Real Road Test: Rover P6 3500 V8, with special guest!
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- čas přidán 30. 09. 2018
- As voted for by you, my subscribers! I go for a drive in a rather lovely Rover P6 V8, joined by the car's owner - friend, writer, editor and former (it turns out) car salesman Peter Simpson.
Sadly, the Rover was pinking a bit on the drive, having been stood for a few weeks, so I was unable to fully exploit that ex-Buick 215 V8. I still fell hopelessly in love with P6s again though. Actual suspension! It makes my Rover 45 feel like a tea tray racing down a cobbled street. - Auta a dopravní prostředky
My mate had a sticker in his rear window saying "YOU'VE JUST BEEN ROVERTAKEN" hahahaha
I have a sentimental attachment to these cars. My grandfather bought a brand new blue one of these about 6 months before he died of a heart attack at only 60. My father had just sold his mark I cortina with the intention of getting a new Ford estate. He drove the Rover for a few months and I fell in love with it. It was so classy working-class in every respect just like my grandfather had been that when my father arrived home with his new Mark 3 Ghia less the Rover, it felt like my grandfather had died twice. 50 years later and I can't look at one of these without thinking of my grandfather and how many years of life he missed.
Thanks for this. Back in the sixties, of all the 'non-sports' cars around, as a kid, I reckoned the Rover 2000s and 3500s had the coolest and most impressive design. It still looks good. But its funny how your perceptions change - I always thought it was quite big, but seeing one in the flesh again a few years back, it seemed thinner and racier - a bit smaller and less imposing than I remembered. I suppose it's because many family cars are a lot bulkier/chubbier nowadays.
Peter Simpson was the best Editor of Practical Classics! I always enjoyed his in depth knowledge and experience. I stopped buying Classic Car Weekly and swapped over to Classic Car Buyer just to follow him! A great man and a huge influence on me via his writing!.
Never owned one, never even driven one. But always loved them! Really cool looking. At least in my world!
I still own one of these with a low mileage and a lot of history. It draws a crowd where ever I go. I lived in Lytham when I bought it. Lytham has always been a rather 'Posh' place with a lot of very rich residents (I wasn't one of them!) Every Sunday morning it was the habit of the most wealthy to park their Ferraris, Lambo's, Astons and other exotic wheels in the same street. One morning I did the same thing and when I came out of the café I saw that all the expensive stuff was being ignored and the Rover was surrounded by admirers !! It gave me a good laugh and a delightful memory.
My mum had a series 1 back in the early 70’s
I was 10 at the time and remember me and my twin sister fighting in the back seat all the way down to Cornwall and my dad being miserable COD my mum wouldn’t stop at the pub for him to have a pint
My dads face was picture when she traded it in because it kept cutting out as soon as she put it in drive ( nobody had a clue how to fix it )
And the car she traded it in for ................... a rover mini 1000
My poor dad god love him
All good things tho
I have a confession to make: I hit the Like button before even watching the video. I knew it would be excellent
Another small point: the grille on the series 1 models wasn't stainless (an easy assumption based on the fitment of stainless wheel trims, roof guttering and window frames) but was actually aluminium made in Wombourne, just south of Wolverhampton. I have a brochure from about 1965 with adverts in from many of the original parts suppliers.
In the early 1990’s I worked in a car wash. One day the boss and I hit a local junk yard in search of a hood (bonnet) to buff and hang in the lobby to advertise our detailing skills. What we found was a P6 in the same color as this car. Having seen them before in books I was shocked to find one sitting in a North Carolina junk yard. The paint was faded evenly dull but not flaking off. Perfect for our purpose. I did take a few moments to sit in the car and now remember the colored switches on the dash. We bought it’s hood, brought it back to the shop, taped off half and buffed the other side. The paint shined back up so brilliantly that people thought we had repainted 1/2 the hood. I had to polish a small spot in the middle of the faded out 1/2 to prove otherwise. I think that derelict partially disassembled P6 is the only one I’ve ever seen in person. A very rare car in the USA
Yes older cars definitely ride better and are just generally much nicer to drive and make driving enjoyable again.
