And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

[evodave]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Excellent project.....good to see something different !!

There was quite a few of these in Scotland over the years....even a special shortened one......it was shortened to the same wheelbase as a Mk2 Escort !!

There was also a Janspeed Twin Turbo race car....great when it went well & won everything but more often than not it would break down !!

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Excellent project.....good to see something different !!

There was quite a few of these in Scotland over the years....even a special shortened one......it was shortened to the same wheelbase as a Mk2 Escort !!

There was also a Janspeed Twin Turbo race car....great when it went well & won everything but more often than not it would break down !!

Do you mean this one Dave......................



I had chance to buy this car recently for not a lot of money, but at the time I had just started doing mine and was short of funds. Wish I had bought it now as it has some real trick bits and I could have used some of those bits in my car.

[360phil]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

I love the back door on that shortened version - do you think it inspired the RX8

Great project, and will certainly attract a lot of attention when it's finished.

[evodave]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

No......thats not the one I was thinking of but it was along similar lines.....I think Duncan Jaffray, a Hotelier from Banchory rallied it but I'm sure it just had 2 front doors & was like a 3 door SD1....I really need to dig out some of my old pics to see if I can find it !!

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Well impressed mate. Looking forward to seeing this one finished.

My old man rallied an SD1 in the mid 80's (white with green roof - must find some pics - same as his Mk1 Twink in my avatar). He had a fibreglass tail gate and bonnet. He also used second hand tyres from the Audi Quattro works rally team which, as a teenager, I thought was awesome!!

I remember he got the thing up on two wheel around a tight right hander (I have the pic somewhere) that resulted in the front strut mount cracking to buggary. Cannot remember if he had seam welded like you but he certainly added some strengthening work after that!

Good luck with your build!

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Thanks for the kind comments guys..............

Having managed to wangle my first Saturday off for months a few weeks ago, I put all the pieces in place to get the car painted underneath, engine bay and inside.

Trailer was loaded, sand blaster booked and all looked rosy, I took the car to the blasters in glorious sunshine which I was sooo glad about, then dropped her off instructing them what bits to do, and what not to go near.

Dinner time loomed and they called me to go and collect the car, which I duly did, excited at the prospect of some bare metal to spray.

However, my exitement was dulled slightly, they had made a cracking job of the inside and engine bay..............but then had ran out of sand [], they usually have 10 tonnes on stock but were awaiting delivery, but they only charged me £50 so I suppose I can't grumble.

The upshot was though, I had to manually clean the underside, this was no mean feat, as this car is caked in waxoyl (I supoose I shouldn't moan about that, it is the waxoyl that has kept the shell in such good condition) and this subsequentlyset me back a good 4 hours.

In essence, I can't help thinking that I rushed the rest of the job, the shift I work, I don't get to see my partner in the week, so when I request a weekend working on the car, it doesn't go down awfully well, then when It was going to run into Sunday night, I was properly in the dog-house.

Anyway, I got her done, but not the best job I could have done, main thing is, it is sealed from the horrible damp weather we are having at the moment.

Here are a few piccies as usual...........





























Doors painted................















So, now Been beavering away for a few weeks, sourced a 4HA axle from a Jaguar breakers in Wrexham, then set about the shell modifications to 4 link and make the turrets for the twin shocker set up I intend to use.

Lots of cutting, fabricating and welding has ensued, but I am only a fraction of the way there yet, as there is extra strengtheners and plating to firstly work out where they will need to go to stop the whole lot just ripping out of the shell, then secondly, make and fit them.

Anyway, some pictures to whet your appetite..............

Bit of technical working out where the turrets need to go.........



Attack!..........Attack!.........



Nice big hole...........





Rolled some turret bodies up out of 2mm steel..........





Tacked in place..........





Made the turret top plate from 3mm steel..........





I have then decided to brace the turrets, and tie them to the base of the cage, this brace will transfer some latteral load to the cage from the struts, and also add some more stiffnesss to the rear of the shell............











And finally, the damper units I am going to use are Escort Group4 Magnesium items, these are just mock ups for now, just to get an idea of open/closed lengths etc.......

[dangerousdave]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Nice project good to see something different

Not good to see that speedline has become a painting stand for your door!! Is it off an evo?

[Sonus]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

I'm liking this

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

your cracking on well. nice work that!

[MK1_Oz]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Some inspiration. THis one was probably one of the first around. Built well before British Leyland did the works Rovers.

Is yours to be a gravel or tarmac car?

[Sunbmw]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Excellent pics there Sir, thanks. The car will probably be used on mainly Tarmac single venue events, but this is the first car I am building with the capability of being a forest car too, so making her strong as well as light(ish!). I used to just build light Tarmac cars, but fancy a trip into the woods one day..................

I have been invited to go have a nosey around, and a drive of a genuine factory built rally car, I want to get some pointers as to how they 4 linked the rear end properly, I have a very early CCC with some pics in there of a works car, and it shows where the links are etc, but I need to see where they have strengthened the shell to suit.

Watch this space................

[david_white]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Thats coming along great, will look stunning when its done. Great attention to detail.

I too have a soft spot for these SD1s, my dad had them for ages and I watched them in touring cars back in the day. I remember Tony Ponds one too.

When you are bored with it I'll take it off your hands and build a bastos touring car replica

[SHIFTYrs2k]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

I am really impressed with this build and your dedication here mate, well done
An SD1 was the 1st car I ever drove...well sitting on my dad knees on morcambe beach steering that is

Look forward to seeing her progress, all the best with it

[david_white]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

Few nice detail shots here, not sure how relevant, but very nice.

[rover sd1]

Re: And now for something completely different, Rover Sd1 Stage rally car

hi there could you tell me where you got your roll cage from many thx rover sd1