Earlier: Working for a living     Later: Polski-Rover ups and downs »

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...
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
19 April 2010: It's in the detail
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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