Project 827, Episode 1 - Abandoned Rover 800 saved!

#Rover800 #HedgeFind #ProjectCar
You've all been there, you have all seen those classic cars sitting in driveways, or in our case, hiding in bushes. But what are they like? Can these old relics be saved, or has nature taken them back? We find out by buying a 1989 Rover 827 Si direct from a hedge. Yes, this can only go well.
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Makita Tool Kit - amzn.to/3amFJlX

[@rushja]

"I can't see any rust on it" when looking at a Rover with grass growing over the wheels has to be the most optimistic thing I've ever heard

[@IainAWard]

And he was right. Always better than being pessimistic.

[@asifnoaman8978]

he literally mentioned he cant say the same about underneath the car

[@samholdsworth420]

It's a Rover it belongs in the rubbish bin Greetings from America

[@mrsdoylespinniedoyle1956]

@@asifnoaman8978 but when you see it on the ramp there is practically no rust under there, other than superficial corrosion on suspension components (as you'd find on any car that's spent 4 years in a hedge!). I live in a desert and see newer cars with more rust - Fords in particular

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

@@samholdsworth420 just like your cadillacs, chevies, big block v8s with less hp than a lawnmower and other American junk that doesn't exist outside of the US because no one else would buy such garbage

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

An 827 Vitesse actually held the production car lap record on the Isle of Mann TT course for 20 years… The car that beat the record was a tuned 750hp Impreza, so hardly a ‘production’ car in the sense the Vitesse that set the 90’s record was. The course was also much bumpier in the 90’s too. It was an amazing piece of driving.

[@jwh1776]

That's an awesome fact to know! So when I was dreaming of winning the Isle of Mann in my old 91 827sl, it could have really happened? Mine had a transmission that wouldn't shift right. Blew the head gasket at 5000 rpm in st. Louis summer heat.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Here you go Tony Pond Road testing! The Rover Vitesse On the IOM TT circuit m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4O8ZKqBmq2Uj7s.

[@jeg1972]

I tell you what Chris, this was one of the most enjoyable videos I've watched for a while :-). Two people troubleshooting... that's all. Brilliant!

[@TeamSteve222]

Junkyard digs is a great channel for that as well. Numerous pure troubleshooting videos. Maybe check it out.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

👍

[@janpors1002]

👍

[@wightangel]

I absolutely loved the shape of the original 800 hatchback, I owned the saloon version and it was like sitting in a lounge on wheels.

[@Caledfryn]

Excellent vid Chris! More Rueben please, I enjoyed his droll commentary! 🤣

[@chiefrocka8604]

Looks like a heart surgeon Fixes old taxi motors #Ruben

[@muckrakingmouse3146]

Love this ! No one will be trying to start an old Tesla in 30 years time !?

[@whispjohn]

I had one of those cars and used it while working in Germany, that V6 was a great engine, thirsty beast too. I drove that car from Dresden to Leipzig to get to a bank before it closed, I had it at 140mph and it was as happy as you like. We made the bank as well. I lived in Nuremberg at that time and must have driven that thing thousands of miles, we sold it to another English guy to go home in, the gearbox gave out in Dover and that is the last I heard of it.

[@notroll1279]

I like the clean looks of the early ones without the Rover museum radiator grille glued on. These must be super rare even in the UK now.

[@procta2343]

i read an article in a classic car paper, a good while ago now, asking where have all the rover 800s vanished too, they simply just vanished off the roads in the uk. Sadly i think most either met this sort of fate, or just got binned off when scrap was high and the rover market was on its knees, a lot of rovers of this era and later were binned off by dealers, i recon when the market crashed. Which is a shame, as i really love these, and the metros. The last time i saw a rover 800 would be well over 10 years ago, and that's the later mk2, the fast back one like this one in, i remember seeing a red one, in the local scrap yard 20 years ago, and that was the very last time i saw the fast back, and only ever saw two saloons, one was laid up in some car dealer, waiting to meet its fate, another one was on a D plate which was a sterling, a customer had come shopping with, one weekend. Also my mam had a saloon on a H plate 30 years ago, and she said it was a cracking car, but got very expensive to fix, my dad took it to a mates garage, but the car ended up been used in a robbery of some sort. the car was impounded, and later went missing, by one of the gang, that had a fake receipt and the keys. My dad really gave his mate a right old hiding for it, did he not.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

@@procta2343 rust.

[@jaybee1921]

Hi, Just to say well done, excellent video, looking fotward to the next episode...

