[Rovernet] Quite an extensive article

Fri Aug 26 16:31:28 EDT 2016

Thanks, Dave!  The Curbside Classics story was professionally done -- and
most of the comments that follow it appear to be both interesting and
respectful.

I was nonetheless rather dismayed by the initial response of a fellow Rover
Car Club member.  I wasn't aware that the story had been posted until early
this morning, so this wasn't necessarily the best way to learn of an
article about one's own car.  The author took many photos and listened
closely to my remarks about the history of Rovers in North America and the
SD1 specifically, including the difficulties that beset this particular
example (he got almost everything right, except for the color -- it's
Turmeric Yellow).  The SD1 has its faults, no doubt, but that Top Gear
door-falling-off stunt was long ago discredited as having been staged for
the "benefit" of their audience, perhaps encouraging its many critics to
pile on.

Here's another online article, with a mostly even-handed approach to the
subject: http://jalopnik.com/5973386/forgotten-cars-the-last-rover-
branded-car-in-the-us  The interior shot accompanying this story is from a
North American-spec SD1 I once owned, now in the capable hands of the the
UK's Rover SD1 Club historian.

Rovernet is also related to a Rover Club, and although some people may not
own or like a particular model, it's probably best not to describe Rovers
owned by other members as "monstrosities."  For example, I've never been
impressed with how P6's (4's or V-8's) drive, find the sideways-mounted
front suspension quite odd and the poor access for rear brake pad
replacement (drop the rear axle!) to be almost beyond belief.  Further,
P6's simply do not have the practicality that a hatchback and fold-down
rear seat provide to SD1 owners.  They also look extremely dated at this
point -- which naturally may be seen by others as being perfectly charming.
[IMHO, those "captured" rear wheels would have looked far better if they'd
been fully rounded.]  But since they represent the bulk of Rover sedans
that -- with the exception of the notoriously unreliable Honda-related
Sterling -- were imported here, the P6 is the model most Rover fans in
North America own/are familiar with.

Not me.  I've never owned one, never plan to own one. The SD1 is another
story.

I've had more than half a dozen SD1's over a 25 year period, and as a
result know their good and bad points quite well. They are definitely
difficult cars to own, but there are advantages over some of the older
models from my perspective, at least.

At the Rover America gathering this June I let a longtime P6 owner try out
the SD1 featured in this story.  He'd apparently not driven this model
before, certainly not one that functioned properly.  He was shocked at how
smoothly it ran and drove, remarked that it "felt like a modern car."  And
I agree.  When an SD1's multiple issues are properly sorted, that's the
primary reward we receive for our efforts (it's typically not a matter of
money).  But it isn't easy to get there -- it takes lots of time and
patience. And there's been very little recognition, although many people at
this particular show stopped to ask about my car.  Maybe it was the color.
;-)

As for other Rover models, I particularly like the coupe version of the P5
and have driven one in Britain, found it to be a very comfortable and
secure-feeling car. The dash design is not only functional, but very
attractive.  It's unfortunate that so few were sold in North America,
though.  Only a handful seem to exist in LHD, virtually none with the
Rover/Buick V-8.  I've looked at a few with the thought of someday owning
one -- but at least due to their propensity to rust to pieces, there really
are none available. This was indeed a fine car, but the P6's imitation wood
trim is not quite as impressive as it's predecessor's real items and, yes,
the SD1 was a truly radical departure from Rover's days of building "a poor
man's Rolls-Royce." Yet its body style/configuration is similar to modern
cars like the Prius -- which makes it rather forward-looking, I'd say.
Overall, I don't think anyone would rush to copy the P6's unique, but
eccentric design. But, In contrast, the P5 coupe appears to have had a very
strong influence on the Chrysler 300's recent proportions/overall look.

Ultimately, my aim has been to help preserve a few examples of what may be
the ultimate in British automotive orphans, one that was not only a failure
in the North American market, but a car that fellow Rover owners often view
only as a potential source of mechanical components for their projects.
Although I've made this effort with little in the way of help from others,
one would hope that a ROVER club would be supportive of this goal.
However, I've long been aware of a strong undercurrent of scorn from P6
owners, so it isn't surprising -- even if it is rather discouraging.

On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 11:08 AM, British Rover via Rovernet <
rovernet at rovernet.org> wrote:

> Kudos to Robert Heimerl!
>
> On 8/25/16, LANCE LA CERTE PSY D via Rovernet <rovernet at rovernet.org>
> wrote:
> > Not sure how many of you have seen this, and clearly it's probably not
> news
> > to anyone, but I thought a very extensive view of the worst Rover
> > ever-----all I can think about when I read this article is the great
> segment
> > on Top Gear, where they drove one of these monstrosities  through an
> > automotive testing course and the damn door literally fell off along with
> > the bumper---what a hoot!!!!
> > http://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-
> european/car-show-classic-1980-rover-3500-sd1-rover-
> over-here-again/#more-207500
> >
> > Lance La Certe, Psy.D.
> > Belief is so often the death of reason
> >
> >
> >
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