Can Richard Hammond’s workshop save this £1500 forgotten performance saloon?

Watch Richard Hammond's Workshop in the UK: bit.ly/Hammond...
After Mike Fernie purchases an incredibly rare Rover 620Ti, Ben Collins set about roasting it for its very sorry condition, especially the paint which had been very badly sun damaged and scratched away. To bring this 1990s performance saloon back to its best, Mike has brought it to The Smallest Cog to see if they can save it from 30 years of corrosion and damage.
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[@Drivetribe]

Watch Richard Hammond's Workshop in the UK: bit.ly/Hammond-H8-YT

[@chdreturns]

Wish it was in the US

[@ethanmonat]

@@chdreturns Just use a VPN

[@laurahertzman943]

​@@ethanmonatFor the 1 millionth time: IT DOESN'T WORK WITH A VPN!!!

[@laurahertzman943]

I live in the US. That link is worthless to me. 😒

[@justified92897]

You should really start saying if in UK...

[@milodemoray]

That is a beauty. It's is great to see an old British "performance" getting another lease on life, with a great paint job.

[@knoxyish]

british?? the only thing British about it is the name they were and still are badge engineered Hondas built in kits from japan !! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kwilliams4031]

Ironic that Mike advertises RHW as "if you want to see more of what the Smallest Cog can do" when Drivetribe shows more of Richard Hammond's Workshop than Richard Hammond's Workshop does, in the current season anyway. I'd love to see more of what they do.

[@azzajames7661]

Richard Hammonds workshop spends more time everywhere else than in Richard Hammonds workshop, lol 😆

[@bghoody5665]

That's the exact reason I stopped watching the show after season one - a show about a car restoration shop that shows zero cars being restored.

[@MichaelBradley1967]

Reminds me of Groucho Marx roasting Johnny Carson by talking about all the other people hosting the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson who weren't Johnny Carson.

[@pendragon6207]

These just keep getting better and better! Mike's really coming into his own too. Excellent production allround as well! Love everything Smallest Cog related too.

[@laurensnieuwland4657]

Love the love you're giving to all old MGs and Rovers Mike! If only the 55 and 35 had gotten their chance...

[@TrevorSports]

The 620 Ti is the most underrated Rover perhaps of all time. My Dad has 3 in the 90s and it was a joy watching Nova’s and Escorts try to keep up and just the disbelief when this Rover saloon pulled away from them 😂

[@Twmpa]

A 30 year old design which still looks as understated and elegant as the day it was launched.

[@basshead.]

Like most cars from the 90s lol.

[@Eat-MyGoal]

@@basshead. why 'lol'?

[@basshead.]

@@Eat-MyGoal because their comment is pointless

[@MrRKF1]

While I enjoy these videos, you should include the actual cost to a normal customer do this work.

[@Snarfcat]

A normal person would not waste their money

[@Markap1390]

I completely agree with you.

[@boziewz6125]

​@Snarfcat I think that all depends on the car and the person. If it was a metro (the one pictured) I most definitely would.

[@POLESTAR757]

@@Snarfcat i just dont get the appeal of that rover at all

[@Rickster621]

A total respray is around 4k£ if you do the work first like sanding and body filling.

[@earlofsmeg]

This is a nice car. The color's awesome and glad to know it'll be driven again.

[@FrontSideBus]

Nice to see Rover getting some love. I was a big fan back in the day tbh.

[@wightangel]

I had one of these for about 3 years. I loved it, it was comfortable, quick and also had shiny wood decor. I lowered mine and made it look like a super-tourer, cos they were the cool racing saloons of the 90's.

[@donaldtucker4914]

Had two of these and loved them. Prefer the smaller soft spoiler, or even no spoiler at all myself, but glad to see one of thse lovely cars being appreciated. Get a bit fed up with people knocking Rovers.

[@simoncarney9944]

I agree! They were very underrated back in the day, I had two Montegos and a 400 as company cars and 3 MG Metros as private cars. Loved them all. Would have loved to have a 600 but only had one as a birthday treat for a day.

[@leeallen1407]

As a Rover fan i totally agree , i get fed up of rovers been knocked as well.....iv'e just bought another SD3 216SE...can't wait to pick it up ,

[@Billy.Cunningham]

I know the guy who owned this before the Isle of Wight owner. I have had many conversations about this car before you guys received it. Love that you're saving it

[@skylined5534]

I had a 'phase 2' facelift ti in white gold. Absolutely storming car. Never let me down and gave me plenty of smiles! Tgis particular ti is looking absolutely incredible, a credit to you and all who worked their magic on the body!

