Rover 200 & 400 Owners Club

So, given L801 PSC had to be abandoned due to poor communication and general lack of progress from the garage engaged to do the bodywork and paint (all in another thread!) I bit the bullet on a 1998 VVC Coupe that was advertised on eBay.

Three trains to get there, but went well and coffees were purchased and drunk. Chap picked me up from the station and off we went back to his house.

Beautiful semi-detached cottage in the countryside with a nice sized garden. Only reason he was selling is because he’d been given a camper van by his dad, and through the low level of use he couldn’t justify keeping the coupe.

It’s a Diamond White 218 VVC Coupe with full leather and AC. Recent head gasket work, full stainless Scorpion exhaust, ram air filter and 52mm throttle body already in place.

Bodywork needs a little love, and I’ve got parts for that and some other modifications planned including Kmaps ECU, Civic Type R / Renault Grand Scenic 300mm front brake upgrade, suspension work including fitting AVO coil overs and fitting my custom Cobra Nogaro seat to lower driving position.

On to the pictures! My cherished registration is fitted (A18 YAB) so you know I’ve taken this one to heart.

That looks like a really lovely car. I look forward to seeing it at some event/meet in the not too distant future. White is such a great colour but I have to say that. I've got 3 white hatchbacks! Good luck with your mods and bodywork fixes.

StubbornPatriot wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 10:36 am That looks like a really lovely car. I look forward to seeing it at some event/meet in the not too distant future. White is such a great colour but I have to say that. I've got 3 white hatchbacks! Good luck with your mods and bodywork fixes.

Cheers! I wasn't sold on the colour to start with, but it has definitely grown on me. I'm going to sort bodywork and paint through the winter and early spring so will hopefully be looking good for next year inlcuding trips out, meets and events.

Has definitely taken me back to my early 20s of driving around in a 200 Coupe with a revvy, naturally aspirated engine.

What a great find !

White is such an 'in' colour too

GTiJohn wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 9:49 am What a great find !

White is such an 'in' colour too

It's also rare on Tomcats. If I've got my facts right, despite being a solid colour, it was only available from October '92 to October' 93 and again from early '98 to the end of production in July '98, which makes it very rare if original on a Series 2 car. A pity as, at least to my eyes, it's a colour that really works on Tomcats, especially with the Red Piccadilly fabric on Series 2 cars. I think I'm correct in saying that only Nordic Blue, a Series 1 colour only, and Anthracite, Series 2 only, are rarer on Tomcats.

That is nice!

Looks very nice!

Thanks for the love guys! It’s appreciated.

Been a few recent jobs like new Philips bulbs in the headlights, and LEDs in the rear. I’ve got LED indicators to go too but need a different LED compatible flasher relay as the one I bought is too big to fit into the fuse box space. A replacement is on the way, so will hopefully get to that at the weekend.

All LED bulbs were bought from classiccarleds.co.uk. They were really helpful and built me a full bulb list for the car.

I’ve also had new interior mats made and delivered with colour matched leather edging (well, as close to Smokestone as we could get) and they’ve made a nice difference.

Beyond that, new Bosch flat wipers front and rear and new washer jets with the mist style spray pattern as the old ones were blocked with who knows what and only one jet on each side was working.

Little things thus far, but I’m driving the car and enjoying it. As is my 11 year old who is insisting we take it out every time I need to take her to kickboxing, Guides or swimming lessons. She even sits there rev matching it!

CoupeFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 3:47 pm

GTiJohn wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 9:49 am What a great find !

White is such an 'in' colour too

It's also rare on Tomcats. If I've got my facts right, despite being a solid colour, it was only available from October '92 to October' 93 and again from early '98 to the end of production in July '98, which makes it very rare if original on a Series 2 car. A pity as, at least to my eyes, it's a colour that really works on Tomcats, especially with the Red Piccadilly fabric on Series 2 cars. I think I'm correct in saying that only Nordic Blue, a Series 1 colour only, and Anthracite, Series 2 only, are rarer on Tomcats.

NAL paint code confirmed on the door slam panel - Diamond White.

Some small updates this week.

Replaced the centre console as someone had drilled through the original one to screw in a chrome gear lever surround.

Replaced the aftermarket “universal” gearknob with a EP3 Civic Type R style one in black with red gear pattern.

Replaced the universal gear lever gaiter with a perforated leather one from an MG ZR.

Fitted my re-trimmed steering wheel after it came back from Royal Steering Wheels in dark grey Alcantara with silver stitching and a light grey 12 o’ clock marker.