Please feel free to communicate to the world what was good about this much maligned marque....and kindly dont turn it into a derogatory thing please!! There are enough idiotic comments doing the rounds on here as it is, many with no basis in fact. Thanks
My Uncles V8 SD1 rumbling along at a relaxed 70mph and 2000 revs on a trip down to Cornwall in the 80's. It gave me an appreciation of car styling and a love of V8s.
The SD1 looked like a Ferrari Daytona if you squinted, the P5 was favoured amongst government officials and royalty for many years, and the P6 is the perfect wheels if you like wearing stockings on your head and stealing money from ineptly guarded security vans.
The K-series engine the Caterham has is running nicely. New(ish) exaust giving a fantastic engine note, blasting cars being overtaken as well as a slight power and torque increase.
I have not had many Rovers, the ones i owned which i really liked, were mainly the SD1 V8 Vitesse and the MGB GT V8. A fantastic buy nowadays is the MG V8 saloon. The higher spec one listed at £33,000 but you can get one a couple of years old for £16K. Masses of luxury and a Ford Mustang V8 engine.
We had a string of Rovers through the 80's, a 213S, 216 Vitesse, MG Montego and an 820e. My favourite was the old 213, 'twas the first new car I'd ever sat in and would have to say my enthusiasm for motors probably began with it. Its been very sad to see them go.
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
I remember dropping off one of the old 200's for a service, just around the time the SD1 had been replaced by the 800 (1985/6-ish?). Saw two new examples parked up side by side, a tomato red SD1 and a white 820 .... there was no comparison, I remember asking myself why Rover had taken such a great looking car and replaced it with such an ordinary one. The introduction of the fastback a couple of years on did nothing to change my opinion.
...although having said that, Pops' 820 did an awful lot of miles with no major problems. Underneath its three boxes I guess it was a pretty competant car.....and if I ever find myself in a Pringle jumper having taken up golf, I can think of no better Golfers car than an 800 Sterling coupe!
_________________________ "Forward", he cried, from the rear, and the front rank died. And the General sat, and the lines on the map moved from side to side.
Have just been offered a 1972 P5B coupe automatic. Its done 58k in its lifetime with all bills and service history including bill of sale and all previous mot's and tax discs etc. Was restored three years ago at the cost of £14000. Mine for £6000 if i want it. Gorgeous black coachwork and an excellent dark red leather interior. Tempted? you bet
Originally posted by Palmira: SD1 last proper rover. I know it was cobbled together by communists under Red Robbo but it was a fantastic car if you got one which didnt fall apart.
Its shape & sound was part of my childhood, and it was ahead of its time. my dad had one brand new, a 1982 3500SE automatic. Was superb.
I liked my 3.5 Vitesse SD1. Went really well and sounded great. If you are ancient enough, you will know what i mean when i say it had a 'Holly' and an 'Offy'. Does that mean anything to you Palmy?
<pantherd90>
Posted
SD1 was lovely, the rovers of old were superb, true luxury cars. You were going up in the world if you had a Rover..
Thats right , they were. And they still are. They make fantastic classics - Last month Classic & Sportscar had a review of the old P5B, they had a beautiful black one in there in perfect condition, 3 speed auto, 3528cc buick V8. Now THATS a proper car. Not the beetroot theyve been dishing up for the last 20 years.
The SD1 i had was fitted with a 3.9 version of the Rover V8 and had an American 'Holley' 4-barrel carburettor and an 'Offenhauser' inlet manifold. At the time, 275 bhp was quite a lot, with good torque from low down also.
Originally posted by craigjmitchell: Have just been offered a 1972 P5B coupe automatic. Its done 58k in its lifetime with all bills and service history including bill of sale and all previous mot's and tax discs etc. Was restored three years ago at the cost of £14000. Mine for £6000 if i want it. Gorgeous black coachwork and an excellent dark red leather interior. Tempted? you bet
What do you think guys? many of you know im after a bit of a cultured classic, would you be tempted?
Originally posted by Palmira: How did that happen?
The Vitesse was 3528cc with Lucas Electronic Fuel Injection.
The previous models had holley carbs.
I haven't a clue Palmy, the car had been modified long before i got it. Standard and mint it wasn't! I do recall it having 3.9 litres, rather than the usual 3.5 and the items mentioned though.
Originally posted by craigjmitchell: Going to have a look at this P5B tommorow see above - any suggestions on what to look for specifically if you have driven / owned one before?
Check the boot to see if there's a sawn off shotgun in there. You may be lucky enough to find some used notes as well (take one of those special marking pens with you to check that they're not forged).
what was good about rover? everything upto the early 1970's - after that they are rubbish. what was good about mg? the cars made upto 1980 - shame about the black plastic bumper models, after 1980 -- rubbish
-------------------------------------------- Two junior particle physicists were dismissed today after using the Large Hadron Collider to smash conkers into each other at near-light speed.
sd1 had twin su carbs as standard whrn not fitted with injection palmy...best of bunch in my opinion is either early series one 3500 with manual box or late vanden plas efi with auto...this is the sd1 bargain...vitesse spec 190hp engine but all the luxury of the vdp models...great combination...p5 and p6 among my favourites too...iv owned sd1 3500se abd p6 3500s...i do like a v8........
I loved my H reg 827sli - was a pre cat version and was reckoned by an ex copper who had an old unmarked one that it was good for nearly 200bhp before being throttled by the emissions controls. The trouble and strife, not known for her appreciation of cars "cars are a tool from getting from a 2 b what is your problem" says it was the most comfortable and quick car I have had. If I could find a low mileage mint one I would buy it now.
My sister once had a lovely (yes, really!) E reg Rover 216 Vanden Plas. 
