Rover P6 2000
As many of you may have guessed by the silence over the past few days, I've been traveling and away from the blog. Happily, reader Al Johnson was moved to request a car for Car Lust--and his request was so good that it stands on its own as a worthy post.
Al Johnson:
"You're correct that the Brits managed to make an unreliable car out of a bulletproof one, though a lot of reviewers at the time thought the Sterling's handling and ride were superior to the Legend. But can I nominate another car for Car Lust? I owned a first-generation Rover 2000 for several troubled years. Absolutely brilliant engineering, near-perfect ergonomics, phenomenal handling; it was the ultimate stealth car in a world where no one knew what a sports sedan was.
al"I recall a review in which the 90-horsepower Rover beat a 265-horsepower Jaguar XK-E for elapsed time on a winding road, it handled so well. But the build quality was not even third-world. Brakes and rotors replaced every 5-10k miles, half-shafts every 15-20. Positive ground electrical system. Pirelli Cinturato tires, with tubes, that disintegrated at speed or in cold weather. The aluminum head corroded through about two years in; the company declined to compensate me for it.
"Being young and impetuous, I decided to drive the car on a trip across the U.S. The dealer advised me not to try this, and then sold me what the company euphemistically called a "touring kit"--a large box with one of every hose, gasket and belt, points, plugs and wires, fuses, and so on. I also bought a service manual, which remains one of the best I've ever used: clear line drawings, lists of required tools for each job. By the time I completed the trip, the box was virtually empty, but thanks to that manual I had become a pretty good mechanic.
"It had lots of then-revolutionary innovations: radial tires, 4-wheel disc brakes (inboard at the rear), deDion rear axle, cup-shaped piston tops to make an effectively hemi-shaped combustion chamber, crumple zones, shoulder belts, "Icelert" freeze warning, and more."
Chris here again. I'm not familiar with these cars, so thanks to Al for the heads-up and the great content. I was a little more familiar with the later SD1 Rovers, which I've vaguely planned for a future Car Lust, but these P6 Rovers are completely new to me.
These P6 Rovers were available with a engines of a few different displacements, which were reflected in their names---the 2000, the 2200, and the 3500 which used the ubiquitous Buick 3.5-liter V-8 that eventually wound up in, among other things, the Triumph TR-8. For the mid-1960s, this looked like a fun car, at least if you have the, um, touring kit. It's a bit of a looker, too.
These photos were taken by our old friend Dave_7, whose images have also appeared in the Jaguar XJ and Ford Courier Car Lusts. The top image is a 2000; the next two are 3500s.
--Chris H.
Almon Bundy on November 18, 2008 at 08:07 PM
I owned two red 1969 Rover 2000TC's about ten years apart. The first one I bought new in 1969. I loved the car. Great handling, very comfortable and features advanced for its time. I had to sell because it refused to start when the temperature was less than 42 degrees. Too many Atlanta mornings I didn't make it to work.
I bought the second one in 1978 after I moved to the San Francisco area. It had several of the problems fixed by the first owner (Lucas electrics modified or replaced and Girling brakes replaced.)and proved to be a pretty reliable car for the two years I had it.
I am a real car nut so I traded it for another special interest car after two years. I have to say that the Rover 200TC and the Citroen DS21 are my favorite cars to drive of the forty+ different makes and models I have owned over the past forty years. I have some amazing stories to tell about these cars but they were definitley high maintenance girls.
Jason Carpp on December 02, 2008 at 11:54 PM
I think the Rover P6 has a better looking front end than tail end. I've seen a couple of them here in Seattle, but I've never been able to talk to the respective owners and ask them about it.
casm on December 08, 2008 at 07:23 PM
Ah, yes, the Rover P6. I had one of these (a 1972 2000 Automatic in Zircon Blue) for a few years in college during the mid-'90s and absolutely loved it. Very reliable, if slow with the autobox and Borg-Warner type 35 slushbox. The handling was superb: to this day, it's still one of the best cars I've driven on ice and snow. I'm living in the States now, and if I could find a decent 3500 and the 5-speed gearbox out of an SD1 would be very tempted to put together something capable of surprising more commonplace machinery.
Now for the obligatory pedantry addressing a couple of random points raised above:
- The hood scoops on the blue P6 shown above were standard fitment on US-model 3500s.
- Certain Citroen models were fitted with a hydropneumatic suspension which did not use air at all - rather, it was a combination of fluid pressure and nitrogen.
Good Car Lust choice. It's a shame that so many were scrapped (particularly in the US); they're definitely a unique and underrated car.
Bill on December 29, 2008 at 08:44 AM
1967 Rover 2000TC FOR SALE, inside stored,amateur restoration a few years ago. Approx 74,500 miles, Lots of new parts and a good driver. $3,495 , offers? Located n Northern New York, USA
Thanks!
smitty on March 18, 2009 at 03:44 PM
One thing to be said for the later corporate owners of Rover, however, is that they kept making small upgrades to the old aluminum Buick, and turned it into a much stouter engine.
The three hood scoops on those old Rover sedans were beyond cool!!