Great to see Peter on film. I've been following his exploits since he was made editor of Car Mechanics in 1995 and bought my still-current Volvo 740 estate (The Volvo) from him in December 2003. Good to see Minnie the Minx, too ^^
I had a P6 2000 SC. My brother, a 2000 TC and my Dad a 3500. All wonderful cars, sadly missed.
Great car! Every new car is obsessed with bloody handling instead of lovely wallowy comforter
Police officer: "Just how fast do you think you were going there, Sir?"
HubNut: "I dunno, 45, 50, 60? Anybody's guess really"
Beautiful car. I'm sure there was variable intermittent on this model. The dashboard really showed some design flair, especially with the air vents being exactly where you want them, in front of you.
My brother had the 2200TC model with the strip speedo, came with a reserve fuel tank if I remember correctly. Like most of my brother's cars it ended life in a tree, ditch was his other parking spot ! Still remember the alloy build rally concept version, absolutely beautiful . If I ever had the money, I'd have one built. I ended up with its successor, a sky blue rover SDI 3.5 auto. Even with new tyres on , it would light up the rear tyres at any speed. Good one was when the xr3i's would come up behind me at 70 mph and flash their lights for me to move over. Used to wait until they had pulled level with me and floor it. Damn thing was only at tick over at 70 and would just drop down into second and take off like a scalded cat! Look of shock on their faces as this big old barge suddenly disappeared in the distance was always worth the petrol it burned. Of course it would only reach 125mph flat out unless you had the Vitesse version ( or had fitted Holley carbs). Remember coming back from a friends house in Cardiff. Worked out that my average speed from the Forth bridge toll to Maidenhead on the M4 was 100mph. Mortgage forced me to sell it in the end. Driven various spec cars since and have yet to encounter any that was as comfortable to drive and sit as that car. Pity that they rust like mad.
I had two P6 Rovers a 3500S and a 2200TC and they were great cars. The reason cars don't ride like that today is in my opinion because current thinking seems to be that everything needs to handle like it's on rails, modern motoring journalists seem to slate everything that has any sort of body roll, and although the P6 hangs on it does roll, and anything that can't negotiate some sort of test track at about 200 MPH. My 2008 Jag is on 20" alloys with 35 profile tyres and if I wasn't looking at nearly £5000 to change them over I would replace them with 19" or even 18" wheels with higher profile tyres to soften the ride. The thing I remember about my P6s was being able to mount the spare wheel on the boot which was handy when four of us drove to Switzerland for three weeks. The other thing I noticed in the video was the original red sticker in the bottom left had corner of the rear screen telling you to only use 5 star petrol. Great video brought back some good memories.
Ok so I’m reading all the comments, and I’m surprised to see so many putting the p6 down, fair play though, all cars have their good and bad points, but after all said and done, when i Park my Lunar grey v8 auto with black box pleat leather and black vinyl roof in my car park and look back as I’m walking away, I ALWAYS turn and pause and just smile with how beautiful these cars are, even more so parked next soulless stuff made in a jelly mould where you can barely tell where the bodywork stops and the bumpers begin, and I’m so glad I went for mine 18 months ago. Il also add that I think they drive amazing for an oldie, even more amazing because it’s a 1970’s BL product, then there is the smell of the interior, the sound of the engine, and the fact that you only have to stick some Stones or Genesis in the CD player and you pretty much own your own time machine... so, so much more than just a car
After parking your car and after looking back and smiling, I thought it was because you’re amazed its still in one piece and hasn’t rusted away or completely fallen apart due to the poor build quality.
I've always had one of these on my "to get" list but always seem to miss out somehow.
@@pierrechristian6767 Whats the appeal, personally I just don’t see it? British cars in general from that era weren’t the greatest in terms of build quality or value for money compared to cheaper foreign competition, but it would also be boring if we all liked the same things.
@@1972dsrai j'ai une rover SD1 depuis 10 ans et elle roule comme une horloge..
@@minutepapillon5060 Thats good to know. Each to their own I say. If you love it then thats all that matters
Someone had one of these near my neighborhood ( St.Louis Missouri-USA) Back in the day.
I fell in love with it.
Very cool car.
📻🙂
A beautiful car & a wonderful view out of that big, back window. Thanks for posting.
the most beautiful car ever made. It's a work of art.
Boy Trent ........ ALL Rovers were beautiful to look at
Could listen to Peter all day. He knows more about cars than anybody. I've been getting car mechanics mag for almost 30 years and read his stuff for years. Say hello from a fan of his. Car is lovely aswell.
