Tag Archives: Rover

Japanese Edition – MG RV8

Foot Warmer – TVR 400 SE

The story of the TVR 400SE begins with Oliver Winterbottom who, after designing the wedge shaped Lotus Eclat and second generation Lotus Elite models launched 1974, was responsible for designing the wedge shaped TVR Tasmin launched in 1980.

Over the years the Tasmin which was originally available with 2 litre / 122 cui or 2.8 litre / 170 cui Ford sourced motors grew into a second incarnation with a 3.5 litre / 215 cui V8 that traces it’s history back through the Rover 3.5 litre Coupé to the aluminium V8 Buick 215 designed by Joe Turley for Buick Oldmobile and Pontiac vehicles launched in 1961.

Launched in 1983 the TVR Tasmin 350i which became the plain TVR 350i in 1984 had a 190 hp and a 130 mph capability. With it’s Rover power the 350i became marketable in the middle east where there was, and is, a resistance to anything associated with Ford due to it’s dealings with Israel. In 1984 a 390 SE engine package was offered to 350i customers with a blueprinted version of the V8 motor with 3905 cc / 238 cui cylinder capacity, high lift cam shaft large valves and Cosworth machined pistons which brought the power up to 275 hp.

In 1986 further improvements offered 300 hp from the 420 SE spec which could be ordered with a lighter and slightly more rounded 420 SEAC spec body. For 1988 introduced the 3948 cc / 240 cui 400 SE which offered marginal performance improvements over the 390 SE and used the Series 2 390 SE body with asymmetrical near side louvers in the bonnet and a slightly more tidy nose as seen on the example above.

With the increase in engine size and output from 100 – 160 hp for the Tasmin models to 275 hp for the 400 SE seen here the transmission tunnel was increased in size to accommodate ever larger transmissions required to cope with the extra horsepower and so the foot wells have decreased in size. The extra heat generated by the more powerful motors allegedly also means occupants feet are more exposed to heat soak than was the case in the original Tasmin.

Equipped with 8J x 15 inch wheels and ventilated disc brakes the 400 SE could reach 60 mph from rest in 5.6 seconds or 100 mph in 14.8 seconds and max out at 145 mph. In 1989 a final version of the TVR Wedge was introduced the 320 hp 450 SE good for 150 mph.

The rear deck spoiler on this 400 SE appears to have been sourced from the ’86-’88 420 SEAC which had up to 20% of its body panels made from light weight kevlar. The 400SE is renowned for making a phenomenal noise and exhilarating acceleration.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘Foot Warmer’ edition of ‘Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres’ I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz – Winner & Results

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I’d like to thank everyone who participated in and persevered with the Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz, seems like this was a bit tougher for GALPOT readers than I anticipated.

Mike ‘Jr Cracker’ Mansmith is the clear winner with 67 correct answers. Mike has chosen the Grand Prix Engines of the 1950’s set of cards as his prize and they will be winging their way to him from Paul Chenard in the next week or so.

Of the 120 questions, 17 a) is void because I posted the wrong telephone number and 42 b) is void because I worded the question incorrectly. So Mikes Score was 67 / 118. Below are the answers to all of the questions with high lighted links to some of the places one might have found answers :-

Photo courtesy Geoffrey Horton
Question 1

a) Ole Blue Eyes is said to have owned one of these what is its (full name) ?

a) Dual Ghia

b) One of his rat pack buddies drove another in a film, which rat pack buddy

b) Dean Martin

c) and in which film ?

c), Kiss Me Stupid

3 pts

Question 2 3pts

a) An alien science fiction character took his name from this brand and model after mistaking it for a superior form of life when visiting earth, what was the name of the original name of science fiction character who made the mistake ?

a) Ix

b) What (full) name did he adopt after making the mistake ?

b) Ford Prefect

c) What was the name of the radio series, tv series and film that the science fiction character starred in ?

c) Hitchhickers Guide to the Galaxy

3 pts

Question 3 2 pts

a) What is the car reg YLR 11 G above (make and model) ?

a) Lamborghini Islero

b) What film did YLR 11 G feature in ?

b) The Man Who Haunted Himself

2 pts

Question 4

a) A car of the same type as CNP 224H above stared alongside YLR 11 G what is it (Manufacturer Model and Variant) ?

a) Rover P5B 3.5 litre Coupé

b) Who purchased the last batch of these cars and put them into storage for future use ?

b) The British Government

Unofficial Quiz consultant Tim Murray has informed me “specifically by the (then) Government Car Service administered by the Department of the Environment. (This has now become the Government Car and Despatch Agency, an executive agency of the Department of Transport.)”