[@procta2343]

@@stokes8626 oh christ yeah, I saw a picture of a dealership using an old rover metro, stating i am worth 2k. So if you had an old rover this age etc, you would have been laughing.

[@ianmangham4570]

@@procta2343 CHINA 🇨🇳 scrap metal

[@bangRvids]

This week on Car and Classic. Chris and a retired Oxford Professor try to start an old rover. I like it.

[@cortexus8989]

I have myself a rare manual 827 Vitesse that I'm restoring so this will be a very interesting series to follow! Have some electrical issues but the mechanical part works fabulously.

[@nickwarren9673]

Loved this video Chris. Enjoyed Rueben's participation too. "Nibblement"!

[@alastairward2774]

Sounds like a mechanic who's never cursed at a car he's worked on.

[@richnewall8091]

Love the MK1 interior of the 800 with the four gauge instruments, original steering wheel and the wood trim around the dash. Much more elegant than the later ones, and still looks good today. She really is a beauty, and becoming very rare now. Can't wait to see the progress. 👍

[@matty6848]

Same here. I always preferred the mk1 over the mk2. Too me they looked more aggressive more a man’s car, especially with the big Honda legend V6 lump under the bonnet. They went like the clappers.

[@limpet7r63]

Agreed. The early instrument cluster was lovely. Always thought the nose of the car looked much more elegant without the chrome grille as well.

[@stevenbanowich8089]

Love your choice of music when you were moving the rover and cleaning the inside of the car 🚗 sounded something like my fair lady ha ha 😂

[@phuketexplorer]

Rover was on it's last legs when I left the UK to come and live on Phuket... and this was one of my dream cars. If only I had one here! 😢

[@SB-vb8ch]

What a gem, always had a soft spot for 800s. Those auto boxes were garbage though...they never lasted but you might have a chance with that one as it's clearly never worked all that hard. Gummed up injectors is very common, fuel system was obviously dry. Just needs running through. Neat.

[@SkylarkCamperAdventures]

Good old proper fault finding and testing, no diagnostic tools or OBD machines 😁 Great to watch 👍

[@Lemma01]

Surely - testament to how well it was built? A Garage survivor! I had one back in the day which amazed me by its smooth power delivery- and it was very quiet. It started jumping out of gear on motorway journeys, and got exchanged for C220. I stuck with Mercs ever since, but very fond memories... great save!

[@jwh1776]

My 91 sterling 827sl had the crappy transmission too. I was abe to rig up switches to make the tranny solenoids shift, since the computer wouldn't do it. That only worked for a while. It was full of electrical gremlins. I blame it on the English translation of the Japanese wiring diagrams. 😂 At least my Connolly leather heated seats worked!

[@Lemma01]

@@jwh1776 Good for you. I didn't (still don't) have that level of skill. I reckon without that problem, the car would have served for years. The Sterling was sadly my pocket! 👍

[@Rusty_Tank.]

Great video ive got alot of love for the 800's bloody great cars.I had an 827 Sterling back in the day what a car.I worked at rover Longbridge for 12 years hence the love.

[@portnaluinge]

Fab! I was so relieved to see how solid it is underneath. I’d forgotten just what an elegant, crisp design these original 800s were. I look forward to seeing it progress.

[@simonbrader8408]

What a great video. Memories of my old 827 SLi came flooding back. Going to enjoy watching the progress on this beautiful beast whilst saving my pennies over the next five years!

[@PaddyBoy644]

I love your passion mate, I’m from Australia and we’ve lost all our car manufacturers. So cars that some think are clapped out junk, we think can be saved to live on as a loved car.

[@sporkfindus4777]

It's a great shame that Australia has lost its manufacturers - it shouldn't have been allowed to happen

[@matty6848]

Yes the Australian car industry has taken a massive blow the last few years. Great shame Australia really doesn’t build any of its own cars now.

[@dr.leftfield9566]

Drove a light green metallic one of these back in the day and bearing in mind i worked for MB in the years that engineers ruled i was very impressed. This was a good effort by Rover.

[@Bimmerguy88]

While I have never seen or heard of a Rover, I know EXACTLY what a Absolute GEM of an engine I am looking at!!!!!!! I had an '87 Acura Legend LS Sports Coupe with that EXACT SAME ENGINE under the hood! It broke my heart getting rid of that car, 15 years since and I STILL miss it EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!! Lol I'm going to enjoy this video! :D

[@tomdrives]

Motivates me to get my 231k 827 Vitesse MK1C back on the road, great video guys

[@scottfulton9103]

An ‘89 Rover living in a bush for years - how is that not completely rotted through! This is Such a good video I’m going to binge watch the whole channel!

