Description
Motodrome are pleased to offer this amazing, low mileage 1980 Rover SD1 3500 Series 1 5-speed manual, finished in Persian Aqua metallic.
This one has wonderful provenance. It’s story is that the original owner, who bought it new in 1980, treated himself to a new car every year or so. Somewhat eccentrically, when he bought a new car, he never sold it’s predecessor, instead putting each car into dry storage at his property in Scotland.
His son took over his affairs in early 2024 and has been left with the headache of disposing of around 30 cars. He registered the SD1 to himself as the second owner, and then sent the car to a well known Scottish restorers for it to be recommissioned.
It seems it had been stored that well, and run regularly, so the recommissioning ended up being fairly straightforward, with the consumables replaced, fluids changed, brakes rebuilt with new calipers, pads, cylinders, rear shoes, pipes etc etc, and the only welding that was required was to the back of the NSR sill. The total cost of the recommissioning was £4500. 00 and we have a copy of the invoice.
What makes it extra-special is the odometer reading of just 9500 miles and, whilst we can’t 100% warrant this as correct, the wear to the control surfaces (or indeed the lack of wear) would support this.
GSS 383V was supplied new on 24th March 1980 as a standard spec car but with a sliding metal sunroof, and cost the princely sum of £7000. 00. We have the original purchase invoice, and the original supplying dealer’s sticker is still in the rear window.
We have it’s original ‘passport to service’ which shows it was used quite extensively in it’s first year, with 3 stamps in the service book up to 6064 miles in October 1980. We believe it was put into storage some time in 1981 when it’s replacement arrived, which would mean the MOT carried out in June 2024 (yes, despite being MOT exempt it has an MOT) was likely the first one it’s ever had…
Naturally, apart from the above, supporting invoices, and the recommissioning bill, we don’t have much in the way of history, but we do have lots of rare Rover SD1 promotional material which will come with it
I’ve a real soft spot for originality, and this iconic car has that in spades. When was the last time you saw one with this provenance?
It drives just the way you’d expect, with strong performance and an excellent ride,
You don't often see a two-owner, low mileage one these days - it's the sort of car with a certain 'something' about it - never having been apart, it feels just as it must have done when it left the Castle Bromwich factory in 1980
To sum up, it’s a 2 owner (father and son), low mileage very original example with the desirable manual transmission, that, despite being MOT exempt, is MOT’d to mid June 2025. I defy you to find another!
It will come with 6 months warranty on sale
On our own website, you’ll find our usual two videos: a walkaround appraisal, and driving impressions, which form part of the description.
Based Henley-on-Thames – viewing by prior appointment.