2 pts

Question 5

a) What brand name was SPC 46L marketed under (brand, model number and suffixes) ?

a) Dino 246 GT

b) Which Actor drove a vehicle of the same type as SPC 46L in a TV series known in Sweden as ‘Snobs on the Job’ alongside the actor that starred in the film relating to questions 3 and 4 ?

b) Tony Curtis playing Danny Wilde

2 pts

Question 6

a) What was the original first series full European name of this vehicle (manufacturer, model and variant) ?

a) Lancia Beta Monte Carlo

b) What was the name of the US variant and in which film did it play the love interest ?

b) Lancia Scorpion, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo

2 pts

Question 7

a) David Fitzsimons drove the #7 green car owned by Neil Tolich seen above, what is it make & model ?

a) BRM P57

b) What was Moisés Solana Arciniega’s unique achievement driving this make and model,

b) Only person ever to drive with the #13 in a world championship Grand Prix,

c) where and in what year did Moisés Solana Arciniega’s unique achievement driving this make and model take place ?

c) Mexico, 1963

3 pts

Question 8

a) What is the #4 car in the photo above (Make Model and Suffix)

a) McLaren M7 C

b) What distinguished this car in Monaco practice specification as seen here from Monaco race specification ?

b) The removal of the high front and rear wings. Which were outlawed on safety grounds after Thursday practice.

2 pts

Photo courtesy Barry Boor Collection

Question 9

a) Who is the driver ?

a) François Migault

b) What is the name of the car manufacturer ?

b) Connew

c) Where and were was the photo taken, track and year ?

c) Le Mans, 1972

d) Which item from the car above finds it’s self now attached to the car in Question 8 ?

d) The Ford Cosworth motor, allegedly the motor in the the back of the McLaren M7 C today is the very same one that Peter Connew secured from Phil Kerr at McLaren in 1972.

4 pts

Question 10

a) Who is driving the #1 above ?

a)Mario Andretti

b) What (make, model) is the #1 above ?

b) Lotus 80

c) Where and in what year is the #1 above being driven ?

c) Silverstone, 1979

d) What makes the driver of the #1 above different from all the other winners of ‘The Great American Race’ ?

d) Only winner born on foreign soil. (Italy/Croatia) There are also a number of other unique facts including only driver to win Daytona 500, Indy 500 and World (Drivers) Championship any which would have been okay for the point.

4 pts

Question 11

a) To which Grand Prix Car does the drive shaft in the photograph above belong to is it :-

i) BAR Honda, ii) Brabham Repco, iii) Connew Ford, iv) Lotus Climax, v) Red Bull Renault vi) Super Aguri or vii Torro Rosso ?

a) i) BAR Honda

b) Which driver pairing drove this car was it :-

i) Villeneuve / Button, ii) Vettel / Bourdais, iii) Sato / Davidson, iv) Liuzzi / Speed, v) Coultard / Webber, vi) Button / Sato or vii) Brabham / Hulme ?

b) vi) Button / Sato

2 pts

Question 12

a) What is Wings for Life and which Formula One team ran with their logos ?

a) A charity which supports the examination of fundamental approaches and mechanisms in traumatic spinal cord injuries. One of its founders was Dietrich Mateschitz owner of the Red Bull Formula One Team which ran with the Wings for Life logo’s.

b) In which event and when did said team run this colour scheme ?

b) British GP at Silverstone; 6th – 8th July 2007

2 pts

Photo courtesy Geoffrey Horton

Question 13

a ) What is the #46 above make and model suffixes ?

a) Chevrolet Impala SS

b) Who drove the #46 above and what was his day job ?

