When does a P6 stops being a P6?

Aleph

Aleph

New Member
What gets my eye on this forum and in the different Facebook groups, is that most P6 addicts don't take a Taliban view to originality. Some people prefer originality, others put in a different engine, other gearbox, modify almost everything, paint them in non-original colours, turn a S1 in a S2 or the other way around. Or half-way. Despite all these changes not being to everyone's personal taste, P6 people have a very liberal view and never flame anyone for doing things to their P6's they wouldn't think of doing themselves.

This is a very different attitude to what I've seen in other classic cars scenes.

No why would that be? Is it because the likes that like the P6 are individuals with a very liberal mind? Is it because no matter how you change a P6, it's still a P6? Are we decent people and just ignore what other people do?

Oh, and why do I ask? Two reasons. First I notice that I have "borders" in my mind what I would and wouldn't do with my own P6 but I never get upset by someone turning it in to a racing car, changing the panels, putting in a Volvo (or a Toyota diesel, for God's sake) engine. I still read their endeavours with interest and sympathy. Second, I'm just curious (sorry, I'm a psychologist) why this works this way in the P6 community.

So, what are your thoughts on my initial question: When (according to you) stops a P6 being a P6? And why are we so friendly and polite to people who do unmentionable things to their motors?
 
Nothing else looks remotely like the P6 so in my mind, it would never not be one unless you simply had a drop-on shell to chassis type machine, a'la Scalextric.

Then it would just be an automotive costume (though still pretty cool 8) ).
 
I have 2 comments I can add to that.
1: P6 due to their engineering and factory build quality are still plentiful in the wild so customization is not like scrawling on the Magna Carta.
2: P6's seem to appeal to people of an engineering bent and engineering minds will do what engineering minds are designed to do.

Graeme
 
Jacked up tail - side pipes - similar 70's horrors -
Luckily those trends are ( hopefully ) long gone and most mods don't change the P6 look.

Mark.
 
ghce said:
2: P6's seem to appeal to people of an engineering bent and engineering minds will do what engineering minds are designed to do.
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100% on that!

have had some slightly strange conversations with people about the Midget about whether it is still one. It has a different engine, different gearbox, much bigger wheels and tyres, telescopic dampers all round and front and rear suspension mods. But I drive my dad's original one, and mine is the same, just better.

My view is that the space frame, panels on something else approach makes it not the same. Pretty much everything else is great. (in fact, a space frame P6 would be great too!)
 
Pilkie said:
Simple!

When it looks like this!
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I like what they have done with the exterior....I wonder what other mods it has :LOL:

Graeme
 

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The major difference of the P6 in comparison with the other classics, is that you can actually still use it normaly today.
So owners tend mostly to concentrate on driving and enjoying them.
If on the other hand you are the owner of a classic car that you can only just about drag it to a few shows per year, then you grind your teeth on other maters to make your hobby a little more interesting, like picking on originality.

Having said that, i am not a big fan of engine transplants, and the main reason is that for me the noise of a classic car is a vital part of the experience. With a modern / different engine it would probaly be more enjoyable to drive, but something would be missing.
 
ghce wrote:

Pilkie wrote:Simple!

When it looks like this!

cubecar.jpg





I like what they have done with the exterior....I wonder what other mods it has :LOL:

Graeme



Very good economy and easy to park :D
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The aerodynamics have been ruined though....



For me the attitude of P6 owners to changes is part of the appeal of the car. You can buy a perfect car and it can still be a project to make it into your car.
 
For me it boils down to what the car is like to start with, if its a nice original car that just needs a small bit of restoration or just conservation, then I would suggest the owner that did a "job" on that should be shot. If on the other hand the car is a rot box with a duff engine and the only way to save it from the scrap yard is to do a mod job, then that's OK by me. The only exception I make to the first point is that if an owner drives his car regularly, then fitting say a SD1 5 speed gearbox or maybe P6 power steering would be acceptable .
 
I sort of agree with that if a car really does only need a 'small' conservation job, but don't think only cars that are basket cases should be modded.
Depends how far the mods go though. Bruiser could be easily returned to an original state while keeping the upgrades such as the 3500 front brakes.
 
I used two drive mine 90 km's / day for 6 years, mostly motorway. I updated some bits for reliability and safety. Halogen lights, Luminition and a Kenlowe fan, larger capacity battery. Oh and I converted it to LPG, on which it ran great. These are all small mods that are reversible so I didn't feel guilty in any way.
 
Agree with the above - what you can do with a car (in my eyes anyway) depends on what you started with. If its a perfectly original car in mint condition leave it as it is.

If its a car that most people would have consigned to scrap, but you are willing to do the work to bring it back to life, then have it - you have earned the right. The car would not have been on the road anyway so the P6 population has still effectively increased by one if you do save it, no matter what you do to it.

My car is somewhere in between so I am sticking to less radical "sympathetic" mods that help with everyday use, but are easily reversible and not immediately apparent from the outside.
 
I'm with Quagmire on this one. Most of us change parts on our cars using parts for other Rover models anyway.

Modifying seems to be almost compulsory in the Land Rover world, but less so with P4's and P5's. Maybe Rover's intent that the P6 should be aimed at a younger audience to it's previous models is still true today?
 
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