RE: Rover 75 Tourer | Shed of the Week
Discussion
I used to sell these as new cars back in the early 00's.
By far the best riding/ride quality of any car around at that time, and possibly still unsurpassed.
They may be a bit gammon or kipper for some, but who cares?
I wonder if you could swap a late gen e90 320d engine into it, give it 204 bhp. Probably not.
By far the best riding/ride quality of any car around at that time, and possibly still unsurpassed.
They may be a bit gammon or kipper for some, but who cares?
I wonder if you could swap a late gen e90 320d engine into it, give it 204 bhp. Probably not.
PrinceRupert said:
wpa1975 said:
Sorry but the KV6 was crap, launched well before it was ready for sale, chocolate head gaskets etc also very expensive to replace cam belts as it runs 3 belts, yes the later ones were better but engines should not be on sale with known issues.
The 18T was only launched to replace the 2.0 V6 due to emissions and tax purposes, I don't rate it as a great engine.
The KV6 does not suffer from head gasket problems. The 18T was only launched to replace the 2.0 V6 due to emissions and tax purposes, I don't rate it as a great engine.
Yes, the cam belt job is involved, but it isn't that expensive - £600 or so.
wpa1975 said:
PrinceRupert said:
wpa1975 said:
Sorry but the KV6 was crap, launched well before it was ready for sale, chocolate head gaskets etc also very expensive to replace cam belts as it runs 3 belts, yes the later ones were better but engines should not be on sale with known issues.
The 18T was only launched to replace the 2.0 V6 due to emissions and tax purposes, I don't rate it as a great engine.
The KV6 does not suffer from head gasket problems. The 18T was only launched to replace the 2.0 V6 due to emissions and tax purposes, I don't rate it as a great engine.
Yes, the cam belt job is involved, but it isn't that expensive - £600 or so.
The KV6 suited the 75 perfectly, and didn't suffer from the issues you mention which occurred in the early 800 installations.
My dad had one, an early diesel auto, and I have mixed opinions of it.
The good; it was incredibly comfortable, quiet and did 100 leptons on a private road with such ease. A wonderful cruiser.
The not so good; man it was slow under acceleration! No EML to indicate any problems, just a general lack of go. He paid a lot of money as it wasn’t far off new, but for shed cash, yeah it’s a good deal.
The good; it was incredibly comfortable, quiet and did 100 leptons on a private road with such ease. A wonderful cruiser.
The not so good; man it was slow under acceleration! No EML to indicate any problems, just a general lack of go. He paid a lot of money as it wasn’t far off new, but for shed cash, yeah it’s a good deal.
sjabrown said:
I’ve mixed views on these. Part of me admires the styling for being different but also quite timeless (compare how these are ageing with same age Mondeo or Vectra). But there’s also that impression they were owned by Brexiteers before the omnishambles that is Brexit existed.
I wonder what parts supply is like and how fixable they are for some home tinkering? If I was to buy a Rover it would be one of these or something from the 1960s.
I wonder what parts supply is like and how fixable they are for some home tinkering? If I was to buy a Rover it would be one of these or something from the 1960s.
I think that the comparison of the dreadful Rover 75 with Brexiteers is nonsensical.
The Rover 75 was unsurprisingly a sales disaster, whereas Brexit got over 50 percent of the Democratic Vote.
Nice shades of blue 
I know I rant about this often, but the image of rover in the 90s and 00s compared to the 60s is, I think a fascinating story.
Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
williamp said:
I know I rant about this often, but the image of rover in the 90s and 00s compared to the 60s is, I think a fascinating story.
Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
Great to see info like to this I’d guess 95% of us on here didn’t know the details - thanks for sharing! Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
Details like that explain why and when a brand was popular and they could sell well based on past success.
I think Jaguar have a similar story - 1950’s superstar race rustles - hence why they got away with selling crappy out of date rubbish in the 70’s/90’s/00’s to retired northerner business men who wanted to show ‘they’d made it’!
SirGriffin said:
Global Nomad said:
was always the retro nostalgic interior that put me off...a false sense that everything was better in the good old days.
And given the intolerant state of things today, indeed it was.I had a number of 75's, and while personally I didn't care for the looks of the tourer version, the saloon was a handsome design. Retro? Well if designing something that has character and good looks is what passes for retro these days, then yes it was. It reminded us of a time when people could have different tastes and not be made fun of for it.
How sad that even James May sneeringly said it was a car for "people to clean a lot" as if enjoying something something that brings you pleasure is something to be derided.
I was always amazed by the amount of people who had a ride in my 75's and said "This is lovely, I didn't realise they were like this!" Nope, that's because they were swept along by the scornful mass who drive gopingly ugly vehicles that look as if they have been in a collision on their way to the showroom, with concrete ride and handling, because they dare not admit that they actually like something different, in case they lose face.
The 75 was a comfortable car designed for the rubbish roads we actually have, instead of something that pandered to the 'ring dreams of the ad men.
Having had both the X-type and S-type, the 75 was head and shoulders above them for build quality, particularly the early interiors.
Lovely cars, and not a hateful touch screen in sight.
Edited by SirGriffin on Friday 24th June 06:54
The Rover history really was something else.
I had 2 P6's, a 2000TC and a 3500 auto.
