New member here, Aidrian from Ramona, near San Diego California.

This is a story of an unintended project but one that is very tempting.

I was originally hunting for a donor to make some upgrades to a Federal spec P6B; I had thoughts of using some of the engine parts such as the cylinder heads and replacing the BW35 slush box with an LT77

What I had expected was to spend ages finding a rotten hulk which might give up the bits I needed. Instead what I have found is a reasonably solid car at a very decent price which means I need to rethink the idea of scrapping the remains - this car needs to be refurbished rather than scrapped.

What is wrong with it?
•There’s some rust in the windscreen panel and in the tailgate
•Some fo the interior trim is rather worn
•It has the god-awful US spec round headlights
•It will start with persuasion and encouragement but will not run for long.
•The paint has seen too much sun and not enough care
•It will need to pass California emissions testing before I can drive it

What’s right with it?
•No apparent repairs or bodges – it’s very straight
•Everything that was on the car when it was delivered is still there
•The accessories and electrics all seem to work - the Prince of Darkness was obviously taking a smoke break when this one was assembled
•No rust apart from the two areas I mentioned
•The upholstery is in generally good shape though very, very faded
•The trim is all there, though the sun has not been kind to some plastic parts

My first reaction to most cars would be a complete restoration to original appearance, but this one strikes me as an opportunity to do something rather different for a number of reasons

•Special parts for US spec cars are virtually unobtainable
•I really, really, really hate those round headlights which completely upset the look at the front end of the car
•For all it’s good qualities the US spec SD1 doesn’t really deliver the Rover experience – the interior is unfortunately pretty much generic late seventies/ early eighties saloon.

I want a car that I can use regularly, rather than one that is trailered to car shows and kept encased in cotton wool so nothing breaks , so my thoughts are turning to a hybrid – the temptation to build something of a hotrod is very strong.

I can legally re-engine the car with a later engine (perhaps a 4.6 and the Disco/RR engine controls for which parts are availble- there are some hoops to jump though on the emissions controls side but none of this is impossible) If I do this I may consider installing a Tremec T5 as that is easier to service on this side of the big ditch.

That’s all in the future – the first part is to consider what is needed to sort out the body work. As I mentioned the only rust appears to be around the windscreen and in the tailgate and the first job would be to have this taken care of.

My first query concerns the bonded windscreen; as Rover specialists are hard to find in these parts where “Rover” usually means “Land Rover”, is the removal and refitting of the windscreen something that can be handled by a competent body shop without special gear or should I add a spare windscreen to the list of things I need to import?

Oh and does anyone know of a source for Eurpoean spec LHD headlights? I'm not too concerned whether Series 1 or Series 2 as i understand they are interchangeable

Having painstakingly and expensively replaced most of the rubber and a lot of other bits on the P6B I am absolutely with you on the postage.

Since Rimmer Bros are going to see a fair chunk of change out of me if this goes ahead the lamps probably won't be a big item in the overall scheme of things ^if^ I can find a set of LHD lamps -= anyone know any scrappers in Holland?

As far as I can tell the European style lamps do comply with current US regs. The reason for the round lamps on the US spec cars was that the lamps as orginally designed didn't comply when the cars were new - something about not being able to enclose the lamps - but the regs have changed since then and the proper headlights do conform. Oddly the only routine regualr vehicle inspection in CA is for the emissions gear which means that there are some real old clunkers on the roads that woudl have failed an MOT at even the most tolerant garage in the UK


Aidrian

I know of a guy in finland who has a few SD1 cars being broken up and If I remember correctly there still was a set of LHD headlights on one of them. But I dont know if he is willing to post to USA. You can always ask him.

In here you find his email adress.

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I can't really help, but it's nice to read about your project, and I'm glad you decided to restore the car. Best of luck with it

Anthony

hello mate and welcome to the forum.
i am with you on the american spec lights! they are ok in daylight (!) but absolutely useless in the dark!! my old v8, which is still my avatar because i haven't updated it yet, had them, and i thought they looked ok on that car but generally i don't like them either!
i like the sound of your "hotrod". keep us informed of your progress!!
by the way, any pictures before you start?
kev

Don't mean to be controversial, but wasn't the UK V8-S unsold US-spec SD1s, returned to UK RHD, "normal" headlights and sensible bumpers?

I'm sure this was suggested in my Laurence Hogg DVDs....was he right?

First I've heard of that....

V8-S cars were pre NADA cars anyway. They've the same interior
and air-con - the V8-S was launched to 'soak test' the American
bits. The V8-S had been replaced by the Vandan Plas by the time
the Rover pulled out of north America.

Story I've heard is unsold NADA cars from 80/81 were sold on in
later years, though this is difficult to know as there are so few cars
left.

Going back to the original car.... I'd keep it as is, the car is very
rare now and will be rarer in years to come. Any pictures of the
car as is now? It's not the one from Nevada that was on eBay some
months ago is it?

The interior of pre-81 SD1s is very kipper tie and loud shirt, 70's
brown for sure. I guess if you are using it daily it's more of an
issue...! All series 2 bits will fit - seats, door cards etc., and are
fairly easily obtained this side of the atlantic (or Australia, SD1s
were fairly common there). Mint door cards are not easy to find,
but usable ones are.

I did see that Tennessee SD1 on eBay - it's been on a few times now.
Looks OK, but too much of a gamble without more pictures. Very
original though.

Read your messages and the replies with great interest. I am near you in Los Angeles just finishing up with my SD1.

I remember seeing the 80 SD1s still being advertised in the Los Angeles Times newspaper as late as 1983. I couldn't believe it at the time. I remember calling one of the dealers and asking whether any of the leftovers were automatics. I remember the guy telling me he had only 1
automatic left ( yellow ) but that he would be more than willing to repaint the (new) car any colour I wanted! I said thanks but no thanks. THe impression I had was that there were many stick shift cars still available.

Now my current SD1 turns out to be a tumeric colour car !

Glenn

Glenn. Any pictures of your car? The US SD1 is different enough
that each picture is interesting!

From keeping an eye on eBay, there seems to be about a 2:1
ratio of manual box SD1s to autos in the US. Auto was a cost
option on the car. It'd be interesting if you have any copies or
can find any copies of SD1 adverts from the Los Angeles
Times.

Sorry Chris but I don't have a digital camera or I would post pictures.
The ad that ran periodically in the Los Angeles Times never changed. It was the same ad for the entire duration the car was brought over here. Rover didn't want to spend any money coming up with new advertisements. That was part of their problem. That and expecting the US Jaguar dealers to sell the Rover. Only about 1 in 4 Jag dealers even agreed to handle the Rover and then it was with no enthusiasm whatsoever. I remember them trying to get me into a XJ6 and away from the Rover when I initially went to see the
SD1. I owned to P6s at the time so I knew Rover very welll and simply didn't want a Jag.

Glenn

hello Mad Dan I am very interested in finding us. spec. Headlights - do you know where I can buy them or do you wanna sell your`s??
Greetings from Martin - Denmark

american spec headlight mountings and the bulbs are available from

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