b) Roy Mayne, US Airforce Sergeant

2 pts

Question 14

a) What is (manufacturer and model) and who drove the Miller Time #22

a) Buick Regal, Bobby Allison

b) The man responsible for building the Miller Time #22 car is thought to have built of 750 racing vehicles and in 1978 built all of the cars that won all 30 Winston Cup Races, who is he ?

b) Edwin Keith “Banjo” Matthews

2 pts

Question 15

a) Who is seen about to demonstrate the 2000 Talladega winning #3 Goodwrench Chevrolet Monte Carlo at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2009 was it :-

i) Landon Cassill, ii) Austin Dillon, iii) Dale Earnhardt Jr, iv) Jeffrey Earnhardt, v) Kelley Earnhardt, vi) Kerry Earnhardt, or vii) Taylor Earnhardt ?

a) vii) Taylor Earnhardt

b) How many positions did Dale Earnhardt make up with four laps to go to the chequers at Talledega in 2000 was it

i) Three, ii) Four, iii) Seven, iv) Nine, v) Seventeen, vi) Twenty Nine, vi) Thirty Three or vii) Thirty Four

b) v) Seventeen

2 pts

Question 16

a) Who recorded a best finish of 37th in the Craftsmen Truck series and is associated with the catch phrase ‘Boogity Boogity Boogity’ ?

a) Darrell Waltrip

b) In which song did Ray Stevens use the phrase “Boogity Boogity” ?

b) The Streak

2 pts

Question 17

a) Which popular NASCAR driver is most commonly associated with the telephone number 0800 55 55 55 ?

a) Dale Earnhardt Jr (QUESTION VOID THE CORRECT TELEPHONE NUMBER SHOULD HAVE READ 1-866-500-5555 SINCEREST APOLOGIES)

b) Until the arrival of Toyota in 2007 what was the last recorded foreign manufacturer to start a NASCAR race and what number did it carry ?

b) #32 MG

c) Who drove it ?

Smokey Cook

d) What was the event and where was it held and when year ?

d) International 200 at the Bowman-Gray Stadium, 1963

e) What race distance did he cover and how much did Smokey take home after finishing 17th and completing 12 laps ?
e) 3 miles, $75

5 pts

Question 18

a) Who is the driver of the #82 above ?

a) Scott Speed

b) Where is the #82 above Track and Race Name ?

b) Talladega, Aarons 499

c) Where and when did the driver of the #82 make his first Formula One Grand Prix start ?

c) Bahrain, 2006

3 pts

Question 19

a) What was Lexie’s Challenge ?

a) Charity Drive for the Kyle Busch Foundation

1 pt

Photo by Ed Arnaudin courtesy Steve Arnaudin

Question 20

a) Seen in what has been described as “the greatest two man on going sustained battle, ever !” who is driving the #4 and #5 over the bricks at the Brickyard ?

a) Jim Rathman and Roger Ward

b) This race holds the record for the most lead changes in Indy 500 history at 29, how many times did the protagonists who finished 1st and 2nd change the lead over the last 100 laps ?

b) Fourteen

2 pts

Photo by Ed Arnaudin courtesy Steve Arnaudin

Question 21

a) Which world Champion drove the #17 above at Indianapolis above ?

a) Jack Brabham

b) By what name was the #17 called, sponsor, manufacturer ?

b) Kimberely Cooper Special

c) Who owns the #17 that Jack drove today ?

c) Phillippe de Lespinay

3 pts

Question 22

a) Who is the driver of and who manufactured the #17 above ?

a) Dick Simon, Vollstedt

b) What and where is the event in which the #17 above is competing ?

b) Daily Express 200, Silverstone UK

2 pts

Question 23

a) Which Indy 500 winner drove the #42 at Castle Combe ?

a) Danny Sullivan

b) Were and for what team (full name) did the driver of the #42 above drive Formula One and ?