I had one of these in the late 70'2, red with a black roof and black interior. Amazing car and the only problem I ever had was that the bolts holding the Dijon rear axle in position could snap, they did twice, and the car wandered all over the place. Luckily on both occasions it was a low speed and very easy to fix with stronger bolts. An amazing machine and I loved it.
Fabulous video! So nice to Mr Simpson is well. I miss his input on CM magazine, especially his tales of car trading! Thank you so much Hubnut, keep them coming!
Three cars to have in my garage to take me back to my halcion days are...This car, the Rover P6 3500. Cortina mk3 GXL and a Triumph Stag. All dinosaurs now but so pleasing on the eye and still a pleasure to drive.
Sweet Baby Jeebus that’s a gorgeous car. And that green...awesome!
I remember wishing my dad had one of these as a kid in the 70s. Used to just love the sound of the V8 as they would pass me in the street. Good vid mate👍
One of my all time favourite cars. 👍👍
My favourite Rover, a friend of mine had a ex-police 3500 with a manual gearbox, boy did it shift!!!
Hurrah For the rover V8!
Love it. Got one not in a sports car..........defender 110, built in 1990. Still turns heads as I drive through town slowly growling.........
With quality executive cars like this and the SD1, it really is amazing that Rover managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Well done to everyone involved in that.
I owned two back in the 90s Ian. A 75 2200sc and a very low mileage, 40k miles, one owner 3500S manual. Just gorgeous cars to own and drive. these were followed by a Series one XJ6.4.2 Manual overdrive. The Jag just pipped it on handling/ ride, not by much though. I replaced all three with a 92 Saab 9000 Turbo. great car also. Just fancied something modern after 10 years of classics. I know which I'd prefer now!!!......Will get another P6 one day!!! Grew up with Practical Classics, great to see Peter.Cheers mate!!
My uncle had a white one with red seats interior, it was a gorgeous car. I have gr8 memories of going about init down at the seaside where he lived with my auntie. Sadly he’s passed RIP Chris. Watching this vid reminds me of those days in his car back in the late 70s when I was just a wee munchkin. Thanks for evoking the memories 👍
Great video Ian, I used to write to Peter when he was editor of Car Mechanics many times as a young boy and I did manage to get one of my letters printed in the magazine!
i worked on a few p6s during my career as a mechanic both the tc and the v8 versions one of my favourite cars so well built, just love them .
I had a 1 owner in tobacco leaf, it was rusty under the skin ,but the sound of that V8 and the way the whole car rocked gently when blipping the throttle, these were the last of the real Rovers and i loved every mile i drove in her .
A trip down memory lane. I owned one of these for about 5 years back in the early 1980's. It was of a similar vintage to this one (K reg) in mustard yellow with an automatic box and leather seats. It belonged to my father but he retired in 1982 and bought a new Volvo. He had just spent 250 quid on the gearbox so sold it me for that to cover the costs of the repair. It was a lovely car to drive and although it was a bit expensive to drive around town (I lived in West London at the time), I could get 28 mpg on a long run (my parents lived in North Wales). It was surprisingly agile for such a big car but had a wonderfully smooth ride. It was a bit difficult to park as it didn't have power steering and you really had to have strong arms to move that big steering wheel at slow speed . Sadly, unbeknown to me, it developed a leak in the radiator and blew up on me on my way down to Bournemouth. The cost of repairing the engine was more than the value of the car so I sold it for scrap. One of the saddest day of my life.
Agree. P6 is a keeper. Once you drive one, you're hooked.
Wouldn't trade mine for all the gold in the world! :-)
My old Dad's P6 suffered terribly from pre-ignition. Sometimes it'd still be coughing away 2 - 3 minutes after the ignition was switched off! They sure look good, though :)
Peter looking well also noticed his Hillman lovely too and great Rover view always a great pleasure to read car mechanics amongst others when Peter was at the elm at that time sad to hear he hung up trade plates though keep up the good work Ian just catching up on CZcams 🤠
My dad has a blue 73 S manual.Brilliant car.We took it from London to the south a Portugal,towing a caravan and back.My brother hit a golf ball at my dad, hurting his left hand.I got the job of changing gears. 👍 👍
first car i ever drove back in 1985. i had my broken left arm in a sling, i was 15yrs old, my neighbour was drunk and insisted i drove him home from the local pub. i was scared stiff but loved every second driving such a classy car.
