NickDunning
Active Member
chrisyork said:
I was very saddened last year to see Gladys outside in a fenced off area with a few other very interesting cars. She's since been moved again, hopefully undercover.
Custom P6
- Thread starter sowen
- Start date
I was very saddened last year to see Gladys outside in a fenced off area with a few other very interesting cars. She's since been moved again, hopefully undercover.
Gladys is a 2000TC, (although it would have been a V8 if it had made prodution) David Bache confirmed this in a letter to P6 News in the mid '90s prompting an apology from James Taylor for misleading people as he had assumed it was a V8 due to the bonnet bulges.
Almost all of the interesting Rover P6 variation projects are 2000s because by the time the V8 hit production, Rover had merged and had less money or opportunity to play around I guess so all the coolest varieties were based on early cars. The Graber V8 coupe is about the best but there was supposedly plans for a road racer 'homologation special' based on the V8 racers but I don't think that got very far.
And imagine how much fun Rover could have had if they were really allowed to develop and race the V8 properly.
Almost all of the interesting Rover P6 variation projects are 2000s because by the time the V8 hit production, Rover had merged and had less money or opportunity to play around I guess so all the coolest varieties were based on early cars. The Graber V8 coupe is about the best but there was supposedly plans for a road racer 'homologation special' based on the V8 racers but I don't think that got very far.
And imagine how much fun Rover could have had if they were really allowed to develop and race the V8 properly.
That's interesting. I'd always assumed it was a V8 irrespective of JT's comments, because of it's destination to be an Alvis. As a 4 it would be a quite different market segment to Alvis's traditions. Maybe as a driveable styling exercise it was just easier to source a 2000. After all the 3500 is still at least 6 to 9 months from launch at that point.
The Zagato does illustrate the extent of droop you can get away with on the nose starting from a standard base unit (Forum Owner take Note for your coupe!!).
Chris
The Zagato does illustrate the extent of droop you can get away with on the nose starting from a standard base unit (Forum Owner take Note for your coupe!!).
Chris
The problem I see with Gladys is the rear quarter, it just seems out of proportion to the rest of the car. The doors look like they're too far forward for a 2 door fastback styled car. Otherwise, the front and rear look brilliant. The Zagato has a better side profile than Gladys, partly down to the shortened rear overhang.
I've just noticed that Gladys and the Zagato both have what look like flush fitting windscreens, unlike the p6, which has the slightly odd deep rubber seal around the top and sides. I thinking that maybe something worth trying to replicate?
My personal favourite still has to be the Graber 2 door saloon conversion. It just seems to get the proportions just right. I'm not really a fan of convertible p6's, but the Graber convertible looks to be proportioned just right
I've just noticed that Gladys and the Zagato both have what look like flush fitting windscreens, unlike the p6, which has the slightly odd deep rubber seal around the top and sides. I thinking that maybe something worth trying to replicate?
My personal favourite still has to be the Graber 2 door saloon conversion. It just seems to get the proportions just right. I'm not really a fan of convertible p6's, but the Graber convertible looks to be proportioned just right
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Thae flush fitting screen I reckon is a consequence of Gladys having that fastback rear. You wouldn't be able to use the bolt on panels, so roof and rear 1/4's become part of the base unit instead. Then you can use a conventional screen fitting. Could even make the car lighter?
Chris
Chris
MarkGray
Member
When we had 'Gladys' the Rover Alvis GTS on our club display at the NEC some years ago, we had a very good look around it and it was originally a 2000S before being restyled. It was fitted with a 2000TC engine like the other 2000S 's.
At that time the car still had David Bache's own tool pack under the rear floor by the spare wheel, which incidentally lays flat in the boot well. It was while it was in our care at that event, that I also had the priviledge of sitting in it and steering it while it was pushed and moved into place on the club display.
At that time the car still had David Bache's own tool pack under the rear floor by the spare wheel, which incidentally lays flat in the boot well. It was while it was in our care at that event, that I also had the priviledge of sitting in it and steering it while it was pushed and moved into place on the club display.
Ah! That was sensible. 2000S's already had the round dial dashboard, still another year away in production for the 3500S NADA. Almost certainly used as a prototype for the NADA interior as well then. I'd already spotted things like the door bins and padded tunnel finisher.
Chris
Chris
grifterkid
Member
The ultimate custom P6 perhaps...?!
If only Rover had had a little more cash in their coffers to bring back the Alvis name and bring this car out, it is (in my personal opinion) drop dead gorgeous...!!!
If only Rover had had a little more cash in their coffers to bring back the Alvis name and bring this car out, it is (in my personal opinion) drop dead gorgeous...!!!
grifterkid
Member
DaveHerns said:
That is correct...!!! I think Rover weren't allowed to do a lot of things thanks to their merger into the BLMC group (later BL then Austin/Rover)... I'd wager that if Rover had stayed seperate they would be making cars that could stand up against the likes of BMW and Mercedes today...
Would anyone agree that the view that BMW and Mercedes produce quality cars is little more than clever marketing and fuelled by TV presenters such as "The 3 Bears" - Clarkson , May and Hammond ? Mercedes have/had a rust problem and some BMW engines self destruct with an inlet manifold problem
Demetris
Well-Known Member
Marketing yes, is crucial, but you have to base it on something solid. If you have a good reputation based on hard evidence, people will forgive you once or twice.
Would anyone dare to compare the quality of the SD1's in the ' 70s with those of the contemporary W123 series (the high watermark of Mercedes itself)?
Would anyone dare to compare the quality of the SD1's in the ' 70s with those of the contemporary W123 series (the high watermark of Mercedes itself)?
My gut feeling is that Rover would always have been battling poor funding to get new cars built and would therefore have been likely to commit typical British underdevlopment sins (like the early 2000gearboxes!). Also I can't see that they would have escaped the British industrial malaise just because they weren't in BL. So Solihull needn't have had any better reputation under Rover than under BL.
By contrast, in the period that matters, say up to about 1980, BMW and Merc seem to have had well funded development programmes and to have enjoyed reasonable production quality.
So I fear Rover might have gone to the wall anyway, just a model generation later than its actual 1967 demise.
Chris
By contrast, in the period that matters, say up to about 1980, BMW and Merc seem to have had well funded development programmes and to have enjoyed reasonable production quality.
So I fear Rover might have gone to the wall anyway, just a model generation later than its actual 1967 demise.
Chris
tantus pedis
Member
The profile of that Zagato from the centre of the door forwards reminds me alot of the Austin Princess! Sorry!