rover 216 budget retroride

[Mercdan68]

after a few to many stellas last saturday i hit the buy it now on ebay and bought another old car to tinker
with,,,wife wasnt best pleased, but i can grovel very well, learnt over many years!
basically i wanted something different and with a view to lightly modifying, wheels lowering etc
i bought this blind, not something i normally do but i was well pleased when the seller delivered it today
basically in great condition, low miles and one family owned, i will stick it in my garage and tinker over the coming summer, lowered springs required probably 40mm and some alloys, budget priced so probably mgf or similar wheels..few pics as it arrived it a honda 16valve engined model

[tubthumper]

That looks in fabulous condition.

I had the GTi version in the 90's, and managed to get it up to 165k before it went bang. Mine was bog standard and still managed to surprise many far far more expensive things on my way to and from work.

[Rich]

MGF Wheels are the wrong PCD for the 400 series.
Most 1.6 models were the K series too. Be interesting to see one with a 1.6 Honda motor.
I like these, must to many peoples despair. I always thought they drove nicely when pushed hard.

[Mercdan68]

Thanks for that info on wheels! I will take some engine bay pics this week

[baggabones]

Looks like a good buy

[120y]

.

[Rich]

Apr 29, 2014 20:21:24 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Thanks for that info on wheels! I will take some engine bay pics this week

Cool. Wouldn't want you to storm on and buy some to find they don't fit. Car looks very tidy!

[Robinxr4i]

Apr 29, 2014 20:12:21 GMT Rich said:

Most 1.6 models were the K series too. Be interesting to see one with a 1.6 Honda motor.
I like these, must to many peoples despair. I always thought they drove nicely when pushed hard.

There did seem to be quite a few Honda powered ones from what I've seen, my old 216 SLi had a sohc 16v D-series engine in it, bought for £260 then proceeded to hammer it to death. Great fun to rag. Almost bought another D16 powered one a few months back too, was proper clean wish I'd bought it now.

Easiest way to tell (if you aren't in the know engine wise) is if it's honda or rover powered is the orientation of the engine and gear box.....

Gearbox on passenger side = Rover K-series

Gearbox on drives side = Honda D-series

IMO providing the K-series isn't suffering from head gasket problems, it's as good as the Honda engine and better on fuel too!

Stud pattern on it is 4x100 so finding wheels to fit should be a doddle.

[qwerty]

My grandad had a one exactly the same as that. Remember going to France in it

There's some nice 16" alloys that come on the 45 that look like MGF wheels and would look great on this.

[THE_Liam]

My mate had one of these for his first car, stereotypically he got it given by his grandad. Was the 1.4 K-series, was actually really nice to drive, especially once he lowered it. Obviously it died of head gasket failure as always with the K.

[grifterkid]

Tidy, very tidy indeed... As a budget retro this must be up near the top in terms of rarity?! I reckon with the right mods this could look a right little gem... Enjoy!

[concertocharlie]

lovely cars, I have a Honda Concerto, built along side rover 200, at longbridge but using only 100% perfect parts and then checked by Honda engineers and signed off in swindon
here's mine


they look good on MG ZR wheels

[Mercdan68]

Quick hour claybar on the paintwork tonight, has come up nice just got to give it a good waxing now

[choaky]

I think il bookmark this one :-), I had a 214 in nightfire red for a little bit, nice car but suffered the classic k series head gasket failure.

[Mercdan68]

Apr 30, 2014 20:20:35 GMT choaky said:

I think il bookmark this one :-), I had a 214 in nightfire red for a little bit, nice car but suffered the classic k series head gasket failure.

Cheers fella,, glad this one has the honda engine! That said i owned a new 214sei back in 1995 and owned it two years with no problems

[rlloyd91]

Bookmarked! ... Don't know why always have liked these! We defiantly need more photos

[brocky]

Really do like these little rovers, they may not be anything sparkly but I just like the look.
I had two non coupe 220gsis and loved them and when I had to buy a car quick after an insurance claim I got a 214 and they were all good cars.

[grifterkid]

Apr 30, 2014 19:20:08 GMT Mercdan68 said:

Quick hour claybar on the paintwork tonight, has come up nice...

Give us more photos please...!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a feeling this may end up looking ruddy brilliant...

[Mercdan68]

Thanks for the great encouragement, managed to source a set of mg alloys today on a write off.. Will pick them up tuesday and more pics to follow soon, also lowered springs to be purchased soon

[Amazosan]

Another Nightfire Red R8 owner on Retro Rides; Huzzah! I've owned a few R8s and currently have a 52,000 mile 214 SEi; it's completely mint so I'm still reticent to sully it yet, although that may change, as the look applied to THAT MG Maestro would work on an R8, IMHO. The other SEi is it's predecessor; I can tell you that 16" hairpin alloys and R3 BRM/Rover 45 'Cosmos' wheels bolt straight on, and it may even be possible that R50 Mini wheels will fit, although the offset is mighty close (can't remember specifics off the top of my head) and I've not had a chance to check the theory yet.
Don't let any idiots tell you these are naff cars (I've had so-called car enthusiast laugh at my choice of buying another SEi); they have a lot of potential.