Beautiful car matey, I'd love one now.
Great test drive. 👍👍
Had a 1967 'E' reg 2000 SC years ago.....Wish I still had it. Trawling through your videos as I only found you a short while ago. Great channel Ian.
SU carbs were IMHO the most reliable out of all the carbs in the 60s and 70s , if you bought a Ford with their crap carbs then the first thing you did was chuck it for a webber ), the PS was a wonderful car, great vid dude !
I Had 2 p6s first was a j reg 1971 then a m reg 1974 the 3500 v8 superb engine beautiful car I pity today’s youth these things will never be made again good video I enjoyed it
Such an interesting car. Quite revolutionary in its day.
another classic that my late dad had. my dads one was a 2.2 TC. in red on a P plate. Always love that smell of the leather.
I truly love this car, thank you for showing us.
Gorgeous. Has anybody noticed that all the old cars shrink over time? I seen a MK1 Granada in my local car park and it had a focus next to it that made it look small . This was a large family car in its day.
I had a new focus estate as a courtesy car last year... it was bigger than my old mk2 Mondeo! Even in the space of 20 years (rather than 30 or 40) the difference is still incredible!
@@andiparker3733 It is. Its shocking when you see a 40 odd year old car parked next to a modern one as they are much bigger. Many houses with built in garages from the 50s to the late 80s were big enough to have cars in them but it seems people now buy cars to fit in them and these have to be really small to do this. I had a Cavalier Turbo and it would fit in my 70s house garage but only bloody just and you had to park it so close to one side if the wall just so you could open the door enough to get in and out.
I was staggered to see a 2017 Corolla rocking 5-stud wheels just a shade larger that those on my 1994 Australian Ford Fairmont. Cars got fat, just like us.
There's a lovely one near me, driven by a smart chap. I hadn't seen one for years before that. I was shocked at how small they seem now, my Audi A4 Avant dwarfs it and that's a 'compact' car now. They were the bee's knees when I was a kid. Really the first 'Executive' car, when Audi were just changing over from 2 Stroke and BMWs were even smaller. Lovely burble to that engine. The Borg Warner 35 was on so many early Automatics on the UK market, really a weak box for this engine but better than the 4 speed manual I believe. When I was in the MOD, I remember Flight Sergeant Stan Smith, with brill cream and leather bomber jacket, saying in his Brummie accent, "Do yow want to come out in my P6 Rover... it goes like sh** off a shovel!" ha ha.
those cars kept me busy as an apprentice in lex mead cardiff , loved the s version to drive especaly the white ones with the red stripes and blue lights
I had the 2.2 in hearing aid biege. ..I was 17 cost me 100 quid...loved it ..had a reserve fuel switch...even on the coldest days it was lush inside...sold it for scrap...if only
Hearing aid beige! I love it. I know exactly the colour
@@zazakally Hearing aid beige! an old expression I used to use, not heard it in a long time though.
I spent many an hour in the back of these, growing up. Sandwiched between a cushion and seatbelt affair, which passed as a child seat in the 70s. Trying to avoid my Sister's vomit as she sprayed up at the very thought of going in the car.
I once owned a 1980 Triumph TR8 5speed, air, Holly 4 barrel, convertible with the same motor as the SD1, what a blast it was to drive!
And it's taken until now for you to admit it. Great car to drive....in disguise
These are a great car, and yes with that ground clearance and the way the suspension is set up the are good off road as long as you know where the low spots are. We use to use them a lot for mustering sheep. They could do 90km/h across a paddock with no problem.
Oh i like this one a lot! The suspension scheme is indeed unusual. Quite a nice car.
Classic, great video as usual. Love the way the Speedo needle jumps about, I was doing 30 honestly officer 😇
What a stunning car 👌👍, I got a 75 v6 and I love it
Great vid and lovely car, always loved the p6
a very relaxing interesting person to watch thanks hubnut
She's 'The gaffer' ! (70's TV)
Lovely car the P6. I had a Triumph 2500S which was also a lovely car.
