It was 30 years ago- BMW 6 series and Rover SD1

mike65

I was watching Classic Car Club on Men and Motors on Tuesday and one of the features was on the old 6 series, resplendent in glossy black.

I wont go over the history as we should all know it

Hmmmmmm!





Then I remembered its not just 30 years of the shark nose Bimmer but also the best looking Rover (I think).

The mighty SD1 which of course was'nt nearly as well built and can be picked up for buttons if you're brave/stupid.



Mike.

Max_Damage

Ah, the SD1, with the legendary Rover V8. Only ever saw four of them in this country, and only two were the Vitesse model. They are as rare as a Fiat Ritmo, considering many didn't survive the Irish weather.

dubtom

Yes I remember both. A guy down Granby lane had a 635 csi. Poor guy was hounded with it. Scum manged to get into one time with a tin opener through the roof.Still a few about. Haven't seen a Rover in years, lovely car.

BrianD3

Love both of those cars. The Rover in particular was a car to aspire to when you were a primary school kid in 1980s Ireland I remember sitting into a new 3500 Vanden Plas around 1984/85, was sumptuous

I think the Rover and BMW were big rivals in Touring car championships too although that was before my time.

8~)

One car regret I have is that I declined the chance to buy a Rover SD1 about 7 years ago... it was 'only' a 2000 but was on Irish plates, had very little rust and was driving OK (I test drove it).

It was a bit smokey (170k miles IIRC - not bad for the old O-series engine) and I had no-where to store it so I didn't buy it. Beginning of NCT testing was around the corner and I wasn't sure it would pass the emissions (plan was to ditch the current daily driver for Rover if Rover was OK).

Wonder does it survive - a gold SD1, I think original Irish, last seen by me in Mullingar in around 1999.

Blue850

There used to be a met blue 2400 diesel near where I lived about 15 years ago and there was yellow 3500 in around Galway about 1988/89

tomaxcars

I totally agree - I've always thought the SD1 was a marvellous motor - Beige with Aran Beige interior - nice.

The vitesse had a higher CR v8 than those fitted to the Range Rover etc. of the time - and as a result whenever an SD1 sat around for too long and a Land Rover nut was about this would happen - clock the stellar facial hair:



Then they tried the following which worked well on it's forebear but I'm not so sure about on the SD1:


Still - a ballsy move to drive around in a Gold SD1 Estate.

Cheers,

Andrew.

mike65

Rover V8 3500 Auto '75. Connaught Mayo €2750.00
Ex cond, ex London car, never welded, no rust, leather interior, duty paid, €2750 ono. 094-9367076 or 087-2602242

If I suffered a knock to the head....!

Mike.

8~)

'75=P6, not SD1.
P6 is nice 'n all though I rather the SD1.

mike65

Doh! Misread the year!

Mike.

BrianD3

I actually saw an SD1 today! First one I've seen in many years. I saw it parked in a village near Edgeworthstown. It was a UK reg SD1 Mk2 with met blue paint. Didn't see what model it was.

Alfasudcrazy

Yes I have always loved the SDI and do a scan on ebay now and again for them. I thought I liked the P6 but have gone off them now as they don't suit me.

The 6 series was a jem too - the bank manager of a bank in Limerick had a lovely red one in the 80's when I worked there. :cool:

Oh no - that Dam Ebay again - its just so easy to pick them up for pennies.:rolleyes:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ROVER-SD1-3500-SE-AUTO_W0QQitemZ4642502373QQcategoryZ29759QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

mike65

There are two things that do bug me about the SD1 design, that "bolt on" dash binacle and the exhaust pipe, its just too easy to see.

Mike.

240Z

I've had 3 SD1's over the years, all with the 2.6l engine. Great cars. Very easy to look after and service. You get to be a dab hand at head work.

alastair

My Da bought a SD1 (Gold, V8) off a mate around '81. It was a '79 model if memory serves. I thought it was a great yoke.
Very powerful, drank like a fish (although when it was sold a fuel tank leak was discovered, so maybe that explained it to a degree), and the interior fittings kept falling apart as a result of the patented Leyland quality control. Petrol bills eventually made it too expensive to keep.