Rover 216 Automatic

Something large falls off Nick’s Rover 216, but all is put to rights

1994 ROVER 216 SLi AUTOMATIC

At least this incident made some rather glum people queuing outside Morrisons laugh – I could see their anti-COVID face masks quivering.

Anyone who owns an Austin Rover or MG Rover product will be used to things falling off. Normally they are small, insignificant pieces, such as bits of interior trim – certainly nothing that the car can’t do without. My Rover 216 had been standing out in the sunshine on one of the hottest days of the year before being pushed into a trip to the local supermarket. I wouldn’t normally go to a large store, but needed to drop by on the way home to get a few bits that are not usually available in my local emporia.

So I arrived back at the car with a trolleyful of choccies, sweeties and pies, and grabbed on to the rear spoiler in order to open the boot. Suddenly, there was a loud and rather strange slurping sound as the spoiler parted company with the tailgate, which slammed shut and all of my shopping scattered. Oh dear. All I could do was throw everything into the car and drive off.

Mysterious black deposits on the tailgate showed that the spoiler had obviously been ‘re-positioned’ before, and obviously the extreme heat had proved too much for the bitumen, or whatever it was that had been used.

Now, the Rover has a big fan in the form of Mark, who’s a friend of mine. He normally drives a 2006 Mercedes-Benz C180K coupé, but is also the world’s only known devotee of the Nissan Almera. He owns an extremely rare 2001 Sport and is a tireless pioneer of the idea that these vehicles are classics deserving of their own club. He is, it’s fair to say, a man of somewhat eclectic tastes.

I had actually arranged to loan the Rover to Mark when I went away for a few days, so felt honour-bound to explain the spoiler situation to him beforehand. As a surprise, Mark’s dad, John, re-affixed the afflicted part while I was away by scraping off all of the old sealant and replacing tired rivets before applying generous quantities of No More Nails and carefully holding the spoiler in place with props attached to the garage door while it cured. His efforts have affected an excellent repair. A nice surprise, John – thank you so much.

Meanwhile the Rover has continued to provide excellent service. This car drives so well, despite its rather mangled appearance!

Rover meets another bright red product of a one-time British Leyland subsidiary – a 1975 Daimler Fleetline DM. Enjoying a triumphant return to the Rover’s supplying dealer in St Neots, which now specialises in a somewhat lesser marque…

Spoiler propped into place while adhesive dries.

Dead adhesive removed from Rover’s tailgate prior to reinstatement of the spoiler.