James Radcliffe on May 12, 2009 at 08:27 PM
I own 2 Rover 2000's. One is a Rover 2000 automatic, which has been in my family since new. This car is in Australia, and I drive it when I am in Australia, for a few months a year. It copes with 110 degree F heat in the summer. The Rotors are original, they have never seen a lathe. I replace the front brake pads about every 15000 miles, and the rear pads about every 70000 miles. The rear pads have been done once in the life of the vehicle. The calipers have never been touched, the seals are original. The car has never had Pirrelli Tyres on it, they were an option. The car is reliable, I drive it everywhere in Australia, even across the Hay plane, an uninhabited semi arid region, on the way to the eastern seaboard.
In America I have a Rover 2000 TC. This car needed a little bit of work when I bought it, the compressions were bad. I took the head off, and took the sump off. Took the pistons out, installed new piston rings ($80) New pistons, $300, gaskets $100, and a valve re grind ($100), honed the bores, put it back together, and it all runs good now. I have been cruising around in it with no problems what so ever. Rovers are reliable cars, they just need a good operator!
I have never had a bonnet fly off, just make sure that you push down on it when closing it, its not that hard you know! As for the front suspension all you need to do is replace the shock absorbers about every 25 years. The springs you do not need to touch and the bushings should be fine for a long long time.
Rudiger Wicke on August 08, 2009 at 05:07 AM
Want to see more Rover P6 ?
Visit my website www.RoverP6.info
Greetings from Germany,
Rudiger
jeff carruthers on January 24, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I bought a 1968 2000 TC off the used car lot at the Volkswagen dealership I was working at. Drove from Calgary to Los Angeles and back. Minor coolant leak and muffler repair were the only problems. Wonderful car to drive and very comfortable. Later, I bought a 1971 TC and it gave me a lot of grief with electrics. Like to have a 3500 P6 in British Racing Green with tan interior. Still miss my 68.
Ray on April 06, 2010 at 06:46 AM
I owned a 69 2000 TC when I liveed in the Boston area. It was a great little car but had some of the normal problems with starting when very cold. When I moved back south I sold the car. I presently have a 74 Jensen Interceptor III which I really love. I have spent the past 2 years bringing it back to life. It is a joy to drive.
I am looking for a 69-71 Rover 2000 TC with AC in good condition. I would appreciate anyone with knowledge of one for sell to please contact me. You can email me at rwaller@nc.rr.com or phone me 910-783-4364.
Have a great day.
ROBERT COLLINS on October 13, 2010 at 06:15 PM
Hi
i have read your comments regarding the P6, if you do not have reliable one then you need a decent mechanic, I learnt D.I.Y mechanics on these cars. They rust terrible if not looked after, they have to run in a climate worse than the USA and start in damp and freezing cold. I purchased my Arden Green 2000TC and had it for 8 years, 16 years old when I sold it and it was fast, 105mph once, a sod to balance the carbs and after some welding but they salt the roads over here and underseal was unheard of, I upgraded parts on her from the mark 2, I also put a large vynl sunroof in it. I sold her as a running car and she was sold again after that, she always was reliable. Then I bought an Artic white 3.5S with blaclk vynl roof, she could really shift but later the rust got in but I had her welded, put new wings and front door skins on, then a Moblec Magnum pointless ignition system. Later a computer, electric windows, sunroof and side indicators and mounted the spare on the boot with a gas strut, it was beautiful, I painted the rims on the wheel edges white, I could hear how people commented on her when edging in traffic, never let me down, I towed several heavy caravans with her, I even grafted an SD1 centre consol into it and made panels for it, I have pics to prove as well. I had her 8 years and she never let me down, I crashed her once, since all bolts on and off she was back on the road within 24 hours. They were so popular there was the Rover Centre 5 miles from me, they broke them up and supplied used and new parts plus tons of advice. The V8 had so much torque it ate gearboxes, I changed many track rod arms, upper and lower ball joints, clutches, gearboxes, a heater matrix, stripped the rear calipers down many times, that was the 2000TC, I was an expert on these cars, I was also in the first Rover Club. Our Police used all the models and they loved them as they were fast and reliable, used to cause me problems as the Police used both blue and white cars, if I was behind someone they used to slow down to exact speed. I have looked over the three ton special radio car the protection squad used, full of massive radios with extra batteries in the boot. My batt was in the boot thats why I put my spare on there, not a small boot but with the spare stuck to one side it had no room. I have seen your US old tanks and some are beauties, when I was a boy they were great but now I appreciate our old motors now, I used to think ours were always black or grey but that was because we never got color TV for years. Please do not knock our cars, we lived with them here, they came with two reversing lights, radio, modern dash, especially the Series 2, seat belts, independent suspension, and I believe the brits turned the Buick cast lump to an aluminium one making it lighter, I can remember the gurgle of the idle speed, the swoosh start up sound. I sold the V8 and regretted since but it misbehaved when my wife was in it, the car never forgave me for getting married. Just look at how many are still around all over the world, I have not seen many old US motors over here being restored etc, you can even unscrew the entire roof, 26 screws, everything comes off, how easy is that to restore. Glad to see these cars around, even by todays standard they look modern.
Chuck Scott-Henderson on January 27, 2011 at 08:51 AM
The first photo shown looks just like my 2000, copperleaf red and all. Loved the car. I traveled North and South Carolina in it for a year and a half before I traded for a used XKE. Weekends I used to beat the pants off Mustangs at parking lot gymkhanas. You could NOT spin a wheel corning in the car. Still the most comfortable car I have ever driven, period ! The only trouble it ever had was a blown clutch down near Clemson, SC after which I drove clutchless to Augusta, GA where I got it repaired by a local Porsche expert and race car driver. Great memories all.