Well the poor old metro gti bit the dust recently (headgasket failure) so i had been busy popping a low mileage replacement engine in rather than faffing around with changing headgaskets and cambelts. It'll be back on the road for next week.

 

In the meantime i bumped into an old friend and was telling him how i was struggling a bit, i'm 6'5" and the metro was never bought as a long distance car and i'm putting 400+ miles a week on it.

 

He said he'd got his old rover tomcat coupe (1.6) sitting on his driveway doing nothing if i wanted it for £100?

 

Needless to say it needs a little work (cambelt/waterpump/exhaust gasket/interior needs a good clean) but apart from that it has new tyres/brakes/exhaust, it started on the key on 2nd turn over and it's running smooth as silk). Managed to pick up a rather oily leather interior from a breakers in doncaster on sunday then spent about 5 hours with saddle soap and leather food restoring them the rest of the afternoon. Came up beautifully although i need some leather dye to sort out the bolsters on the drivers seat. Should be picking the car up today :hyper:

 

Should be a bit comfortable on a long distance for me and it's a nice looking car for £100 quid!

 

P.S. I haven't forgotten about the V8 just had to sort out my day to day drive out first! Should be an update in a few weeks time

 

 

 

 

The tired old interior as is:

 

 

 

Edited December 31, 200915 yr by bantambunny

that doesnt look to bad matey :P

 

quite a nice looking runaround compared to what you might otherwise end up with for £100

I had one of these brand new back in 1996. Great car, handled well and was quite nippy for a 1.6 :)

It's actually in really nice condition, it's the revised one so it's got the nicer rounded interior and the k series up front. Reminds me a bit of the zed with the dash being so far away and the seats so leaned back. Really looking forward to driving this now :D

 

Just got back from picking it up, started on the key first time, brakes worked straight away and weren't bound on and it incredibly easy to drive compared to the metro getting it on the trailer. Off to go and get the exhaust gasket, water pump etc and hopefully have it ready to mot next weekend.

It's actually in really nice condition, it's the revised one so it's got the nicer rounded interior and the k series up front. Reminds me a bit of the zed with the dash being so far away and the seats so leaned back. Really looking forward to driving this now :D

 

Just got back from picking it up, started on the key first time, brakes worked straight away and weren't bound on and it incredibly easy to drive compared to the metro getting it on the trailer. Off to go and get the exhaust gasket, water pump etc and hopefully have it ready to mot next weekend.

 

well keep us posted on how it drived after the MOT :) looks like you grabbed a mega margain!

Not quite a £2 zed but still not bad for the money :rofl:

 

I'll pop some pics up when i've changed the interior over this weekend and done some work on the engine too.

 

1.8 VVC out of the zr trophy maybe after the new year and the V8's on the road.... :D

cant go wrong at that price and nice car I used to have one but Iam shure it had the targa roof:thumbup:

just noticed yours has the targa roof too my old eyesight letting me down:wheelchair:

Nice runaround Nick, I used to have one in black with the cream leather. I loved it but the Mrs couldn't stand it 'cos it was SLAMMED to the deck and on 18's - rode like an apple car with stone wheels!! She convinced me to sell it and buy my first Z - good girl ;) :D

i had a turbo one once, bought it from an auction for 350 quid, thought to myself what a bargain, tax n tested too! three days later the bottom end decided to blow out the sump all over the dual carrigeway with hot oil spread everywhere!!! luckily police came and cleaned up the oil pretty quick, needless to say the alloys and leather seats were taken out to sell and the rest weighed in! never had a rover since! lol

 

(not trying to say urs will be crap bantambunny, lol just sharing my bad luck!!)

just noticed yours has the targa roof too my old eyesight letting me down:wheelchair:

 

Just been having a play with the targas, it's the best of both worlds, nice zed like interior and the targas are tinted then in the summer have the roof off just like the zed - can't go wrong! :D

 

Nice runaround Nick, I used to have one in black with the cream leather. I loved it but the Mrs couldn't stand it 'cos it was SLAMMED to the deck and on 18's - rode like an apple car with stone wheels!! She convinced me to sell it and buy my first Z - good girl ;) :D

 

lol, i was thinking of dropping it 40mm it does look like it's on stilts. Can't wait to get detailing on it, that tahiti blue metallic is a gorgeous colour when you wash it down so polished up with meguires it'll look fantastic! :hyper:

 

The replacement seats are bizarre, not cream, not brown not grey sort of truffle with black piping when you see them in the daylight? The car is absolutely filthy inside, nothing a good cleanout won't solve though! It's had a dog in it so there's hair all over the shop and a mild whiff of dog breath :rofl:

 

(not trying to say urs will be crap bantambunny, lol just sharing my bad luck!!)

 

pmsl :rofl: Oh don't worry mate, i know it's a rover so it'll break all the time so going to change the waterpump and cambelt upfront while i have the chance. Not sure if to do the gasket yet then wait till it goes and put in a multilayer metal gasket when i do it. It's done 99k so can't be long before it pops (especially the way i drive lol)

good purchase Nick, I had a 220 GSi turbo a few years back and loved it, wish someone would offer me a deal like that! I'd certainly have another rover as a daily drive.

Given her a quick wash over and loving that colour :D I'll change the interior over tomorrow, yum yum leather time :)

 

It does come across as being very comfy and quiet (despite the blowing exhaust), it's bound to be much quieter than the metro on the motorway :hyper:

Well did a bit of work on him today, just got the last seat to do but looks soooo much better!

 

The interior was in a disgusting state, really disgusting dog hair and all sorts embedded into the carpet but managed to get it all out :D

 

Edited January 1, 201015 yr by bantambunny