Rover 800
Encyclopedia : R : RO : ROV : Rover 800
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| Rover 800 | |
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| Manufacturer: | [Rover Group]/[MG Rover] |
| Production: | 1986–1999 |
| Predecessor: | Rover SD1 |
| Successor: | Rover 75 |
| Similar: | Sterling 827 |
| Related: | Honda Legend |
| Class: | FF full-size car |
| Body Styles: | 4-door saloon 5-door hatchback 2-door coupe |
| Engines: | 2.0 L M-Series I4 2.0 L T-Series I4 2.5 L Honda V6 2.7 L Honda V6 2.5 Rover KV6 V6 |
The Rover 800 series was an executive class automobile introduced by the Austin Rover Group in 1986. It was also marketed as the Sterling in the United States.
The Rover 800 was intended as a replacement for the aging Rover SD1. The car was collaboratively developed with Honda in the early 1980s under the XX codename; the corresponding Honda version was known as the Honda Legend, and was codenamed as HX. Both were produced in the former Morris plant in Cowley, Oxfordshire.
The sedan styling (a sleek hatchback (800 Fastback) version appeared in 1988) hid what was a simpler car mechanically its predecessor. The basic versions of the 800 used a 2.0 L 16-valve development of BL's stalwart O-Series engine, dubbed M-Series. The top versions used a Honda designed V6 unit in 2.5 L capacity. A diesel version of the car was launched in 1990 using a 2498cc Italian Sourced Engine, also to be found in the Jeep Cherokee and Crysler Voyager. The American-market Sterling was only available with the V6 unit, whilst the Sterling badge was used in Europe to denote the top-of-the-range versions (hence Rover Sterling).
The 800 was hampered by Honda's adherence to its complex double-wishbone front suspension which could not give the 800 the executive car ride qualities which were necessary for it to compete. The first 2.5 L engine lacked torque, which affected its driveability, whilst the 4-cylinder cars suffered from reliability problems, thanks to the fragile Lucas fuel injection systems that Rover persisted in using. It is important to note that the 2.5 L Honda V6 is a completely different engine from the Rover KV6 Engine introduced in 1996, although the two share the same 2.5 L capacity and V6 architecture.
Early build quality of the 800 was indifferent, with trim, electrics and paintwork problems. The car did have a roomy and luxurious interior but this did not save the car from gaining an poor reputation from which it never really recovered. Corrosion problems would also mar the reputation of the early 800s. This also led to the second demise of Rover in the United States: the Sterling fell to the bottom of the J. D. Power survey lists there, while ironically, its twin, the Acura Legend, was found at the top, in their first year.
By 1989, the 2.5 L engine had been enlarged to 2.7 L, the unreliable Maestro-derived instrumentation had been changed to Honda gauges and build quality had improved. However these changes were too late to prevent the American-market version from being withdrawn after poor sales. In an attempt to field a contender in the smaller "repmobile" class (a class in which ARG's own Montego was struggling to compete), a budget version of the 800 using the 8-valve O-Series engine was introduced. However this model was short-lived owing to its sluggish performance.
In 1992, the 800 was given a major restyle, under the R17 codename, with a traditional Rover grille and more curvaceous bodywork. The redesign was completed in only eleven months. The car's image changed overnight, and sales enjoyed a renaissance, the 800 series becoming Britain's best selling executive car in the early to mid 1990s. Paintwork had improved dramatically by this stage, decreasing corrosion problems. A handsome coupe version — originally developed with the American market in mind — followed later that year. Eighty percent of the interior and exterior of the 800 coupe was finished by hand.
A facelift in 1996 provided few exterior changes, the most noticeable being the painting of previously black rubbing strips on all models except the coupe and the revision of the suspension system. Climate control, passive immobilisation and a passenger airbag became standard, and a 6-disc CD autochanger was fitted to all models apart from the entry 'i' model. Wood finishes were expanded, with a coachwork line and 'ROVER' on the door cards, accentuating the new, pleated seat finishes and deep pile rugs. Unusual pleated door card leather and fabric finishes capped off an exceptionally comfortable interior, much of which was hand-made by what Rover called 'The Craftsman's Touch'.
Although the 800 had fallen behind the opposition considerably (few mechanical changes were made, apart from the introduction of the Rover KV6 Engine in 1996), it was a steady seller until 1999, when it was replaced by the Rover 75.
Famous owners include Neil Hamilton, Peter Mandelson, Clement Freud, Max Bygraves and Michael Parkinson. Tony Blair owned an early 800 in the 1980s. The 800 was also the keystone of the British government's motor fleet throughout its life and was used by many British police forces. Steve Coogan's comedic character Alan Partridge had driven a Rover 800 in Knowing Me, Knowing Yule and in the first episode of series one of I'm Alan Partridge.
Production figures for the Rover 800:
1986: 15,609
1987: 54,434
1988: 48,634
1989: 35,387
1990: 29,460
1991 pre-facelift: 10,007
1991 post-facelift: 2,961
1992: 28,136
1993: 28,354
1994: 21,802
1995: 13,311
1996: 11,400
1997: 11,131
1998: 6500
| Automobiles made by BMC, BL and Rover Group companies | ||
| Austin | Austin-Healey | British Leyland | Jaguar | MG | Morris | Riley | Rover | MG Rover | Triumph | Vanden Plas | Wolseley
| ||
| Austin models: A40 | Cambridge | Westminster | A35 | Mini | Mini Moke | 1100/1300 | 1800 | Allegro | Maxi | 3-Litre | Mini Metro | Maestro | Montego | ||
| Austin-Healey models: 100 | 3000 | Sprite | ||
| British Leyland models: Princess | P76 (Australia only) | ||
| Jaguar models: XJ6 | XJ12 | XJS | ||
| Morris models: Minor | Oxford | Cowley | Mini | 1100/1300 | 1800 | Marina/Ital | ||
| MG models: MG A | Magnette | Midget | Montego | MG B | MG C | 1100/1300 | MG RV8 | MG F/TF | MG ZT | MG ZR | MG ZS | MG SV | ||
| Riley models: Pathfinder | 2.6 | 1.5 | 4/68 | Elf | Kestrel | ||
| Rover models: P4 | P5 | P6 | SD1 | 25 | 75 | 45 | 400 | 200 | 100 | 800 | 600 | CityRover | Estoura | ||
| Triumph models: Herald | Spitfire | Vitesse | GT6 | Stag | TR7 | Toledo | 1300 |1500 | 2000 | 2.5 & 2500 |Dolomite | Acclaim | ||
| Vanden Plas models: Princess | 3-Litre | 1100/1300 | ||
| Wolseley models: 4/44 | 6/90 | 15/50 | 1500 | 16/60 | 6/99 | 6/110 | Hornet | 1100/1300 | 18/85 | ||
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