[@Mrtweet81]

I think you’ll find that the paint job wasn’t saved, it was utterly scrapped and redone…

[@b3nz0r12]

yeah bit confusing a the start talking about "saving" the paint job, then an entire video about a full respray, then again at the end posing the opening question again while standing in front of a fully resprayed car and saying yep it could be saved.... script writers need to check what the difference is between a respray and "saving paint work" means.

[@azzajames7661]

Too right😉 It wasn't a paint saving buff job that did it🤔It was a sand down to bare metal and full respray. Instead😆

[@michaelc5437]

Maybe they recovered all the original pigment from the sanding dust and reapplied it. “Full original paint”. It’s really the only way to go with such a historically significant car.

[@mrcaboosevg6089]

I'm glad Mike likes a Rover, not enough big channels giving Rover attention

[@Simon-ui6db]

Cayman blue and knightfire red two of the best colours on the 600 . Had a few back around 10 years ago (albeit honda petrol and rover diesel engines) Fab car. That colour coded front splitter PERFECT!!

[@neilpountney9414]

Its always a pleasure to watch people who are so skilled in any field. This was a wonderful example of what can be done with an older car. I hope the mechanics hold up!

[@garryarkle]

I've always loved Rovers. My parents had Rovers for years and from 1995 to 2017 all of my cars were Rovers. Starting with an 800 Vitesse Fastback, then an 800 Vitesse Sport Coupe followed by two Rover 75 2.0L Tourers, both of which covered 155,000 and 124,000 miles in the time I had them. Sadly, I couldn't find a decent second hand replacement in 2017 so am now in a Toyota which is just as reliable as the all of my Rovers were but it's not the same.

[@MilesDeluxe]

The one thing that always stood out the most to me about Rover/MG was indeed their incredible paint colours. So when i came to fully restore/respray my Honda S2000 they were the first thing that came to my mind. I settled on MG/Rover HFF, a stunning pearlescent shade of british racing green with a tiiiiny hint of blue in it. Everytime i look at the car i fall in love with this colour again. I love that you give so much love to these cars most would consider as worthless. They are a part of our history and trigger a great bit of nostalgia.

[@CarzwithJC_]

Phenomenal Job done by the team at the Smallest Cog 👏😍🔧 Well done, Mike, for saving an extremely beautiful Rover 🤗 🙌 "LET'S MAKE ROVER BRILLANT AGAIN" 🙌

[@ChronoCabal]

As a long-time Rover fan (I've been round the 'Ring in a nightfire red 620Ti!) this video made me grin from ear to ear.

[@hartoz]

I had one of these in 2000. I had a piggyback ECU, wastegate, coil overs and exhaust done on it, all followed by a full day at a Dyno. Ut generated 280bhp in the day, which was a lot for the front wheels. Even with a LSD it Torque steered like a monster. It did however return a reliable 5.5 seconds 0-60mph. It also flew under the radar of the constabulary because it looked so boring. Great car.

[@neilmick6778]

When you were doing all your drug running?

[@philtucker1224]

I saw a brand new 620 soon after their launch in that lovely liquid deep red metallic paintwork. I’ve been seriously in love with deep metallic reds ever since…❤️

[@phuketexplorer]

Pearlescent Nightfire, if memory serves me right. I had a 100 series Rio in the same colour

[@ErsinCetinkaya19777]

I had a Tomcat 220 Coupe Turbo in early 2000s, it was the best car of the era with this engine… It was M3 killer 😎💪 Lovely old days with old school cars..

[@trumontstory686]

I had a Tomcat too. Drove quite well horrible suspension, rattly removable roof panels and totally unreliable Blew it's main oil seal at 22,000 miles. I traded it quickly for a BMW and never looked back.

[@Roverturbo]

Everyone says the 220 coupe (tomcat) was the best, every true rover enthusiast knows the 220 turbo was better, the 420 turbo, even better than that. ❤

[@ErsinCetinkaya19777]

Yes, reliability was the problem, I have had replaced; throttle body, turbo, steering, A/C compressor, water pump and finally pistons and valves 🤦🏻‍♂️ But I have enjoyed each moment I have driven. With regards to the engine; 220 - 420 - 620 - 820 ti had all same engine with some minor changes. I loved 220 due to my young age, later on I liked 4 and 6 but in the end I loved 8.20ti the most (in those days) which was a big sleeper car that nobody knows

[@RobsonRoverRepair]

Never had so much exposure of my air freshener in my life. I do adore how it's turned out. The Rover sport 620ti spoiler is beyond rare.

[@therovermon]

Brilliant episode and it is great to see a 600 bought back to life but the name of the colour wasn't the only slight mistake. The 600 was built at Cowley and not Longbridge, whoops. How do I know that, I worked in CAB 1 Longbridge.

