SOTW: Rover SD1

It was the Rover that looked (a bit) like a Ferrari...

By Oli S / Friday, 18 July 2008 / Loading comments

In the late seventies if you wanted a Ferrari Daytona but needed the practicality of five doors and the comedy value of extreme body roll there was little on offer. But Rover saw this gap in the market and embraced it – and the result was the SD1.

The Ferrari-esque styling may have been scoffed at by some but the SD1 actually ended up with its own slab of racing pedigree after some success as a touring car. With Rover now gone we can look back on cars such as the SD1 with fond respect too.

It has aged well and looks interesting for a large executive car with a long sloping roofline that ends in almost a cam tail. It is a simple but sleek design and one that was commonly seen both adorned with race livery and that of the local constabulary.

Throughout the eighties SD1s seemed to be everywhere but sadly most have succumbed to the elements and turned brown, that is if they weren’t a shade of beige in the first place. Of course the model to go for was the V8 model but through most of its life the different versions of the SD1 looked pretty similar.

Philip Turner of Motor said: ‘Outwardly, the new Rover sixes differ so little from the 3500 that you may well have encountered one on the road without knowing it. The only disguise required was to change the 2300 or 2600 script at the rear for that of the 3500.’

OK, so you get a straight six and not a lovely eight-pot but you can’t have everything, and for Shed money the quick SD1s are becoming just too sought after. What we have found is this 2600 Vanden Plas which interestingly has to be one of the very last SD1s ever made.

They were produced from 1976 until 1987 and even though the advert says this is an ’88 car a quick search shows that it was registered in May the year before. You still get a 2.6-litre six-pot and a manual 5-speed in what looks to be a pretty decent car.

You get classic brown/beige interior, walnut dash and a recorded 86,000 miles. There are original alloy wheels are present and the car has two previous owners. The seller even speaks the Rover speak when he says the engine ‘purrs’ so expect complimentary driving gloves and pipe.

There’s a tiny bit of rust but it’s got a full year’s MOT. A future classic no doubt and a slice of British motoring history for £790 – who needs a Daytona when you’ve got the next best thing? (sort of)

Carandclassic.co.uk ad reads: 'Well cared for and loved! Manuel 5 door hatchback 2957CC Rover Vanden Plas. Red in colour with alloy wheels. Brown/beige upholstered interior in excellent condition with no 'sagging'. Walnut dash. 86,148 miles on the clock. 2 previous owners. Lovingly maintained. Good runner and engine 'purrs'. New battery. Very small areas of rust -bottom of the front passenger door, running boards and spot on the boot.Currently SWORN. Full MOT next due June 2009. Offers for car at £790ono.'