An Rover..An Acura...errr...A 1991 Sterling 827si

Sterling owners will tell you with a wide smile that they've got an Acura Legend with a cool badge, but what they won't mention is the Rover connection. Because, from 1987 through 1991 ARCONA (Austin Rover Cars Of North America) imported a rebadged version of the Rover 800 series as the Sterling 825/827 for the US market.  Under the skin are the bones of an Acura Legend, which means the Sterling used Honda V6 engine mated to the front wheels...but the cars were still assembled in Oxford and electrified with Lucas electrics.  That means that the part that falls off in your lap during a spirited turn may or may not expose a faulty piece of wiring. If you don't know how to use a multimeter and "Permatex Pit Crew's Choice Adhesive"...you will soon. Find this 1991 Sterling 827Si offered for $5950 in Southfield, MI via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Banana Boat: 1968 Sterling Kit Car

The shape you see on the screen first appeared as the Nova kit car, produced in the UK by Richard Oakes and Phil Sayers using a swoopy fiberglass body, and Volkswagen Beetle chassis with buyer provided running gear.  The same design was later branded as the Sterling, Cimbria and Purvis, and apparently you can even buy a new one today.  That sounds expensive, so I'll stick to the old used examples like this 1968 Sterling Kit Car offered for $8,500 in Mendocino County, CA via craigslist.  Tip from James.

A Little Help From My Friends: 1989 Sterling 827SL

When you are down on your luck and things don't look good, call a successful friend.  That's what British Leyland did in the 1980's when they struck up a partnership to build cars in the European Union with Honda of Japan. BL hoped to build cars that would lift up its sagging image and Honda would be able to get around import restrictions imposed by the EU. One of the resulting cars was the Rover 800, sold as the Sterling here in the US.  Find this 1989 Sterling 827SL for sale in Sequim, WA for $2,900 via craigslist.

Bad Dubbing: 1987 Sterling 825SL

If we're using metaphors, the Sterling was a poorly dubbed Kung-Fu movie. If we're using analogies, the 825 is to English cars as fish sticks are to fish and chips. Not really English and not really Japanese, the Rover 800 series, or Sterling in the US, sought to combine Japanese reliability with rich wood and leather accouterments from ye olde country. Since the Japanese weren't involved with body design, electronics, or manufacturing, the outcome was pretty predictable. Find what may be the nicest 1987 Sterling 825S left on the planet - and it's still got a trash bag over the window - for sale in Everett, WA for only $800 via craigslist. A note on tips: FuelTruck sent in an 827 with not quite enough pictures to post, so another was located. Thanks, FuelTruck for reminding us that these still exist in the backyards of America.

Ice Breaker: 1999 Bremen Sebring

To maintain structural rigidity and create a powerful visual impression, some car manufacturers have have gotten creative with passenger ingress and egress. The Delorean, Lamborghini Diablo, BMW Z1 and Toyota Sera are all cars known for their unconventional doors, but one of the more exotic designs can be found in the Sebring kit car. Find this 1999 Bremen Motorsports Sebring for sale in Fairfield, NY for $7,200 via craigslist.

Anglonese: 1988 Sterling 825S

If your idea of a good time is driving an oddball classic with Japanese reliability, British luxury, and a badge that nobody knows -- you could do worse than drive a Sterling.  Starting in 1987 Austin Rover Cars Of North America imported a rebadged version of the Rover 800 series as the Sterling 825/827 for the US market.  Find this 1988 Sterling 825S offered for $2,500 in Anchorage, AK via craigslist.  Tip from Zach.

Sterling Nephew: 1983 Cimbria SS Kit Car by Amore

The Sterling (aka Nova) kit car was first produced in the UK by Richard Oakes and Phil Sayers using a swoopy fiberglass body, and Volkswagen Beetle chassis with buyer provided running gear, but the story didn't end with them.  Several entrepreneurs later and the same basic shape/molds were used by Joe Palumbo who started Amore Cars in Milwaukee, building something called the Cimbria SS.  Find this 1983 Cimbria SS Kit Car by Amore offered for $12,000 in Santa Barbara, CA via craigslist. Tip from Rod444.

3 For the Price of 3: 1989 Sterling SLi

The Sterling was the product of a bizarre Anglo-Japanese collaboration between Austin Rover Cars and Honda.  It was technically a rebadged Rover 800 series, but for North America the only powerplant was a Honda V6 borrowed from the Acura Legend.  Find these three 1989 Sterling SLis offered for a grand total of $15,000 in Rio Rico, AZ via craigslist.  Tip from Safety Fast (you might not know Safety, but we're all familiar with his brother Hugo Fast and sister Brea K Fast)

1k: Legendorky: 1989 Sterling 827

From 1987 through 1991 ARCONA (Austin Rover Cars Of North America) imported a rebadged version of the Rover 800 series as the Sterling 825/827 for the US market.  Under the skin are the bones of an Acura Legend and the Sterling used Honda V6 engine mated to the front wheels.  You hardly ever see a Sterling on the road anymore and probably mistake it for an Acura if you don't notice the badge, but they sold about 36,000 of the sedans in 6 years of production.  Find this 1989 Sterling 827 for $950 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

5k: Wild Rover: 1991 Sterling 827 SL

The Sterling 827 was a rebadged Rover 800 series, which was in truth designed and developed by Honda and shared many parts with the Acura Legend.  There was a time when it was common to see a Sterlings on the road in the US, but today they are rarely seen driving around anywhere.  Find this 1991 Sterling 827 SL for sale in Concordia, KS for $6,500 via craigslist.  Tip from Andy L.