1998 Rover 600

[Geordie]

I really didn't need another car. Six is more than enough for me, although two are for sale, and with the impending opening of the coffee shop, I wasn't looking for anything else. But this one came onto my radar quite by chance. I saw it on Facebook, being advertised by the friend of a lady who's mother had recently passed away, and wanted her car to go to a good home. It was affordable, and local. And I felt I could give it that good home that was being sought. So, I went to look at it today, and drove it home.

1998 Rover 618 (Honda engine)
MOT April 2018
43,600 miles
Manual
3 previous owners

It'd been sat outside without turning a wheel since April, but with the help of some jump leads, it fired up straight away, and I got it home the five miles to mine. It drove great. N o rattles squeaks, knocks or bangs. Engine ticks over lovely and smooth, got up to temperature and stayed there. Couldn't see any oil patches underneath or evidence of lost fluids where it had been sat for 8 months.

It's got some battle scars, scuffs, scratches and dents, but I'll get them sorted next year. Needs a damn good clean too, as it's been sat parked up outdoors since April. The MOT history shows it's only covered 8,000 miles in the last 12 years.

More details and the usual progress pics to follow, but here's the first ones after I got it home...

[peter96]

That's a bit of a change for you. Looks like it could turn into a nice example of a fast disappearing car. Ps Good luck with the new business venture. Always fancied doing something like that myself but never had the nerve or the drive to make it happen.

[Geordie]

Dec 16, 2017 21:54:05 GMT peter96 said:

That's a bit of a change for you. Looks like it could turn into a nice example of a fast disappearing car. Ps Good luck with the new business venture. Always fancied doing something like that myself but never had the nerve or the drive to make it happen.

Thanks Peter. I guess it's a change for me not being German of Japanese, but I've always loved Rovers, especially of the 80's and 90's. Do you remember my second Tomcat Coupe?....

forum.retro-rides.org/thread/142494/1995-rover-tomcat-coupe

Thanks for your best wishes ref the coffee shop. You'll have to pop in whenever you're over this way.

[peter96]

Ah I had forgotten about the Tomcat. I haven't been i the North of England for a fair few years but would definitely call in if I'm that way again.

[Mercdan68]

Love it!
Nearly bought one a month ago before the 190e
I really like these...polished bbs replicas and a small lowering , perfect

[Geordie]

Despite being laid low a bit with shingles, I had a first proper wander around the Rover today, picking up on the things that need doing. There's a bit to do like....

The rear number plate was an advisory on the last MOT. It's a bit faded, and has a dealers sticker over the lower bit. Perhaps they are original plates. I'll peel that recent sticker off at some point soon...

























Is that fag ash...?



Yep...



Bonus...some pistachio shells!



Bigger bonus, the purchase price was reduced by 63p!



Something like this normally means one thing....



and yes, it's had some naughty fingers in there at some point...



a perspex replacement...





Another 5p, and some maccyD's salt. The bonuses just keep coming!



Keep fit windows in the rear...



The door open warning light stays on all the time...



Engine bay needs a clean, but it all seems good under there...



Bit of greenery on the headlights...





Boot is a bit sandy, but under that mat, it's in a good state....



Original Michelin spare perhaps?



Only one key, and no remote fobs...



The radio needs coding. And I don't have the code!...







The electric ariel works perfectly though.

So. Plenty to do! The wheels are in pretty good condition, with minimal corrosion, and very little kerbing or scrapes...



And sitting in this interior makes all the issues unimportant.

[marinanut]

Awesome cars, the R600. Basically the Honda Accord with better external panels and the T-series in the Ti, otherwise bombproof Honda lumps and electrics. I had one, bought at 80K, sold on at 170k, seen two years later at 300k. Just look out for rust to the rear of the rear wheel arch above the bumper, it is a cr@p trap and they go from the inside out. I had a 620i which i fitted a Ti interior to.

[Geordie]

Lovely little surprise when I peeled back the modern dealer sticker....



I sharpened up the hazy lettering with some polish. Looks much clearer. Letters much darker.



Another little bonus....the aircon blows ice cold



and the wheels should clean up well, or refurb easily, if these two are anything to go by





Hoovered it this afternoon, and chucked the horrible old rubber mats. Looking forward to giving it a proper clean, inside and out.

[mercedeslimos]

I was going to say, try a bit of 3000 front wet & dry on the plates. I refurbish polycarbonate headlamp lenses quite often (the hazards of buying and selling modern Volkswagens) and if it's really bad I start with 400 dry, 500 dry, 800 wet, 1000 wet and 3000 wet followed by a heavy cut compound, a soft cut compound then glaze and wax. Brings lamps up like grand new so I'd imagine the same could apply to the plates. Never gone to that level of detail as I usually change the plates on my cars as I HATE the normal Irish metal plates

[Geordie]

Looks better than it really is after a first wash...

[Alpina99]

Had a 600 turbo in the same colour
Lovely car but my son "borrowed" it while we were on holiday in Florida and put a rod through the block
Pity, really enjoyed driving it
Looks a nice project

[Geordie]

That gap in the teeth look really bugged me.......



so the first thing I've done is replace it......





Much better. I got rid of the moss and other green stuff on the top of the headlights too...





My original plan was to keep it SORN'd as it has been since April, but I have decided it'll share daily duties with the A6. It's insured, and will be taxed on January 1st.

[cavboy80]

Bookmarked.
This is a very interesting project, bringing back an unloved car.
The scratches look like they'd go with a good machine polish.
Turning this around is going to be worthwhile.

[jimspolicev8sd1]

Really like these cars. If you drive a 600 vs an accord back to back, the rover drives much better.

[barraldo]

I had a 620 Ti, great car. I was in the passenger seat with a mate driving when a person tyre completely disintegrated at about 95 in the fast lane of the M6 - very nice piece of driving to get us to the hard shoulder in one piece. Then another mate borrowed it and when I got it back the head gasket went a week later.

[Geordie]

Spent an hour or so cleaning under the bonnet this morning. It needed a little love...



So I think it looks better now. Underside of the bonnet is clean now as well...

[garrett]

Great buy, I have a soft spot for these and most BL, Austin, Rover etc cars, but never owned one.

Now on the lookout for a 600!

Look forward to progress and bookmarked...

[Geordie]

Nice little new year bonus today on the 600. That yellow scuff on the front bumper...........





...and this made me smile.....turned out to be a yellow sticker. Yep, a kind of price tag sticker...which peeled off with a bit of care....





Washed, shiny and sat next to my other navy blue 90's saloon...

[Geordie]

I had the opportunity today, with a rare day off from the coffee shop, to swing by the local motor factors and pick up a replacement battery for the Rover. The fact that it had stood motionless for months before I picked it up at the back end of last year, and the cold weather had killed the old one. So out with the old...



and a clean down of the battery tray...





then new one in. Fired up nice and strong too. Taxed it online (it's been SORN'd for nearly three months), and took it for a little run out...



So just how nice was it to feel a bit of warmth in the sun and see some blue sky today? Well, nice enough to give the Rover a bit of a body rub. I didn't have a clay bar (I thought I did have one, but hey-ho), so it had a wash, then two coats of Super Resin Polish, and two coats of Harleys wax. Proof you can indeed polish a turd (that last comment might have been a bit harsh..)...



















Investigated why the 'open door' warning light is constantly on. Turns out to be the switch on the front passenger door, which should look like this...



but actually looks like this...

[rblote]

Cars are always in good hands with you.
I am going to do some serious detailing tomorrow.
My Mercedes is back home and in need of some luuuuv