RE: SOTW Rover SD1 3500

[Jonathanb48]

My dad had a brand new Rover 3500 in 1979 (cov543v) as a company car. The company would not quite stretch to the v8s. I remember he could have had one three years earlier but instead chose a Granada ghia and as soon as we saw a rover in 1976 on a camp site in France regretted. Build quality was utter rubbish but superb when working. I learned to drive at the age of 13 in it at the under 17's car club and even I managed to burn out the brakes at the age of 14 admittedly round silverstone. Superb car despite reliability issues. Father later had another 3500 ads(not a typo) living in southafrica which was much better built. I want a a series 1 or 1.25 ( 1980 with big writing on back, new front badge and alloys) to have as part of my collection. Anyone got one or an early 76 oh and a vitesse 2plennum.

Jb

[XJSJohn]

My dad had a very early one of these ('76 or '77 on an S plate) from brand new, in bright metalic blue (and after 6 months rust)

Dad still raves that it was a fantastic engine (3500) and very comfortable seats ... shame about the rest of the car, the body shell rusted to pieces inside of 2 years as they forgot to put drain holes in the boot and doors!

[grahamw48]

Let's not forget that most other cars of the era also rusted to pieces very quickly, be they Fords, Vauxhalls or any mass-produced cars.

A lot of selective memory going on here.

[Pablo16v]

In 1981 my dad bought a white 1979 ex-police SD1 3500 which still had the switches on the dash for the blue lights. As a car mad 10 year old I thought it was so cool. Unfortunately, and probably quite typical for BL cars of that period, the dreaded rust got hold and it required a full respray in 1983 when it was only 4 years old.

[GEP]

That looks a lot of fun. Somehow you just know the end result of buying it would be waiting for an AA truck on the side of the M6 in a cloud steam when the head gasket or something goes pop half an hour later though.

[grahamw48]

Pessimist.

Cheapest way of getting it home AND finding out what needs fixing.

[Escort Si-130]

A real fat mans car. Used to see many fat people driving these back in the 80's to carry their mass.

I really cant see any supercar looks PH as you guys have mentioned. Only thing that my look like an italian supercar is the front indicator and headlamp which seems reminscant of a Ferrari Daytona.

[JonRB]

Escort Si-130 said:

A real fat mans car. Used to see many fat people driving these back in the 80's to carry their mass.

I really cant see any supercar looks PH as you guys have mentioned. Only thing that my look like an italian supercar is the front indicator and headlamp which seems reminscant of a Ferrari Daytona.

[grahamw48]

Escort Si-130 said:

A real fat mans car. Used to see many fat people driving these back in the 80's to carry their mass.

I really cant see any supercar looks PH as you guys have mentioned. Only thing that my look like an italian supercar is the front indicator and headlamp which seems reminscant of a Ferrari Daytona.

Hmm...a real bang up to date car of the people then.

What's not to like ?

[red_rover]

Escort Si-130 said:

I really cant see any supercar looks PH as you guys have mentioned. Only thing that my look like an italian supercar is the front indicator and headlamp which seems reminscant of a Ferrari Daytona.

Courtesy of Austin-Rover.co.uk

[M666 EVO]

Escort Si-130 said:

A real fat mans car. Used to see many fat people driving these back in the 80's to carry their mass.

I really cant see any supercar looks PH as you guys have mentioned. Only thing that my look like an italian supercar is the front indicator and headlamp which seems reminscant of a Ferrari Daytona.

Squint?

[red_rover]

Come on, you have to be blind not to see even a small resemblance.

And besides, the SD1 styling was inspired by contemporary Italian GT cars of of time - as opposed to being a direct copy of any particular car.

[grahamw48]

I'm sure it was clear enough to most of us.

[rovsd1]

Yep! If I approached a Ferrari Daytona from the front in fog, I might initially think it's a Rover SD1.

[300bhp/ton]

[Pedmeister]

grahamw48 said:

Let's not forget that most other cars of the era also rusted to pieces very quickly, be they Fords, Vauxhalls or any mass-produced cars.

A lot of selective memory going on here.

Correct! Back in 'those days,' a car was considered a banger by the time it was five years old. Many were ravaged by tin worm by five years of age. Tin worm was not exclusively a Rover 'attribute!'

[fatboy69]

It is the dogs bkss isnt it? I want it.

[Garlick]

10mpg said:

I had a lightly modded and slightly improved twin plenum Vitesse for a few years, awesome car, fast, muscular, oversteer on demand, sweet handling, comfy cruiser when needed and really easy to live with, was a bit scruffy round the edges and needed piant, but my memories of it are very very fond.

That looks fantastic

[carinaman]

http://www.landcrab.net/mainframes/main_pinafarina...

[anonymous-user]

That is very interesting. It appears that Citroen may also have been influenced by the 1800 design when producing the wonderful SM.