Description
This is Sylvia, a 1998 Rover 820 Sterling Coupé.
A genuine survivor, rescued from a garden a few years ago and after some work by the previous owner returned to duty as a daily driver. We have only ever used premium unleaded.
Needless to say that it has it's flaws and usual Rover 800 issues. The drivers switch pack is not great, but it works mostly, the passenger side window works from the passenger switch pack, and both electrically adjustable seats work. The car comes with a collection of NOS spares and some second hand parts.
It has some rusty bits, some damaged trim and a few little dinks and knocks, also a few holes have been drilled into the top of the boot lid where it has been fitted with inappropriate spoilers, it comes with a replacement boot lid but that has some damage to the lock area, and is the wrong colour, although it has all the lights and trim still attached. Among the spares are a pair of new number plate lights, various oil seals, a spare pair of new rear disks, a water pump, cam belt tensioner and belt, a top ball joint, and some other stuff. Among the second hand parts are an off side rear hub, trailing arms, near side rear bottom arm, both rear calipers, and the original passenger side window cassette which has a faulty motor. There are also a collection of drivers side switch packs which can probably be used to make one good one (the one fitted requires the drivers side window switch replaced as the one fitted does not operate the window, so the wiring has been moved so that the drivers window works from the passenger window switch on the drivers switch pack.
The previous owner built new sills when he recommissioned her, but his assistant put too much filler on them.
The car starts and runs well, and stops when needed, although sometimes the ABS can be felt to be a little too strong due to having to splice in a second hand sensor to the original plug and lead for the near side rear.
The car is Oxford Blue with grey interior. The car has a custom built stainless cat back exhaust, which was designed to be reasonably quiet, at the same time I fitted a new down pipe and catalytic converter, for the last MOT I fitted new rear shock absorbers, which was a task in itself, also a new old stock starter motor and replaced the earth strap.
Despite being a normally aspirated T-Series with an Automatic gearbox it goes well, and is more than able to keep up with traffic. Although compared to my Rover 75 CDTI Auto Tourer it feels a little like driving a go cart lol.
The car has had eight owners including us since it was registered on 10/ 09/ 1998. The car has an MOT until 31/ 10/ 23. We have owned the vehicle since 30/ 08/ 2020 from a local MG Rover specialist mechanic.
Over the last couple of years we have replaced and repaired many of the cars bits and pieces, but due to my Rover 75 and MGF requiring almost all of my time, money and attention she has had to be put back on the list.
She needs another enthusiasts love and attention to take her back to where she should be.
Realistically she is doing well for a car that is just under 25 years old, and is a very rare sight on the roads.
It is a very reluctant sale, but we just don't have the time or money to advance her any further as well as keep the other two MG Rovers going, and as the least practical car of the little fleet (yes the MGF is practical to a degree lol) she really needs to find someone who can give her the little things she needs to keep her on the road.