Absolutely LOVE this model, my grandad had one that my dad borrowed every now and then, I just fell in love with it, what a car, beautiful.
I love the P6 v8 215 Buick - now a proper classic
I remember as a young child been driven around in my dad's rover v8 and loved it as it was such a lovely smooth ride.
Absolutely brilliant video of the Rover P6. Watched all the video’s and always check every two or three days. Love this man! Exactly I am married with two kids.
Another very good video, and I love those old Rovers.
One of my defining moments was standing in front of one of these, sparkling brand new in my street - me a boy of 8 or so - completely transfixed by its aggressive and purposeful beauty. Still pure class.
Love these - my grandpa used to have one. I have some very early memories of sitting on his lap and turning the steering wheel while he operated the pedals on Hatfield Heath. Not bad for a 1st driving lesson!
I passed my driving test in my dads' 2000TC. I can still remember the ride quality all these years later.
One of my all time favourites. I seem to remember some of them had the spare wheel mounted outside on top of the boot, with a vinyl cover. Never got to drive one sadly, but as a passenger I remember the sumptuous comfort, solid feel and the beautiful sound it made.
I love these , As a kid I used to admire a few of these in the town I live. Never been in one or driven one sadly, gorgeous design, I most remember this car for the quirky spare wheel being located on the boot lid, funnily enough I live not far from where you filmed this Ian, Sleaford
Past my test in an Almond P5 in 1979, loved that car , courted my now wife of 37 years in it.
I think the reason why we can't make cars that ride like some of them did in the 60s is because every car now needs to corner as if it is on rails, and nearly every driver on the road throws his or her car into corners as such, and if the cars didn't corner as if they were on rails, then the car and driver would be in a field or in a brick wall and claiming there was something defective with their car. Also every car needs stupid blingy dustbin lid-sized alloys and spray-on tyres with no sidewall deflection. Anything less just will not do. Can you now drive a Triumph big six please? Always compared with the P6, they started out as rivals for the same sector of the market but ended up nicking sales off one another from within the same parent company. And both ended up replaced by the SD1.
hubnut, keep them coming. i like your vids. keep them
coming.👍
14:00 SPEED CAMERAS!!! I was doing between 50 and 60 honestly officer! Love your vids always entertaining and informative. Look forward to some more. Thanks for uploading
One of my first car memories was watching one of these cars screaming past me, when the police traffic cops used them back in the early 70s.
Interesting video of a great car! My dad had a blue 2.0L P6 and he told me years later it was uneconomical and burnt through tyres like a dog eating through biscuits! He swapped the P6 for a new blue Ford Anglia and that went a short while after for a white Ford Corsair which was great. However, in due course the Corsair gave way to an epic car, a car so big it was the largest (and probably remains?) the largest production car ever made in England and so entered the fabulous JAGUAR 420G! That car changed my youthful 8yr old life into a lad yearning for Jags to this day!
I've got a big family! My Auntie had two of these, CLU587H was a 2000TC then GMX766N a 3500 V8, gorgeous motors!!
Very entertaining video as always Ian.
Dad had 1. In grey. Was either 20 or 22 tc I can't remember but the reg number was BPL 400H. loved that leather smell. Felt kind of posh being taken to a "secondary school in this lol. His green mini estate with a lopsided front number plate didn't do me any justice though when the school bell rang at ten to four. Lol. Beautiful car.
I truly adore the P6 Rover. A childhood friend's father had two over the course of a number of years back in the 1970s. I remember sitting behind the driver's seat in one of them, and as the car turned a fairly sharp left-hand-turn, the off-side rear passenger door flew wide open and almost deposited me onto the road. No seat-belts back then, of course. 😄
My first car! Back when I was 24, I'm now 30.. Hehe.. Except mine was actually in better condition, but years of slogging through London traffic took its toll.. Plus my "spirited" driving in the empty industrial areas led to the shearing in half of the crankshaft.. 😬 Still, it handled brilliantly, you could spin up the rear wheels and take a 90° left followed by a 90° right and take off like a lunatic..
I'm currently in the process of building it a high compression engine with a mild tune, then later will tune it further.. As for fuel costs, through London it got 18mpg, which equated to £45~ a week in fuel to and from work.. A train ticket was £50, so why would I waste my time in a tin sardine box on rails?