Apologise omitted the word ‘first’ from ‘drive formula one’ and ‘where’ ?

b) Tim kindly listed all the Formula One races Danny took part in for me

Jacarepaguá – Brazilian GP
Long Beach – US GP West
Brands Hatch – Race of Champions
Le Castellet – French GP
Imola – San Marino GP
Monte Carlo – Monaco GP
Spa – Belgian GP
Detroit – US GP (Detroit)
Montreal – Canadian GP
Silverstone – British GP
Hockenheim – German GP
Österreichring – Austrian GP
Zandvoort – Dutch GP
Monza – Italian GP
Brands Hatch – European GP
Kyalami – South African GP

He probably also tested at other locations, driving for Benetton Tyrrell Team

2 pts

Question 24

a) Which Indy 500 winner drove the #98 at Goodwood Revival in 2011 ?

a) Eddie Cheever

b) With which team did the driver of the #98 above twice attempt to qualify for a Formula One Grand Prix before succeeding ?

b) Theodore Racing Hong Kong

c) How many IRL Career victories did the driver of the #98 have to his credit ?

c) 5

3 pts

Photo Courtesy Tracey Dickson Zee
Question 25

a) Which IRL Champion is driving the #82 above ( all four given names) ?

a) Antoine Rizkallah Kanaan Filho

b) Where at which event and at which track was the photo of the #82 above taken ?

b) Prelude to a Dream, Eldora Speedway

c) Which former IRL Champion owns Eldora Speedway ?

c) Tony Stewart

3 pts

Question 26

a) Who drove the #59 Dallara Honda in the 2011 Indycar Series ?

b) EJ Viso

1 pt

Photo courtesy Jeff Fuller

Question 27

a) Who co drove with the 2011 Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon, to victory in the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona (both co drivers full names) ?

a) Scott Ronald Dixon, Casey James Mears

Photo courtesy Geoffrey Horton

Question 28

a) What make & model is the blue car above (manufacturer, numerals, suffix’s and coach builder) ?

a) Ferrari 250 GT Boano

b) Who does it belong to and how much did he pay for it ?

b) Mr Robert Lee, $9,500

2 pts

Question 29

a) Name this car (manufacturer, model and suffix) ?

a) Ferrari 512 S

b) Which film did the car appear in ?

b) Le Mans

c) Who was as the wheel when it burnt to the ground prior to a shoot ?

c) Derek Bell

3 pts

Question 30

a) What model is this ( numerals and suffixes)

a) Ferrari 512 BB / LM

b) Which two French drivers drove it to 5th place over all and 1st in IMSA GTX at Le Mans in 1981

b) Jean-Claude Andruet / Claude Ballot-Léna /

2 pts

Question 31

a) I sat in this one what is it (numerals name and suffix’s)

a) Ferrari 550 Maranello GTS

b) Which three drivers drove it to 10th place over all and a GTS Class win at Le Mans in 2003 ?

b) Thomas Enge, Jamie Davies and Peter Kox

c) Name the female Stewart Haas Racing driver who drove the so called celebrity chassis of this model ?

c) Danica Patrick

3 pts

Question 32

a) What model is the #42 above ?

a) Ferrari 458

b) Who is driving the #42 above ?

b) Phil Dryburgh and John Gaw

c) At which circuit is the #42 seen racing above ?

c) Castle Combe

d) What outright circuit record did the #42 set at the circuit on the day the photograph was taken ?

d) Greatest number of laps covered in a single race at Castle Combe ever. Pete Stowe and Tim Murray have informed me the record set was 96 laps not 97 laps as originally published I’d accepted either answer for the quiz.

4 pts

Question 33

a) What is the #23 being driven by Simon Ashworth model name and motor ?

a) Marina Rolls Royce

b) To which country was the #23 above allegedly exiled for fear the car would be impounded after the engine manufacturer found out what was going on ?

b) Belgium

2 pts

Question 34

a) Who was the original owner of this E-Type Jaguar registration FPL 660 C ?

a) Dennis Jenkinson

b) What was his best known sporting exploit, with whom did he share the cockpit and in what sort of car?

b) Co driving with Stirling Moss to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia in a Mercedes 300 SLR

2 pts

Question 35

a) What type of car is depicted above (manufacturer, model and suffixes)

a) AC 3000 ME

b) Which two designers were responsible for the design ?