[@Matt-jt1ic]

My Grandad had a 620 SLI (sans turbo), which my dad inherited for a short while until the gearbox gave up. Makes me so nostalgic. The Japanese / British collab was brilliant-felt like you got the best of both.

[@DarrenLissaman-gw4jf]

Aw, p427vkh rip, had a white 620ti 20 years ago, loved it!! Only issues were window regulators and oe clutches weren't strong enough!! Real sleeper, yours looks amazing now!!

[@johnennis3542]

Enjoying this one as I used to own a 1992 Rover 220 Gti in… Kingfisher Blue (the real one). I loved it. When Mike was banging on about it in his first video I thought he was misguided as it looked much lighter than the Kingfisher Blue I remembered. It was actually a darker colour than Cayman and in my humble opinion much nicer.

[@michaelpeebs]

I love the old rover mgr paint options. Moonshine being the absolute top tier, and they did two versions of that with a grey or silver base. Compare to that nowadays where you're lucky if your average new car has more than 10 options for paint.

[@azzajames7661]

Yeah, like which shades of grey do you want, as it only comes in one, lol 😆

[@bendjohans3863]

lol i was one of the german high speed test drivers where we tested the austin rover and jags on the A 45 ... the 800 and the 600ti were fun to drive specially as we had erlkönig cars with more power than you got later in the production but it was fun to drive 278 km/h real ones not speedometer ones with a rover 800 salon .. was so fun to hunt porsches which stopped at 260 km/h

[@BRED510]

Looks great. Rover is a huge part of the UK motoring history, and the ones left should be saved.

[@matthill94]

its great to see a job finished in one video, really enjoy seeing a job on a project finished

[@Madpegasusmax]

Back in 98 I almost bought a nice black 216 GTi as my 1st car , and when I opened the hatch to see the lugage space... I found that one of the hatch hinges was broken ... (it had only 3 or 4 years old at the time ...) ... Since then I never ever seen another car with a broken boot /hatch hinge ... So I bought a Citroen Xantia and never cross my mind to buy a rover ever again ... But this one is nice , I like the beetle green paint job ,remembers my metallic green Xantia :D

[@ashleyphotog]

Always wanted to see someone show some love to the 600, my 629SLI was my second car. thank you Mike

[@kings3803]

1500 quid car with 20 grands worth of work just the way a project car should be. Mike is such a great presenter of the channel. So funny. 👏👍

[@Dex60]

And once finished it will still be a 2 grand car!

[@SpitfireFortyFour]

​@@Dex60To be fair to Mike the only other 620TI for sale at the moment is up for 6k. He might be onto something with the 600-Series!

[@TheColosiss]

That is a gorgeous piece of history you have there. Very cool!

[@Spin_stagrams]

We had a BRG 60ti in 1998/9. As a 16 year old I remember it being rapid (for the time) and those recaro seats were really comfortable. The turbo started to give up within 3 years of ownership. Never did find out what caused it, as a company car it was given back and replaced.

[@CricketEngland]

Kingfishers are actually brown. The bright blue colour you perceive is due to a phenomenon called structural colouration. Structural colouration is seen throughout the animal kingdom and makes creatures appear much more colourful than they actually are. So while the coloured pigments in the kingfisher’s feathers are brown, you actually view them as a brilliant blue.

[@TheMileswin]

This is prime youtube viewing. Thanks for making a wonderful video. Jaguar XJS also had Kingfisher Blue as a paint option.

[@informedchoice2249]

It actually looks beautiful. Lovely colour.

[@TheCormTube]

I had a 620ti. It was very fast and definitely a wolf in sheeps clothing. It didn't handle particularly well and had a host of problems....wrong exhaust section fitted...wastegate valve broke off.... auxiliary belt shredded when i was going (too) fast....the aftermarket air con used to blow the cooling fan fuse causing the car to overheat in traffic.... bobbling rust around one rear wheel arch at 7 years old. Electric aerial sometimes got stuck....the recarro seats were really nice.

[@paulloudbbk]

Not sure what it was about this episode but it's probably one of the best ones yet. The rover looks properly mint now. Iv got the same problems with the windscreen trim clips on my civic marlin.

[@tbone121974]

Wow. A Rover 620ti. My late father worked for MG Rover for 38 years. I had a Rover 620 many years ago. It was a great car. Just it had seen better days.

[@claphamparishchurchservice5635]

Fab video! BEWARE, if the same/similar to my old Honda Accord with rear spoiler, make sure you turn the stereo off to lower the aerial before pulling the remote boot release, otherwise the person opening the boot will break that aerial!!! Happened to me TOO many times.

