[Blueracer13]

Hello All
First question, is there anybody out there.....?

It seems quiet on all the forums lately.

I'm not a new member to the site but took out a postal membership and am waiting desperately to get some contact back from the club staff.....

I'm a big fan of all things Rover and especially the R8 era.
I worked at Longridge from 1995 until 2012 and have a massive connection with the company, the site, the people and particularly the cars!

So that was what has inspired me to own at least one R8 since 1999 and three since

I remember seeing Tomcats, 220's, 214's Cabby's etc all being built and remember dreaming of owning one. That sounds slightly mad now that they are pretty old and you can buy one for the price of a decent alloy wheel!

Anyway as you people well know, when they were new they were great value but still pretty expensive for many of us mortals.....
I remember very well, how cool the brand spanking new zero mileage Coupes and Gsi's looked rolling off the line!

Here's a pic of mine (actually a GTi 220) but it'll make the imagery easier if you're currently imagining a factory full of R8's in various states of build....
1993 220 Gti M series engine, totally mint, totally original (except for BRM's ,33K)
Mind you I paid plenty of ££ for it, bit I thought 'its like new and there wont be many left soon...so what the hell!?



I often recall the excitement at starting at Longbridge and being in amongst the manufacturing of successful, excellent, great looking cars

I get especially nostalgic whn I spend time around my cars, so here's another one of them..1995 Jap spec <60K and in very tidy very original condition, again ignore the BRM's, reconditioned Turbo alloys to go back on this spring....


So having worked there for a few years and seen so many nice new cars around me I decided to spend as much on one as I could afford....not much. I went looking for a Flame Red 220 Coupe but came back with this...


Actually this pic is taken right outside where the car was born. Its inside Longbridge right next to where the old CAB 2 was, that is before BMW tore it down and built the silver building in the picture, which, incidenatlly was where the BMW Mini was to be be built until it went to Cowley......but thats another story.

The car is a 1994 216 Coupe SE and I owned it for 12 years and it was wonderful.....a really great car.

Anyway, the latest chapter in this 'overlong' intro involves many elements of R8 engineering and parts but is not actually a Rover....but it is the 'next best thing' tee hee, bit cheeky there...



Its 1992 16:16v Honda CRX Coupe for those that dont recognise it....there arent exactly millions left now and some of our younger viewers may not have seen one... I bought it as a bit of fun two years ago and it needs work if I am honest, but is totlally reliable if slghtly crusty in the sill area...

Anyway, just a bit of fun while I attempt to get a pm or other response from 'The Staff'

If anyone knows of a real good, proper multi car insurance scheme so I can get all my cars covered please let me know....cheers

Happy R8ing!!

[Fatdave]

hello and welcome

nice collection of r8's. ive always liked the crx's. noticed it hasn't escaped your brm wheel fetish they look good though.

like all forums it goes through busy and slow periods. some days you log on and theres only a couple of new posts then a few weeks later every section has a new post. just the way it goes.

if you've paid up to be a full member just keep at the admin and they will get back to or more than likely will see this thread and sort you out. you will need your name turning blue as well so you get full access to the forum.

[GTiJohn]

Superb collection

Where about at Longbridge did you work - CAB1, I'm guessing?

I was in the DO and down in the Chassis development workshop from 85-96.

One of my lasting memories was seeing the R8 line steadily filling up with bodies from station 1.

Great times....

[Red Icon]

I've sent you a pm

[Mr Teddy Bear]

Hi,
some nice photo's and memories you have there!

Welcome to the club!

[Blueracer13]

Hello Gents (and Ladies if there are any here)

Thanks for the welcomes and advice. Much appreciated.

@ GTi John; Correct - I worked in CAB 1, but also in CAB 2 (Old) and the PD and GOB too. So I got around a bit. I love Longbridge; and Rover was brilliant to work for.

Shame it wasnt a success for a lot longer, but it would never have withstood the current climate, not the way it was, and the current MG thing is to be honest a mockery of what Rover was, and I worked there up until last year.
If you worked at the dates you said then I reckon you saw the best part of it all so fair play to you. I used to work on all the system but I ran the door build on R3 and often spent time at Cell 1, Station 1 in the CAB as thats where the doors off was.....that was a tough cell to run!
Its funny, but you mentioning seeing the system fill reminded of the old days, and this week I had the pleasure of doing the same thing with the new F Type Jag at Castle Brom. The launch of a new car is always exciting...well to me it is anyway!

Hopefully meet some of you guys at Pride of Longbridge in April!