b) Peter Bohanna and Robin Stables

2 pts

Question 36

a) What is the full name of the vehicle carrying the #55 above (manufacturer, model and variant suffix/number) ?

a) Porsche 935 K3

b) Which three drivers drove the #55 above in the race depicted ?

b) Claude Bourgoignie, John Cooper, Dudley Wood,

c) Where did the #55 finish the race overall and in class ?

c) 4th OA and 1st in Class

d) What were the names of the three Australian drivers entered for the same race in the #74 ?

d) Colin Bond /Peter Brock /Jim Richards

4pts

Question 37

a) What type of vehicle is being driven by Dave & Chris in The Cross Trophy above (manufacturer, model and variant) ?

a) Scimitar SS1 1600

b) What type of engine was originally fitted to the vehicle above (Manufacturer, and suffixes) ?

b) Ford CVH

2 pts

Question 38

a) What type of GMC is depicted in the photo above 9 (model) ?

a) GMC Cyclone

b) What sports car did Road & Track pit this model against for a road test and found the truck quicker of the two away from the lights (Manufacturer model number and suffixes)

b) Ferrari, 348ts

2pts

Photo courtesy Geoffrey Horton

Question 39

a) What is the car in the above photograph seen at the Peterson Collection (full name) ?

a) Pierce Arrow convertible sedan by Lebaron

b) Which world champion learned to drive in the car above ?

b) Phil Hill

c) what happened when this car was entered at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance after it had been restored by the erstwhile learner and his brother ?

c) Won best in show award.

3 pts

Question 40

a) What is the surname name of the Brothers who designed and built the car above ?

a) Jankowits

b) It was originally built in Italy but what is the part of Italy in which it was originally built now called ?

b) Croatia

c) What is Mr Fusi of the ALFA Romeo Museum reported to have told Colin Crabbe when he found this car in New York ?

c) That it was a special

3 pts

Question 41

a) What is the full name of the vehicle of this vehicle seen at Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance (manufacturer, model, suffix) ?

a) Airmobile Sedan C (Since my quiz post this it has been brought to my attention by Tim Murray that this car was actually known as an Airomobile) either name gets the point in this instance.

b) Who designed the vehicle in the photo above ?

b) Tom Tjaarda (Tim also points out the Tom was born only 3 years before this vehicle was completed and that the design MAY have been influenced by John Tjaarda) point for John or Tom in this instance.

c) How many miles did this car complete on a fruitless promotional drive

c) 45,000 miles

3 pts

Question 42

a) What is the full name of the vehicle depicted in the photo above (manufacturer, model number and variant) ?

a) BMW 327/28 Pillarless Coupé

b) How many others of this exact type are known to exist ?

b) One (Question 42b is VOID SHOULD HAVE READ ‘KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN BUILT’)

2 pts

Question 43

a) Who was the manufacturer and what is the model of the vehicle above ?

a) Bristol 400

b) What is the name of the company that in 2011 bought the assets of the manufacturer of the above vehicle ?

b) Kampkorp Autokraft

2 pts

Question 44

a) What make model and Variant is the vehicle registered TRP 271 F above ?

a) ALFA Romeo 33 Stradale

b) Apart from being fast and based on a racing car what was it’s claim to fame when it was launched ?

b) Most expensive car on the market when launched

2 pts

Question 45

a) What is the make and chassis number of Prince Bira’s #78 depicted competing in the 1936 Coupe de Prince Rainer above ?

a) ERA R2B

b) What did nickname did he give to the car ?

b) Romulus

2 pts

Question 46

a) Dr Guiseppe Farina is seen driving the #2 to victory at the 1950 British Grand Prix, who manufactured the #2 and what model was it ?

a) ALFA Romeo, 158

b) What was significant about the 1950 British Grand Prix ?

b) It was the first round of the first World Drivers Championship

2 pts

Question 47

a) James Dean is depicted above who manufactured the car and what model is it ?

a) Porsche 550 Spyder

b) What script did Dean have painted on the rear cowling of the #130 above ?

b) “Little Bastard”

2 pts

Question 48

a) The chassis number CSX2128 distinguishes the #50 from its English built counterparts what is the correct manufacturers name and model of the #50 ?

a) Shelby Cobra / 289 Sebring Cobra / 289 Cobra BUT NOT AC COBRA

b) This car was sold to Coventry Motors after half a seasons racing in 1963, what prompted the original entrant buy it back in for the 1964 season ?

b) Because it kept on winning.

