Description
1997 Rover 218 iS 3dr hatchback
Brooklands Green paintwork with ash grey 'Norse' fabric interior
Only 31, 600 miles
MOT January 2025
Lots of service history, with numerous invoices and stamps in the original service history book.
Cambelt replaced twice, most recently in 2018 with the water pump and coolant.
Original Rover owners book pack, one key and one working remote fob.
The car runs and drives very well thanks to the low mileage, gentle use and diligent maintenance. Everything works as it should, including the fan heater on all speeds and the factory-spec Rover radio cassette.
Principal areas requiring attention are the lacquer on the roof and OS pillars where it is sun damaged, both lower rear arch lips which are crusty, the perforated outer sill beneath the leading edge of the drivers door (repair sections cheap and readily available), the drivers front wing has rusted through ahead of the front arch and a couple of parking scuffs to the rear bumper. The alloys are in need of refurbishment as the paint is flaking but are all straights with good tyres including a pair of recent Uniroyals tyres on the front axle.
Otherwise the car is in original decent condition and has lasted its 27 years well.
The car is located near Crewe, Cheshire. Asking price £1, 195 ono.
The 218 iS was introduced by Rover in 1997 as a new sporting model beneath the 200vi and BRM models. It featured the same uprated styling, sports suspension and all-disc braking system as the VVC-powered 200vi, but with a 118 bhp non-VVC version of the 1. 8 K-series and a longer final drive for more relaxed cruising. The 218 iS was only produced for around 18 months and sold in small numbers, so has become one of the rarest 200 derivatives.
This 218 iS is particularly early car, thought to be built in August 1997, and one of a handful to have survived. This car is all the rarer for having had only one owner for the majority of its life. Its elderly previous owner recently gave up driving so the car was bought by its current owner to prevent the car being scrapped.
Unfortunately I have too many cars and cannot provide the car with a permanent home, so R577 JRF now needs a new enthusiast owner that appreciates its rarity and will continue to improve the car to bring it to the condition it deserves.