[@Cookybytes2]

I remember in the 90s driving the 2.7 as a traffic patrol car. Absolutely beautiful engine but bodywork a bit flimsy! So easy to spin front wheels in 1st and 2nd though! Great memories!

[@sq1rlsqu4d]

Brilliant video. I've always had a soft spot for the styling - inside and out - of the 1st gen Rover 800s; my old man had a Sterling back in the day, I loved that thing. It just felt different to other cars such as the Scorpio and Senator.

[@richardm1183]

The 89 sterling my dad had replaced a very late senator, before the egg crate grill version. It felt so modern as a passenger and was so light and airy too. Although being a kid i missed the lCD dash. It was way better than the granada that we test drove. I remember it being a bit slow and dad saying it had no puff vs the rover

[@bobbyrayofthefamilysmith24]

They are nicely looking cars shame Rover didn't survive. Government should have saved the company and invested into it to modernise them. Of they'd done things right UK could still have had a thriving modern car industry. Real shame.

[@paulnewman7654]

This brings back some fond memories. Back in the early 2000's, I had a 1990 820 Se in grey which my wife still speaks of with great fondness (according to her, it is the best colour car we have ever had!!) and swapped it for a 1995 820 SLi in white gold. I preferred the earlier car as it had much cleaner lines but sadly it suffered multiple electrical gremlins that would have cost more than the car was worth to fix.

[@TzadikTheManic]

This is undoubtedly the most environmentally friendly Rover ;) Also love the Vitesse; it reminds me (well a bit anyhow) of my 1998 Infiniti Q45, which sadly I parted with in 2018. I’m only 4 mins into the video but it’s great so I’ll thank you now! Cheers

[@Lot76CARS]

Top marks for persistence guys, I’m looking forward to this series already.

[@HowardLeVert]

I thought the cleaning segment - in slo-mo rather than time-lapse - with the choice of music was one of the most relaxing things I've seen on YT in ages. Well done for rescuing this car, it looks worth all the effort it will take. And I think everyone needs a Reuben when they're working on a car :)

[@benmarshall787]

Hi Chris, Ben here, new subscriber to the Channel. I have a confession I'm a Ford man at heart but your channel and the cars are very interesting. My first car was an X regd Mini HL so 8 hope that gets me a Rover "pass"!! Always thought the 800 was an undervalued car, and over the years mellowed to other brands indeed our family car is a Vauxhall powered Chevrolet, which was very underrated, but an excellent package that deserved to do better. I think the 800 and equivalent Granada and Scorpio were good cars, in a declining "British" home market now over run by the Germans now. A mechanic friend some years back swore by his diesel Montego Countryman in that Green colour, I found little details on it interesting like the rough surface at the bottom of the windscreen to " clean" detritus off the wiper, great idea, on a par with Ford's quckclear screen in a way, a little idea that makes a big difference. A colleague of mine had a 75 cdti saloon then estate version again in "that" green, nice plush cars and good on motorway. Obvs I'm a fan of the Mustang engined one too. My only experience of big Rovers was in an unrestored P5 coupe, what a car, what an engine. During furlough I subscribed to alot of car related channels, particularly on rallying, so as well as being a fan of Ford man Ari Vatanen, I'm a big admirer of the late Tony Pond in Tr7 v8s, sd1s and of course most presciently in this conversation, his record breaking lap of the Isle of Man tt circuit in a virtually standard red 827 Vitesse, if none of your subscribers havent seen it, we'll worth a watch! Look forward to the next one. Ben

[@stevennoble1903]

Enjoyed greatly, had 4 of these cars over the years, much underrated very comfy and the 2L ones gave good fuel economy. Loved the dash clocks on the early cars and the non airbag steering wheel. 👍

[@pierrechristian6767]

Apart from the P5B coupe, the 827 has been my all-time favourite Rover, worth putting back on the road. Unfortunately, we never got any of the 800 series cars here in Australia.

[@darcybowyer5743]

They're very rare, I think 637? Were imported. Auto Info do list the SI and Vitesse with the automatic transmission. I myself have got an eye out for one but haven't seen one yet.

[@RichardAucockCars]

This beautiful filming and your wonderfully engaging presenting... Chris, it's a brilliant vid!

