Dont throw the cat in the bin..

[FarmerPug]

nanjing automotive and siac got either mg and rovers design rights (not the rover name) which ford bought from bmw the time bmw sold them landrover, to prevent a bad reputation from rover affecting the landrover name. And as someone said tata owns Landrover, and JAAGuar. But back in china the 2 companies have merged, theres quite a lot of emphasis on the mg side and they are now being built again, and a new ones coming out i think the MG-5. The K series is now an N series i believe which now has a metal head gasket.

Anyhow as for the catalytic converters there is some expensive metals in there, but with stuff like rhodium and paladium mentioned they dont sound like the healthiest things to be near, so be careful when taking them apart.

[lozz]

nanjing automotive and siac got either mg and rovers design rights (not the rover name) which ford bought from bmw the time bmw sold them landrover, to prevent a bad reputation from rover affecting the landrover name. And as someone said tata owns Landrover, and JAAGuar. But back in china the 2 companies have merged, theres quite a lot of emphasis on the mg side and they are now being built again, and a new ones coming out i think the MG-5. The K series is now an N series i believe which now has a metal head gasket.

Anyhow as for the catalytic converters there is some expensive metals in there, but with stuff like rhodium and paladium mentioned they dont sound like the healthiest things to be near, so be careful when taking them apart.

the k-series metal head gaskets have been around for years mate the metal head gasket sets come in 2 peices they refer to them as the Ladder

[lozz]

Rowe? What does that mean? Why couldn't they call them "Fido" or "Spike"?

they shouid of just kept with the name Rover and just took the R off "Over" wouid be better badge me thinks

[sirwiggum]

As for Chinese metal:

Not Rovers, but "Roewes". Actually pronounced "Rong-wei".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roewe

Badge is the same shape as a Rover longboat, but is a checkered design with a lion and an R.

Tata, who own Jag / Land Rover own the name "Rover". Rumours abound that they will use the name as a sub-brand for cheap Jags (similar to the rumour that Pug will use Talbot to sell old 206s and 407s when the 508 arrives).

While not a treehugger, I am a fan of recycling. Don't like wasting anything. Might as well make another car rather than burying it in some landfill.

[FarmerPug]

the thing is though its sad to see the demise of rover, of course their final cars were all shite, but the sd1 looked amazing. especially the exhaust on the v8 the way it tilted up.

[markyp130]

I liked the rover 620 with the honda engine and mechanicals, basically a honda accord with a rover badge,and the the rover 75/mgzt is a lovely car with the bmw suspension,brakes and excellent diesel engine. When rover was managed by these two a few great cars were made but it was all to late . Real shame for british engineering and never under estimate the chinese.... They make everything!!!

[plod]

I liked the rover 620 with the honda engine and mechanicals, basically a honda accord with a rover badge

I had a Rover 620Si for 3 years, and it never broke down, and I can't remember needing to do anything to it
I did unload a can of WD40 under the bonnet every week ( when it was £1 a tin ) though

Only got rid as the rear arches were going rusty, which was a common problem on the early ones

[sirwiggum]

I was thinking last night that the SD1 was a very graceful looking car, like a 4 door Daytona and a V8 engine.

What would the spritual successor be? The 407 tries to have a Ferrari 355-like grille.

Only exec hatchbacks I can think of are from Audi, but they're too "clinical". A bit like an iPod compared to an 80s top of the range turnstyle.

[steve_earwig]

I remember going to Henley's the dealers to look at the SD1 when they came out in... 1976. Doesn't actually seem all that long ago but they came, they fell apart with the pox, they got recycled into washing machines and I'm still here.

[FarmerPug]

yes ive told my dad that i really like the old sd1, he says, for a while he thought they were the best thing on the road but he could never afford one, and he said some did fall apart.
Still bad build quality wouldnt put me off.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1985-ROVER-SD1-35 ... 244wt_1141
Im sure it wasnt cursed by the presence of a cat.

[plod]

That SD1 looks all reet farmer

They used to say the best thing you could do with one is to take it all apart and put it all back together again