Suspension like nothing else except might be found on cars only film stars or royalty could afford, front coils mounted horizontally against the bulkhead, a bulkhead so strong it was virtelly impenetrable making the P6 one of the most crashworthy vehicles of its time.
Rear suspension by DeDion tube, DeDion tube was in effect a massive third shock absorber, after a few years the rubber bellows would split but it was a simple enough job to unbolt the tube replace the bellows and top it back up with oil, gave a ride quality from a coil sprung car that you couldn'e have dreamed possible, take those hard rubber sleeping policemen at 25mph, a speed enough to break engine mountings on many cars and you'd struggle to feel anything at all in the Rover.
High speed handling rock solid.
Rear inboard disc brakes, the Lucas swinging calipers that proved to be a nightmare on Mk 4 Ford Zodiacs, rarely gave any trouble on the Rovers because they didn't get blasted in road salt, though changing the pads wasn't the easiest of jobs.
They suffered serious rot in the rear wings and the sills, all repairable, the boot was tiny though, thanks to that DD suspension.
I loved mine, especially the V8, even managed to get 3 x child seats across the back seat.
Loved the quirky little front side lights, the lenses of which extended to little points above the wings which would illuminate to show the lights were on.
A most individual car, years ahead of almost everything else.
I had 2 P6's, a 2000TC and a 3500 auto.
Suspension like nothing else except might be found on cars only film stars or royalty could afford, front coils mounted horizontally against the bulkhead, a bulkhead so strong it was virtelly impenetrable making the P6 one of the most crashworthy vehicles of its time.
Rear suspension by DeDion tube, DeDion tube was in effect a massive third shock absorber, after a few years the rubber bellows would split but it was a simple enough job to unbolt the tube replace the bellows and top it back up with oil, gave a ride quality from a coil sprung car that you couldn'e have dreamed possible, take those hard rubber sleeping policemen at 25mph, a speed enough to break engine mountings on many cars and you'd struggle to feel anything at all in the Rover.
High speed handling rock solid.
Rear inboard disc brakes, the Lucas swinging calipers that proved to be a nightmare on Mk 4 Ford Zodiacs, rarely gave any trouble on the Rovers because they didn't get blasted in road salt, though changing the pads wasn't the easiest of jobs.
They suffered serious rot in the rear wings and the sills, all repairable, the boot was tiny though, thanks to that DD suspension.
I loved mine, especially the V8, even managed to get 3 x child seats across the back seat.
Loved the quirky little front side lights, the lenses of which extended to little points above the wings which would illuminate to show the lights were on.
A most individual car, years ahead of almost everything else.
williamp said:
I know I rant about this often, but the image of rover in the 90s and 00s compared to the 60s is, I think a fascinating story.
Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
Great post!Think about their past: The Rover p4 from the 50s was, depending on who you spoke to either a cheap rolls royce.. or the latter was an expensive rover.
The P5 was so good it was still used by HM Queen mum and prime ministers long after it stopped production. There was nothing like it..
Whilst other manufacturers looking into high tech, such as coil spring... Rover looked into jet propulsion. Jaguar had the fastest production car with the 120mph XK120... a year later Rover s Jet1 did over 150mph. Looked like P4, had a jet engine. Still in the sciene museum today..
Was there a cooler car in 1950???
In fact they were so serious the engine bay of the P6 was designed to have the gas turbine. Hence the funky front suspension, to make room.. it was the first European car of the year, and exceded all sales expectations.
They asked BRM to make a chassis, and the gas turbine Rover-BRM raced at le mans..
But it was a technological dead end. Instead, they bought the rights to the buick engine. A car with a 3.5l V8, when others just about managed a 2 litre 4. And where would the kit car industry be without the rover v8? Or Morgan? TVR???
Then there is land rover. In the 60s, Rover were a technological tour de force. Cool. A name to be proud. A hugely influential brand. And then in 1970 they launced the Range Rover. Now that wasnt a dead end...
Fast forward to the 90s and 00s. Laughed at for their image. Nothing they could do (MG brand? LE MANS LMP275 etc etc) could savd them. The labour party didnt seem fo want to. A fascinating story
All that history, innovation, design and quality from the company for many years. And brands like Range Rover/Land Rover known all over the world, and it's all gone
My first introduction to Rover was the SD1 when my uncle came round to show off his new company car. It was love at first sight and i still love them to this day
Rover gets sneered at alot but i'd welcome a successful British car maker manufacturing in this country again
TBH I don't think anything in this size of car screams young/hip/trendy. I had an E-Class that smelled of old people when I bought it... Nothing offensive like wee, just the same smell you get when you go to the house of someone 80+ years old. Even M5 or E63 simply shouts "I spent my retirement lump sum on a treat" louder than it could ever shout "hey laydeez, I have all my own hair and don't need to take Mydixadroopin tablets". BMW will even give you a stylish Parker pen just for enquiring about the Competition pack.
Now, I've never met anyone who had a 75/ZT and didn't speak fondly of it. I know the early ones are better built etc but it does seem to be a well designed and well built car, and retro styling was on trend then (see the contemporary E-Class, CLS and S-Type).
Now, I've never met anyone who had a 75/ZT and didn't speak fondly of it. I know the early ones are better built etc but it does seem to be a well designed and well built car, and retro styling was on trend then (see the contemporary E-Class, CLS and S-Type).
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