Playing with old Rovers - part one of probably many.

Pete M · 2009-07-01T00:31:57+00:00

Went to pick up my P6 today.It was in Stoke, bought unseen by me before I buggered off to Czech, MOTless but taxed until the end of next March - the joys of tax exemption and my first ownership experience of it. Was a hopeful buy but after my previous experiences with P6Bs I wasn't hoping for miracles. Thought I was quite likely buying a load of scrap metal with a few valuable bits and a 10.5:1 Rover V8. Figured it'd probably need at least sills and rear calipers.So we trundled down to Stoke to collect it. Bloke drives it out of the garage (two good signs), hands me a huge folder full of service history dating back to the mid 70s and I start prodding and poking the Rover looking for impending MOT faults. I'd have to book it in for an MOT in order to drive the thing home. On a hot day. In a P6B, a car notorious for fuel vapourisation issues, on unleaded fuel which seems worse than the old 5 star for boiling.After 10 minutes with it idling happily away I still haven't found anything particularly shady other than the four wings all having a few very crusty bits. The base unit appears solid as anything, and the MOTs show it doing an average of 700 miles a year since '93. Tyres were replaced a couple of years ago and have done around 2000 miles, a nice bonus. Even the handbrake appears to work. All the electrics work and the oil pressure is a reasonably healthy 30 psi @ idle. Signs of tappet noise, so I'll give it a good flush and change the oil and filter for the stuff I bought for the Rangie. That should help.So I pay the man and head off to the MOT station, crossing my fingers and putting the RAC on speed-dial. First impressions are that it doesn't feel too bad, steering is a bit wandery and the speedo has a 10 mph wobble zone that doesn't stop, someone's probably kinked the cable. Autobox is a bit thumpy at first, but the temp gauge is happily sitting in the lower end of the green bit, oil pressure is 45 psi on the move and it feels ok. Pinks if you properly nail it,...

Jul 01, 2009 23 Replies

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fishman 17 years ago

When you move it on, what will you be asking? Just out of interest...

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Pete M 17 years ago

URCM folk can have it for a grand.

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PCPaul 17 years ago

Is that the one marked 'OFF'?

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Conor 17 years ago

:-)

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