[@KayConnection]

We want to see Hammond often

[@furianozaurus6457]

I think he is shooting new episodes for another show

[@azzajames7661]

Regardless of it's name, that is a beautiful colour😍 Well done, Andrew👏

[@carlgardiner3626]

Roger 600 was made in oxford. I worked on the launch team before BMW took over. The 75 was also launched in oxford, before it was moved to longbridge. That's when the mini came back to oxford.

[@yoshi555king]

My gramps had a black 620SI in 2003 on 18Inch 1000Miglia wheels slammed to the ground. It replaced his e36 320I M-sport in Maroon. He got a Astra GSI 16V in black after the Rover as it was slammed to the ground and he needed a hatch (and some army soldier was into the Rover)

[@cayminlast]

My very first car was a 1967 Opel kadet, almost just like Oliver except it was off-white, loved that little car.

[@napierlion1]

As the owner of a 1991 Honda Accord Aerodeck, I feel duty bound to remind one and all, that underneath that Rover dress, is the 1989 - 1992 Honda Accord! And I mean exactly the same. The basic 2.0 ltre Rover even had the same Honda engine. So double wishbone suspension all round no less. Definitely a car worth saving. Well done. If only it had the 4WS system from the top Accord...

[@sm49music]

Loving this episode, the banter between Mike and guys cracks me up.

[@rolfmak1400]

I fully agree with “Make Rover Great Again” as a Rover 200 BRM owner!! Goed job, a beautiful rare Rover saved again!

[@lotuselanplus2s]

She is looking great again, i know i'm going to hold for some grief for saying this but i'm soon going to be looking for a Rover 75 from the same era, love the classic looks, will have to see if i can get a suspension upgrade as i'm told that theyre quite soft in that department.

[@Hairysnid]

Fit MG ZT suspension

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

The later 75s sort of had that (and steering ?) anyway I understand...@@Hairysnid

[@johnnyz2378]

Lol, as an Aussie, I loved the Heath Ledger “A Knight’s Tale” reference. : )

[@bobabreath5097]

Not even a Rover fan but this video was a really great bit of fun.

[@southcalder]

It’s an impressive lack of corrosion for a Rover. I had a Rover 100 (“Nightfire”, a very exciting name for a very dull car) of a similar vintage which was more rust than bodywork. The K engine outlived the body by quite some distance as I sold it to a 200 owner who needed a replacement after a timing belt failure.

[@dolomite_73]

That is a lovely shade of blue. MG Rover had some great colours, especially the "Monogram" flip paints

[@brunobartczak4799]

issac with that big wrench in one of those montages didnt go unnoticed!

[@alexboulton9910]

In August, This Very 600 TI Guest appeared on The NWBL Stand at The Tatton Park Classic Car Show, Very Nice, Glad it's being restored

[@Ord_Wingate]

My dad had one of these it was sooo comfortable to drive and a real sleeper

[@keithweston6070]

Love this. Big up lad. Completely agree. Make Rover great again

[@johnrowell942]

Nice to see a Rover still alive and up paint job by the guys.

[@TheBadBunny87]

18inch MG ZT alloys painted anthracite grey. Lowered 25mm. Lightly Smoked front headlights and rear lights. 25% tinted windows. A larger diameter exhaust, with 3inch twin tailpipes. Uprated/modern turbo, a custom intercooler, mapped ECU. 275hp. Seats from an Accord type R, reupholstered with the rover emblem. Interior of trim hydro dipped in a carbon fiber effect, steering wheel reupholstered in alcantara with match gear and handbrake gaiter and sportier pedals. Smoked number plates as well and she'll be perfect in my eyes.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Just.... No.

[@TheBadBunny87]

@@johnmoruzzi7236I don't care much for your opinion. It's my imaginary car, not yours 😂

[@jase6370]

Looks great, always liked these

[@100294adamw]

It just shows how much car prices have gone up, I constantly think about when I was 15 (29 now) watching top gear and Jeremy buying the volvo for £1 and all the £100 challenges that were done, dreaming of when I had money and time with mate when we could go out and buy really cheap cars to do fun things in, and those times are not there now, £1500 for this car, cars like this would have been worth £300 max 14/15 years ago

[@tonybennett9004]

🤣 "Fair play Mike you bring me some shyte" haha cracked me up

[@alanchurchill7305]

Stunning paint job ,a true professional.

[@craigodonnell6316]

When I saw what car you'd chosen I thought "don't bother mate" but by the end I find I'm reminiscing about my old Accord. As long as you're happy brother. Enjoy!

