Hoping to join the V8 set...

Alfa Bob

New Member
Hi All

Current Cars: 2011 Jaguar XF 3.0; 1988 Alfa Romeo Spider 2.0.

Wish List: Rover 3500 V8

Why a Rover ? Well my Dad had a P4 for many years and I learned to drive in it (starting with the beach at Weston-Super-Mare !). In 1966 at Easter mum, dad & I took the Townsend Thoresen Southampton-Le Havre ferry overnight, and drove down to Cannes in the Rover for a short holiday, overnighting en route at Vienne. This was my first trip abroad. I remember a lot of the trip, which was so enjoyable.

Now, with 'milestone' birthdays for both the wife & I on the horizon, it seems a good time to recreate the 1966 trip. I don't really want a P4 for some reason, but a Rover P6 V8 looks like a good choice. It would be a car I would keep and look after too as we do go to classic car events every year.

No doubt you have anticipated the next question: where to find a good late example V8 in the next 6 months or so? Ideally red, blue or BR green. Being an Alfa owner I know one end of a spanner from the other, and a bit about electrics, fuel systems, brakes, etc but am useless (unknowledgeable) about carbs, engines and bodywork. So I'm looking for a good example, but am in no rush.

That's it for now. Happy motoring !
 
Morning Bob, and welcome! :)

Some great memories for you there!

A wise first move would be to join one of the Owners Clubs and reap the benefit of other member's knowledge and experience.

The first thing to say about buying a P6B is that base unit condition is key. Shiny panels look great, but might conceal a catalogue of terrors behind them....there's a good Buyer's Guide here:
Buyer's Guide

There's a good network of parts suppliers, and this forum is also indispensable.

Good Luck!
Stan
 
Take your time and buy a good forumer's car when it comes up, you'll have a searchable history warts and all. The V8 engine is super easy to work on - if it comes apart... The rest of the car is more odd-ball rather than hugely difficult but probably not a challenge if you are used to an Alfa. More the expectations of someone used to a Ford, MGB or Morris Minor of the period. Parts are pretty cheap overall but trim is difficult.

One of the fun things is that these cars are absolutely usable as standard but can be updated into something really special. 40 years of engine development and one or two simple handling updates helps a lot.
 
Thanks Stan. I've checked out the very useful Buyers Guide - hence the point I made about being useless at fixing bodywork !! I've been considering a few other cars to buy (MGB GT V8, Van den Plas 4.0R; Jag Mk11 etc) and have very much got the message about hidden bodywork horrors. I guess a complete stripped respray or professional examination/assessment are the best ways to avoid disaster ?
 
Take your time and buy a good forumer's car when it comes up, you'll have a searchable history warts and all. The V8 engine is super easy to work on - if it comes apart... The rest of the car is more odd-ball rather than hugely difficult but probably not a challenge if you are used to an Alfa. More the expectations of someone used to a Ford, MGB or Morris Minor of the period. Parts are pretty cheap overall but trim is difficult.

One of the fun things is that these cars are absolutely usable as standard but can be updated into something really special. 40 years of engine development and one or two simple handling updates helps a lot.

Thanks Peter. I've got time, so no issue there. Like a Ford ? Oh yes, I remember in the 70's working on my Cortina Mk3 1600GT (Daytona yellow with black vinyl roof).....
 
I love old Fords but how shall we put this? They weren't the last word in sophistication until really the 1990s. Mind you, I consider the Mk 1 Granada to be the end of the P6 as a viable purchase proposition as it was clearly from another generation of executive cars; one you can actually fit executives or family into. I do really wonder who bought our cars in 1976 and into 1977 unless discounted to the nth degree. They made no sense as a new car proposition.
 
Mind you, I consider the Mk 1 Granada to be the end of the P6 as a viable purchase proposition as it was clearly from another generation of executive cars; one you can actually fit executives or family into. I do really wonder who bought our cars in 1976 and into 1977 unless discounted to the nth degree.

I'd been driving new and nearly new Rovers for about 3 years before I drove a ratty 3 year old 3 litre Granada and I couldn't believe how good it was. If i hadn't been so invested in Rovers I would have had one in a heartbeat.
 
If we're not careful there's a risk of this forum becoming a Ford forum :D:D

I was brought up with P4, P5, P5B and P6 and thought them all to be excellent, well-built and well-engineered cars. My first introduction to the Granada was as a passenger in a late MK1. Later on I drove a number of new / fairly new 2.8 MK11s and they were impressive, well-built and, in my opinion, under-rated. As a big Rover fan and an SD1 owner at the time I would say that the Granada was the better built of the two.

Anyhow, that aside, this is the ideal forum to assist with your P6, when you find the right one. Good luck.
 
Welcome to the forum. I also have an Alfa '69 1750 and I love it, but, when I saw a nice Rover, a car I had loved when I was a teenager, I had to have it. It's my only hardtop of my old cars so it gets a lot of use. They are pretty easy to work on and once sorted, very reliable. The V8 is a hoot making some really nice noise and a lovely long distance tourer. Best of luck with your search.
Gary
 
Welcome to the forum. I also have an Alfa '69 1750 and I love it, but, when I saw a nice Rover, a car I had loved when I was a teenager, I had to have it. It's my only hardtop of my old cars so it gets a lot of use. They are pretty easy to work on and once sorted, very reliable. The V8 is a hoot making some really nice noise and a lovely long distance tourer. Best of luck with your search.
Gary
Thanks Gary. I think you have nicely summed up some more reasons why I would like a P6 !
 
Welcome aboard. Suggest you pick up the 'Practical Classics' special edition currently out featuring Rovers.
 
Welcome aboard. Suggest you pick up the 'Practical Classics' special edition currently out featuring Rovers.
Thanks for the tip. Just been to local WHS. No sign of said publication despite this month's Practical Classics saying it is available in WHS . Can't find it online either. Any idea what the cover looks like ?
 
Could someone with the Practical Classics Special magazine let me know which P6-focused articles are included? I don't want to buy it if I've already read them! I have the original magazines with:
  • The Denis Thatcher 2200 in a group test with a P5B and SD1 jam sandwich
  • The Car-of-the-Year judges appraising a Series 1 2000.
 
Have also bought s/h copy of Practical Classics Jan 2004 with P6 feature!

Haven't read the mag yet, but did an MOT search on the 6 cars photographed. Only 2 of them have useful MOT history - the rest have either lapsed long ago or there are no records available. What's happened ? Have they been scrapped, are they in garages (barns ?), turned to dust, abroad....?
 
Could someone with the Practical Classics Special magazine let me know which P6-focused articles are included? I don't want to buy it if I've already read them! I have the original magazines with:
  • The Denis Thatcher 2200 in a group test with a P5B and SD1 jam sandwich
  • The Car-of-the-Year judges appraising a Series 1 2000.
The Articles Are:
P6 to Shetland
Rover on the Run
P6 Buying Guide
P6 reader resto
Engine Autopsy : Rover 3500
Service Guide: Rover P6

Like all good classic mags it's quite interesting. But is light on 'the heart of the matter' which all of us face -and scratch our heads about- with our little beauties.
 
The Articles Are:
P6 to Shetland
Rover on the Run
P6 Buying Guide
P6 reader resto
Engine Autopsy : Rover 3500
Service Guide: Rover P6

Like all good classic mags it's quite interesting. But is light on 'the heart of the matter' which all of us face -and scratch our heads about- with our little beauties.

Thanks Bob - looks like there's enough new content for it to be worthwhile me looking out for a copy. Much appreciated.
 
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