Currently driving a 3 series BMW, which is a bit faster (after new needles and lifters my P6 easily did 60mph in 1st at 5500rpm).. Though I personally rebuilt the carbs and tuned it up. Every weekend checked the timing, dwell, mixture etc etc..
Anyway, the BMW has a few things the P6 didn't.. Like AC, electric seats, electric mirrors but that's really it.. The ride in the BMW is atrocious! And the "handling" is.. Well.. It grips well (255mm wide tyres so no excuse) - but once you're off, you're pretty much off.. The P6 could be swung around and beaten on and lost then recovered..
A great little car that! Slimmer than a modern Fiat 500 so you can power through width restrictions.. And makes an excellent noise..
As for reliability.. After the crank sheared at the first two cylinders, it was still running on 8, just not very smoothly.. 🙄
And before anyone dials in about destroying the engine through crazy and potentially dangerous driving, you should be aware that it sheared where one of the main journal caps had fallen off. While driving it like an old man would have seen it live a little longer, it's card was marked. And no, I've never had any points or insurance claims against me (people always ask).. 🤷🏻♂️
Yes, I'm a nutcase..
Best rover ever was the P5 3500 V8 Coupe.
agreed .
Best looking by far but to drive the p6 v8 wins hands down
My dad had a beige one of these my mum was so mad with him when he swapped it for a CB radio lol
Another great video Ian; what a lovely Rover P6 V8 too. Looks like you’re fairly close to my current location of Spalding, strange to see it on CZcams. Nice to see Peter Simpson in the video - memories from Car Mechanics 👍.
One of my favourite cars of all time. My Dad bought a series 1 2000 SC (1966 D plate) for my Mom to use in around 1971. It was so good that Dad ended up "nicking" it half the time! It was dark green with lovely cream leather upholstery. The interior smelt (as you so rightly point out) superb. Although the leg room in the back was limited, I remember that the rear seats, with their individual contouring were superbly comfortable. That along with the wonderful ride quality made it our go to vehicle for longer trips. Whilst it lacked outright acceleration, it was a seriously competent high speed motorway cruiser, and could really get a shift on along B roads due to the excellent handling. Happy memories!
To this day when I (rarely) see one I always think 'Fred Gee Rover'. Thank you Coronation Street!
Or The Sweeney
Or The Gaffer
i like this design verry much. my hero of car manufacturing but unfortunately underestimated.... verry sad
here in germany was the P6 "car of the year" in 1967
that was a surprise and so did not expect in the face of the domestic competitors
thank you for your video
I love the converted disused railway station which you see a little in the background but the car is absolutely fabulous. I remember these on the road in my younger days both as executive's or police cars. They were great performers. Once again another great video.
Beautiful!! My RR classic off roader has the 3.9 lump. Lush sound. Can’t beat it.
I have memories of one of these when I was poor RAF apprentice and used to hitch-hike to and from home on the weekends. I had a lift in one and the driver took us through the twisties in the Forest of Dean to show me it's paces. Marvellous :)
My grandad’s still got his Almond V8. Lovely cars
wonder if it is related (sorry, could not resist)
Really like the huge GBJ sticker in the window. Just the sort of car to pull up at one of Charlie Hungerfords black tie events.
Thank you for this video Hub Nut.I could actually smell the car’s interior. I was 10 years old again For a while. It would have been my dad birthday on the 3rd. Which made this video extra special for me. 👍
Great video I'm also resorting my rover p6 and my jaguar x300 to keep these old classics going. it's great watching each others video blogs. 👍👍
Really good video hubnut! Nice to see former editor of car mechanics
SWEET... The VERY last one made is also a 3500 V8 in green ... I have seen it in person... It is on the reg plate VVC700S
Yet another great video from you
Great cars V8 P6 . And Peter Simpson remember him from Practical Classics.
I had one like this, around 1976. I let my parents use it for a trip to Leeds. My father said it was a great car to drive, but ran out of petrol and had to walk a few miles to a filling station. I asked him why he didn’t use the reserve tank..... he said...”What reserve tank ?” I should have pointed it out before I let him have it.
LMAO
Neighbours had a couple of these when I was a kid, I thing he had a 2 litre as well as a 3.5. I think they got the styling spot on. I just love them to be honest.