[Rovernet] Quite an extensive article

Jess Rainey jess_rainey at yahoo.ca
Fri Aug 26 18:53:12 EDT 2016


Yes, that is right regarding the Met. I believe they were still putting into new service some of the stock they purchased in 1987 as late as 1989. A good recommendation in my opinion. 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Aug 26, 2016, at 2:06 PM, Steven Dibdin via Rovernet <rovernet at rovernet.org> wrote:
> 
> I'm with Kent. The SD1 is actually a fun car to drive and once sorted with
> the SII pretty well put together. In fact the SD1 was so well respected by
> the Metropolitan (London) Police force that at end of production they
> bought up all available 3500's so they could continue using them after
> introduction of the 800 series that replaced it.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Steven
> 
> On Fri, Aug 26, 2016 at 5:02 PM, Kent Kinard via Rovernet <
> rovernet at rovernet.org> wrote:
> 
>> Hi Netters,
>> I seldom contribute much any more, but, like Robert, I felt that Lance's
>> response was uncalled for.  I doubt he has ever driven an SD1.  I have
>> owned and/or driven most of the Rovers sold in North America and some that
>> were not (SD1 2600, Late "75", 827 Coupe, etc.).  The SD1 is a good design
>> let down by poor build quality, a trait shared with P6 Mk. 2's and post '74
>> Triumphs and MG's.  This was eventually corrected and series 2 cars from
>> '82 on are well screwed together and available with all the contemporary
>> deluxe features.  SD1 problems are predictable and easily fixed.  I have
>> had fourteen SD1's over the years and intend to do one more before my
>> health fails.  Of all the Rovers built since WWII, the SD1 is the easiest
>> to work on and once sorted, the easiest to maintain.
>> 
>> Robert, if you want my P5B Coupe, you can have it for far less than I have
>> invested.
>> 
>> I have disposed of all my P6's except a few parts cars.  I will keep my P4
>> 75 and my SD1.
>> 
>> Roveretiredly,
>> Kent K.
>> 
>> 
>> Robert Heimerl via Rovernet wrote:
>> 
>>> 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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