There's definitely been beige R8 armrests, at least in cabriolet R8s. In France, the so-called "Special Edition" cabs (216 for the year 1993, and then 214 for the years 1994 and 1995) were fitted with all beige interior (dash, leather, door cards...) which extended to the armrest. It would...

Should be there with my recently acquired "93 LHD GSi automatic... 1. GTiJohn (200 Vi) 2. Hammond (if the 400 is fixed in time, if not I'll come in the MGF!) 3. Cromp85 (220 GSi) 4. Nigel B 5. Colonel Mustard 6. Paul_1978 7. Montegoman 8. Itcaptainslow 9. JEASPEKE 10. Ron25GTi 11. cabriolet106 ...

Your replacement box didn't come from a 216 Honda car, but from a K-Series 1.6 (engine type 16K4).
You wouldn't have been able to use a gearbox from a Honda-engined car: they don't use the R65.

Hello gents (and ladies), Just decided to apply for club membership, after meeting John at the NEC this past weekend. I was also an exhibitor there, with the Rover 800 Owners Club, and my 827 Coupé on their stand. In real life, I'm the president of the French Rover Club, and just bought 10 days ago ...