[@mg-roveradverts]

Bring this to longbridge next year it’s a stunner! Rover is definitely having a revival recently

[@Softlad92]

Beautiful car. Would have never have thought it till it watch this… recently seen early mondeo’s tastefully modded (like an oem btcc car stlyle kinda) like this and again would never thought it

[@gwengo4167]

I love seeing these old Rovers get some love and attention. I own a 2004 Rover 25. It’s a real shitbox, but it does have character. It’s amazing what you’ve done with that 620, looks mint 👌🏻

[@LordInter]

200bhp, 0-60 in 7 seconds, looks comfy and has aged well, very nice!!

[@RandomGuyDan]

Nice work, but you didnt "save" the paint. That is entirely new paint on the exterior of the car

[@silsbo7535]

The 600s were always handsome beasts, and this one is now looking fabulous!

[@rgkdetailingscotland]

Love it! I did wonder why you kept calling it Kingfisher Blue, my Grandad had one of these brand new back in the day in the same Cayman Blue! brings back memories.

[@GForceVRX]

It came out beautifully

[@alecfraser1928]

I let one of these go to make space on my driveway for a Porsche 968 but it remains one of the best cars I've ever owned. I'd have one back in a flash.

[@zworm2]

My Dad had a 3500TC in the '70s. Great car. Bronze colour. Police had Rovers too.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

"TC" was only the 4-cylinder 2000 / 2200.... or Triumph 2000 / 2500... or sporty Twin Cam Fiats from the 70s / 80s !

[@grant620]

Love it! Wrong badge on the back though! 99 models didn't say 620Ti

[@2loudspeakers]

That is amazing looking, very classy!

[@GaryEverton]

so nice to see a 600 being restored, used to have a 600 called Reggie to!

[@alansorbie4038]

I’ve always quite liked these, back in 2008 or so mu local garage gave me a 620SLi as a courtesy car. It was very pleasant but I did feel like Alan Partridge driving it.

[@franklaumen77]

Surprised that there is no rust below the fuel cap. All the Honda Accords and Rover 600 I know are crunchy in that area 😮

[@THEShoky]

As a native Texan I now recognize the influence Top Gear and Grand Tour have had on me that even without lights, grille and badges I knew it was a Rover.

[@kingpin20042003]

That Rover introduction made me want to scream FREEDOM!!!!! for some reason.

[@tomasthonell5445]

Love the shape of that car. My dad once had a 620si, the one with a Honda Accord engine. Nice car!

[@Ололо13]

wonderful car! Respect, Mike and the all team of this car shop!!!!

[@jo05dk]

Such an elegant car. It's a shame that the costs of was done to this now beautiful car, makes it a tough thing for ordinary people to commit to. I would love to see more of yesteryear's cars getting this treatment.

[@simonrook5743]

My dad had two 620tis (following on from two Sierra Cosworths, one RWD and one 4x4) and loved them, overall thought they were a much better road car than the Sierras, much easier access to the performance.

[@Mr.Mouse1234]

Great video. Production, cast and crew funnies, editing.

[@perry92964]

many years ago i worked in a place called macco, it was a place you could bring your car for a quick paint job for for cheap. we would get cars with paint like this all the time, i would mix 2k clear and 2k primer together spray the panels with paint like this and it would fill in the cracks and scratches, let id dry for 30 minutes and then paint the car with urethane single stage paint and it would look ok, i even painter my dad's pick up like that 20 years ago, its black and he still has it and it still looks ok. i dont know if that can still be done cause they might not make those materials anymore but when they said it could be done i was very skeptical.

[@68peterbilt68]

I think going into business with those gentlemen is probably one of the smartest business decisions he's ever made. Those boys are worth their weight mate. To have that knowledge and know how can't be bought. It's earned. If I had the money, you blokes would be no1 on my list to work on my gear. Well done. 🤟😎👍🚛🚛🚛

[@swordscot]

Great car. The continual slagging ooff of Rover does get a bit tiresome however

[@chrisdrew6977]

The brothers at smallest cog are artists❤

[@shanerorbach3114]

Brilliant Job👍 I Miss my Rover 400 had it 16 Years "let's make rover great again"

[@kelleheranthony]

I think the doors of the Rover 600 and Honda Accord from 1993-1998 are the same, maybe the door mouldings could be ordered from Honda if you eventually have to replace them. I'm enjoying the restoration of this unicorn.

[@gavinb9627]

Call it whatever you like, the colour is fantastic. The craftsman who applied knows his stuff too.

[@RevIlikai]

Paint wasn't saved, it was sanded down and repainted. Saving would be compounding and polishing.