[@jo_clarke1960]

Loved the 800's but, never owned one. Glad to see it's good underneath, recommission and clean, leave as is, could make a lovely daily. If it takes 5 yrs, I may have saved enough to buy it by then 😁

[@ernied3123]

What a great video. I really enjoy this type of content. Looking forward to following the progress. Thank you.

[@nigelkemp9492]

Well this is my new favourite show! Great content and quality. Can’t wait for episode 2 😎

[@rezaq1]

Beautiful. Thank you for saving all these old gems.

[@GentilsGarage]

I absolutely loved every bit of this video. Looking forward to further updates on this project.

[@leearmstrong9763]

I always lusted after one of these back in the day..a proper lump of a car, classy and just summit different

[@colinnewman6074]

Brilliant. Looking forward to seeing the end result. Well done Chris.

[@the.internet]

First vid I've seen of yours, came up in my recommendations. Really enjoyed this. Liked, subbed and all that good stuff, can't wait to see how this comes along... Your mechanic is a character! Much fun watching you guys work. Great vid!

[@aftergrowth]

I love a cleaning montage 🙂, great find look forward to seeing this at some shows in the near future

[@mk14dr]

Quality content, a great save of a very worthy car, good work!! Nice to see A52 hasn't changed either.

[@stevehoulihan726]

Chris, you do make bloody good videos. This one no exception. Very enjoyable. Also love the methodical way you both went about getting it started, and helpful tips like taking the fuel cap off! Your enthusiasm shines through. Excellent mate. Well done.

[@mkandy81]

Love it! My dad had a couple of the MK1 800s back in the day, so much more classy than the competing cars in that sector. He ran both over 300k, they were absolute workhorses. Both had the dash lifting off the instrument binnacle and one had a horn that would come on if the interior got too hot! Looking forward to seeing this done

[@the_aerouser]

Brilliant video, thanks for making it! It certainly looks like this Rover was saved just in time and by the right crew.

[@Involvod]

Wow this is some high-quality production, nice work guys. Thanks for showing the tool kit as well, need one of those

[@stephenendersby5699]

What a great discovery your channel is. I can’t wait to see the next episode of this project

[@S.ASmith]

Hearing the word "vintage" in reference to cars I saw on a daily basis growing up....really makes me feel old

[@davidhall7744]

Love a bit of car gardening 😉👍

[@eddiecleaver5376]

Great video thanks Chris, thanks for producing it. This car is like a time capsule…

[@Perthshire]

Nice find! Looking forward to watching this project to its conclusion

[@danielbarton9291]

Can't be many SI's left now, well done, my mate had one in the 90s and we used to balance a coin on the v6 after we changed the oil. Happy days!!!

[@timcansiz]

Reuben should have his own channel! Great stuff thanks for the upload

[@davearnold8756]

Brilliant video. Enjoyed that. You and Ruben are a gold double act.

[@NOWThatsRichy]

This just came up in my recommends, ( after watching 'My Mate Vince' with his newly acquired Rolls Royce Restoration Project). You've got an absolute steal there only 19,000 miles on a 33 year old car! The interior looks mint! I was expecting more water ingress after all that time!

[@The_Dee_Jay]

Same (from My Mate Vince's Roller to here) ☺️

[@Canalsman]

So pleased to see that this car has been rescued. I'm really looking forward to seeing this car back on the road. Great colour too ...

[@bigfra79]

Bloody good video Chris. Simple, wholesome, and dare I say whimsical at times. Looking forward to the progress of the V6 green machine.

[@TheCleanersCupboard]

Absolutely fantastic video. Really enjoyed that. I’ve had six 800’s, everything from a Mk1 820E to a Tickford Turbo. I’ve not had an older car for a few years now but this vid really brought so many memories back and has got me looking for an 800 on eBay. Can’t wait to see the next instalment. I still say the 800 is my favourite all time car.

[@DumbleDank1337]

i remember as a kid seeing rather unfortunately modified one of these, faded red with a bodykit on it, i thought it was the coolest car i had ever seen! good to see someone bringing a good example one of these back from the dead

[@rossmclaren71]

What a time warp ! I’m 50 now and I worked on them as an apprentice in a Rover Dealership! Amazing condition considering how long it’s sat ! I still think the pump didn’t have enough fuel pressure mate

[@shepshepherd]

What an absolute joy to watch!

[@barryshackson4005]

Lovely car, can't wait to see it up and running again. Great find.. 🙂👍.

