These are rare in the US and likely rare in one piece anywhere. Top Gear made this famous for losing its door on a marketability course. RWD + V8 + hatchback + manual trans = What’s not to love? Well, try reliability… This should be a true labor of love for someone out there.
Your humble host saw one just like this in Irvine two days ago and couldn’t get a photo. There must be a 99.9% chance this is the same car.
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Irvine, CA
$2,000 with one bid and no reserve
We’d be tempted to pay $2K for this license plate frame.
If you were a British executive in the early 80s, you might know this interior well.
Yep…the seemingly ubiquitous Buick-based Rover V8.
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This incredibly rare Rover SD-1 is made available reluctantly as I am sure I won’t find one again. Selling here with NO RESERVE. Less than 1200 were ever imported to the US and Canada and this is a genuine time machine brought back to life effortlessly from a well maintained properly stored and preserved vehicle in a collectors storage. I have been proud to own and display the car, but space requires I move it on. I am hopeful a genuine Rover enthusiast who knows and appreciates the cars will enjoy it fully. These are superb and very misunderstood cars. Rover returned to the US market in 1980 with this Specialist Division car which had already won European car of the year, but they had no funds for marketing being tied to the failing marques of MG, Triumph, and Austin through British Leyland. The car never had a chance and, with its stablemate the amazing Triumph TR-8, both car arrived when the British Pound Sterling was at an all time high against the dollar and the oil crisis was again raging. Although the nimble Rover V-8 proved incredibly economical with fuel injection and manual gearboz, people feared buying a V-8 and an unknown brand. Teetering on collapse at home, Triumph shut its doors and Rover retreated to a “Europe only” approach to sdales, until they returned with their truck using the same drive train, which turned out to be the smashing success of the Luxury Range Rover lighting up the SUV craze here.
This car shows so well, with all roiginal interior, trim, seats, etc and just one tiny crack in the dash board which we left but can be vinyl welded back to like new. Most of the interiors of these cars are so destroyed, that I doubt another original exists in such flawless condition. The car travelled only 46,000 miles then was laid up over a brake booster issue and a failing starter motor. Rimmer Brothers, the UK parts supplier, still catalogs everything for this model andprovided me with the all new braking components. Everything has been done including new calipers, rear cylinders, a new master cylinder and booster. A new starter was provided by Moss Motors UK, and a new radiator, all new fuel injectors, all fuel lines etc etc, cap rotor, ignition wires and so on. The car runs beautifully. The A/C kicks on but has not been charged up. There is no radio but the orioginal mounting kit is all there. The other glove box under the steering wheel is present and easily remounted. All the interior lighting, windws, door locking mechanism etc work perfectly. The rear trunk latch does not lock but Rimmers has the part and its a simple fix (happy to do that one for a new owner). The gearbox, clutch etc have all been services and the hydraulica rebuilt or replaced there also. The car was repainted to a very high standard in its original sable metallic (gold) color which came out beautifully and period correct. The car is rust free everywhere, and was very well prepared for its respray and should last another 33 years. The grille badge is brand new and correct. Sunroof functions perfectly and does not leak. This is a very pleasant, unmolested car, and drives just great. Two tires are new, and two are very good. All correct wheel trims and badging are present, as well as the original sales brochure and owners manual. DONT MISS THIS ONE TIME CHANCE. Email with questions. Inspection welcome during but not after auction by qualified personnel. This car is not for sale elsewhere and we intend to run the auction to the end and let the winning bidder be the new proud owner.