2 pts

Question 49

a) Graham Hill is depicted winning the Monaco Grand Prix who manufactured the #9 what model and suffix is it ?

a) Lotus 49 B

b) Which American driver practiced with a car similar to the #9 above at the Italian GP but had a clashing commitment with the Hoosier 100 which disqualified him from being allowed to compete the same weekend in Italy ?

94) Mario Andretti

2) pts

Question 50

a) Gilles Villeneuve is depicted driving a Ferrari at Monaco above what is the model number and what are the suffixes ?

a) 126 CK

b) When asked about the handling of the #27 what US manufacturer did he cite in his comparison ?

b) Cadillac

2 pts

I’d like to thank everybody who took part and congratulate Mike again on winning the superb set of Cards, Paul Chenard of Automobiliart for sponsoring the Automobiliart / GALPOT Seasonal Quiz, and not least Tim Murray for his corrections and comments. Look forward to doing something similar again soon. Meantime I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a vintage MG. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gas Turbine Highboy – ’32 Ford Boeing Roadster

A Passage From India – Rover CityRover

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In 2000 BMW gave up on it’s attempt to revive the Rover Group after six years and sold most of the assets packaged as the MG Rover Group to the Phoenix consortium. At this point all models, bar one the ’75’, in the MG Rover groups portfolio were around five years old and Phoenix determined that their first new car would be aimed at the city car market segment that had once been an almost exclusive preserve of the Mini, a product of earlier incarnations of the MG Rover Group.

MG Rover Group did not have any research and development assets so they looked for a partner that would be offered a stake in the group in return for a new car. A deal was done with Indian manufacturers TATA who would build a version of the first ever completely indigenous Indian passenger car the Indica.

The design criteria for the Indica were that it would be the size of a Maruti Zen, similar to the Suzuki Cervo Mode, the internal dimensions of the Hindustan Ambasador, a cast off from a previous in carnation of the MG Rover Group that is still in production who’s design heritage can be traced back to the Morris Oxford of 1948, the price of a Maruti 800, another Suzuki related product, and the running cost of a diesel.

The design work was carried out by I.D.E.A. in Italy and after a false start with some quality issues the TATA Indicia, launched in 1998, with a Peugeot derived motor proved to be a big hit on the Indian sub continent. Despite the absence of a development budget, apart from the badging, alterations made to the Indicia to suit the needs of European motoring included an upgraded engine to produce 84 hp and exceed more stringent emissions regulations, increase in road wheel size from 13 to 14 inches and corresponding alteration of gear ratio’s, stiffer front and rear spring rates, lowered suspension and increased gearing for the steering.

Production of the Rover CityRover began in Pune India in 2003 but the cars launch was marred by questions over the MG Rover Groups finances and by the newly crowned 2004 European Car of the year the FIAT Panda which was a game changing generation ahead of the CityRover and cheaper too.

While the CityRover was praised for it’s performance and handling it was let down by interior quality, lack of equipment and above all headlining city car market segment price. In July 2005 MG Rover was liquidated with the loss of 6,000 jobs in the company and a further 25,000 jobs in related suppliers companies. Nanjing acquired the assets of the MG Rover Group.

Around 6000 CityRovers, such as the base Solo model seen here, were sold in it’s first year and a further 1200 Mk2 versions were sold through non franchised dealers after the MG Rover Groups liquidation.

Thanks for joining me on this ‘CityRover’ edition of getting a lil’ psycho on tyres’. I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Coupé built in The Netherlands. Don’t forget to come back now !

Goodwood Revival #2 – Rover 2000TC

6 Replies

Welcome to the 365th edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’ when I started this blog one year ago I thought I might struggle to make it last a week, I can’t quite believe that my enthusiasm now is stronger than it was then, this is in no small part due to every one of the 44,000 plus hits that I have had from over 20,000 views.