[@rickydub6950]

Really enjoyed watching that, look forward to the next one on this old gal , definitely looks in a good place to begin with this one 😁👌

[@matthawkins6875]

Joyous viewing in every sense. The Vitesse/ silver dream machine is looking majestic too. Popcorn at the ready, please continue.

[@robmog88]

Great work guys, can’t wait to see the next instalment

[@h4j3w3]

What a time machine

[@brianknowles1727]

Old school fetleing loved it editing 1st class well done.

[@keetmachoos1809]

Top notch video. Well done Chris.

[@mattrawlingsmatt]

Great content, look forward to those injectors coming out and hearing it running.

[@droid1008]

5 minutes in and I already want to spend the day with you 2 fixing this thing, subscribed!

[@100SteveB]

This is so good to see! I used to have the same year and model, only it was in gun metal grey. Loved the Honda V6. But what an amazing find, a 19k car, in very good condition considering it's st outside for a few years. I will certainly be following this series of videos.

[@marc80sroverfan95]

Very cool to see that people save these old Rovers now. They deserve to be saved. Enjoy the car!

[@thedarklandsmusic]

It's great to see old cars like this being brought back to life.

[@RVREVO]

As if by magic, one appears in hand. Had me in stitches. You guys are well prepared and knowledgeable

[@stefmarr]

Loved watching this car being brought back to life! Great work

[@pudz170981]

Hey Chris loved the video! So been looking forward to this, my god she wanted to start! Lol looking forward to the next one now to se her running 👍😀 the tickle bit made me laugh as I do that to mine sometimes 😆

[@RedPillRachel]

Indeed, this is well worth rescuing from a bush!

[@johnharry4617]

Great video, really enjoyed it. Looking forward to seeing this progress as I really like rovers

[@cross-axled]

Fantastic vid! :) Looking forward to seeing this 827 being brought back to life. More Reuben too please... love his droll commentary

[@martina7997]

I have had two of these rovers, a 820 se and a 820 vittess turbo this was the face lift model and loved both of them watching your video brings back some great memories. Can't wait to see the next one.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

Cracking Find, lovely condition Can’t wait to follow the old girl.

[@ApatriotsHeroes]

Awesome find and saving another beautiful car from the scrapyard I have had an 820 SLI fastback some years back loved it dearly 👍👍

[@johnnolan3617]

Great to see one of these cars in such good condition. My 165k 89 Sli is starting to show it's age but still runs well and tows my Jetskis to the Hudson River on a regular basisi.

[@sidthescenic09]

All rovers are worth saving. And those who restore are heroes!

[@Jacksh12]

I was lucky to have had two 827’s one silver and one Green like yours. Was also even more lucky to have had two Rover SD1 2.4 Turbo Diesels both purchased in and around East Anglia area. Bring back great memories. Thanks Chris. 👍

[@BenHur872]

Really enjoyed this, so thank you. Subscribed to see the follow-up videos

[@fat2oy]

Watching this has made me fall in love with the 800 series all over again

[@zzhughesd]

Montage was just what I needed tonight. Gold pin stripe. Touch less , or not so touch less, snow foam to end. Magical.

[@AaronWatson396]

Love seeing this old girl being brought back makes me smile

[@garymillerlcs]

Well done on saving this lovely car. What amazing condition. It must have been immaculate until put outside a few years ago. Fantastic original interior. A great quality video. Thank you.

[@theymusthatetesla3186]

That was lovely....thank you!

[@theothertonydutch]

These cars were naturally quite rare in my country. My first time seeing these was on holidays in France throughout the 90's as a kid. I had no idea what a "Rover" was but I thought the logo was cool and seeing these still gives me that nostalgic feeling of seeing a somewhat exotic car which is kind of strange to say about a brand like Rover.

[@garethshaw5165]

Absolutely love a Rover 800, my stepdad had a mk2 827 fastback, use to love going up to Whitby in it through the North Yorkshire moors

[@leighharron]

Good stuff Chris! Fair play for the video, car looks to have great potential, but of Partridge and Area 52 all in one 👍👍

[@iainhepburn7978]

What a find, always had a soft spot for Rovers (certain age). Look forward to the next vid.

[@MrFlyingguy]

Chris, you are bang on mate - like a down to earth Late Brake show.... love it and your humour. well pleased for you all.

[@davidheaton5765]

Please make more and more of these. This was utterly brilliant 👏