I’d like to thank every one who has popped by, all those who have left comments and especially all those who have generously given, tickets, invitations, time and effort donating photographs details on the vehicles and stories for me to publish. Over the next couple of weeks I will be powering up a dedicated GALPOT website for these blogs, all of the existing blogs will be kept on line, you will receive timely updates as the new website progresses.

Today’s car the Rover 2000TC is a personal favourite, identical to a little Corgi model I had that featured jewel head lights, a sky roof and golden jacks so that I could swap the wheels. I must have driven that toy Rover 2000TC several hundred thousand miles on my hands and knees and changed the wheels several thousand times too.

Launched in 1963 the Rover 2000 was originally supplied with 104 hp single carburettor 4 cylinder motor, by 1966 Rover launched an export model with a more powerful 124 hp Twin Carburettor (TC) motor.

Initially the 2000TC was only made available to export markets, officially because the twin carb manifolds were in short supply and because of a 70 mph speed limit introduced in the UK in 1965.

Six months after the 2000 TC was launched supply of twin carburettor inlet manifolds improved and the 2000 TC was made available in Britain.

Unlike rivals like the Citroen DS and Triumph 2000 the heavily sculpted rear seats of the P6 meant only two passengers could be carried in the back.

The de Dion rear suspension used in the construction of the P6 limited the amount of space in the boot and many P6’s used to carry a spare tyre wrapped in a purpose made vinyl bag, on top of the boot lid.

Additional P6 blogs can be found on the following links, P6 Cabriolet, P6 2200SC, P6 Estoura.

Thanks for joining me on this 1st anniversary edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil’ psycho on tyres’, I hope you will join me again for the 366th edition tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

1977 ECotY – Rover Vitesse

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There were not many four door executive vehicles that would look comfortable parked along side a Ferrari or Maserati in the 1970’s but the Rover SD1 powered by the familiar alloy Buick derived V8 and designed by David Bache is certainly one that could keep such company in any car park and not look out of place.

Thanks in part to a painfully slow process of rationalisation that was occurring at British Leyland during the early 1970’s involving many duplicitous departments and management within the nationalised organisation it took 54 months for the SD1 to move from drawing board to production.

David Bache was not in the least shy about his design influences incorporated into the SD1 including these indicator lights which are almost identical to those found on a Ferrari Daytona.

Built in a new purpose built £31 million factory in Solihull the SD1 was marketed as the Rover 3500 and launched in July 1976 to an ecstatic reception regarding the styling and performance, though the quality of some of the materials used and build were short of the market leaders particularly the emerging BMW brand. The deep front spoiler and BBS pattern wheels on this model signifies a later model in this case built in 1986.

The Vitesse badge hitherto associated with Triumph models belies the fact that the SD1 had technical and marketing input from the still separate and competing Triumph design and management offices. In late 1980 the Rover Vitesse, seen here at the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum, was introduced as the performance version of the Rover 3500 and the Vanden Plas the Luxury version that included leather seats.

While the styling of the SD1 was ahead of it’s time the rear suspension was actually a technological step back from the de Dion suspension used on the previous Rover P6 to a live rear axle, though this made the cars easier and cheaper to build the move did not compromise the handling, much praised in the contemporary press, in anyway.

Since British Leyland had so many competing brands in its range the 1977 European Car of the Year award winner was not the money spinner that it should have been because it was priced so as not to compete directly with the Jaguar XJ6 against which it was seen in an extremely favourable light.

Thanks for joining me on the 1977 European Car of the Year edition of ‘Gettin’ a lil psycho on tyres’, I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a fully loaded turbocharged competitor of the Rover SD1. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring

Tag Archives: Rover

Japanese Edition – MG RV8

Foot Warmer – TVR 400 SE

Automobiliart GALPOT Seasonal Quiz – Winner & Results

Gas Turbine Highboy – ’32 Ford Boeing Roadster

Goodwood Revival #2 – Rover 2000TC

1977 ECotY – Rover Vitesse