Rover P6 3500 - show me the possiblities

[sonus]

A Rover P6 3500 has turned up locally at a bargain price (£1500 which is cheap here in Norway)
It's got rust on the sills in front of the rear wheels and a few other smaller niggles, but could be a runner quite quickly.
My dad used to have a 2000SC and a 2200TC and my uncle a 3500 when I was young and I remember them as solid sturdy cars.
My intention would be as a family classic car as the TVR is rather egositic due to only having two seats and it is NOISY!

So what potential does a P6 3500 have?
And what should I look out for if I go see the car?

[Darkspeed]

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/149705/rover-p6-cool

[accord83]

The base unit every thing bolts to can rust badly, check under the back seats, the inner front wings to the front scuttle and screen base. the rear suspension elbows can rust from the inside out, in fact check anything that isn't made of glass, leather, aluminium or rubber for rust. Good wings have been known to be bolted onto a shocking base unit to make a presentable car. Have a look around here:

www.classicroverforum.net/index.php

It's the best P6 forum.

[sonus]

Feb 10, 2016 21:45:13 GMT Darkspeed said:

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/149705/rover-p6-cool

I even posted in that thread

[gn3dr]

I saved this picture of one that looks great. Can't remember where I got the picture, think it was from here

[gn3dr]

That didn't work first time

[tofufi]

Strange this should come up today, I've just driven mine today for the first time this year



Standard except for a few engine tweaks (around 180bhp) and a 5 speed gearbox conversion. They really are lovely to drive

[alex]

It would be rude if I didn't post a few of my slightly battered P6

[sonus]

Alex is the 4.6 swap a straight swap?

[93fxdl]

Was looking for the works p6 racer, but found this
drive-my.com/en/test-drive/item/1747-rover-p6-racing-car.html
Ttfn Glenn
Found a works replica, and its for sale!
www.motorsportauctions.com/index.php?a=2&b=34646

[dbdb]

To my eyes, the Rover P6 3500 is one of those cars that almost always looks better standard, or close to standard.

[alex]

Feb 13, 2016 9:13:33 GMT sonus said:

Alex is the 4.6 swap a straight swap?

Yeah pretty much. You can use all the front end bits from the 3.5V8 from the P6 (although fitting an uprated oil pump at the same time isn't a bad idea). Top end/exhausts/starter/everything all bolts on no worries/ There were a couple of niggly bits but cannot remember what! The carbs from the P6 will also work, although it did feel a little choked at higher RPM so ditched those for a set of 2" SUs instead.

[alex]

Feb 13, 2016 9:59:52 GMT 93fxdl said:

Was looking for the works p6 racer, but found this
drive-my.com/en/test-drive/item/1747-rover-p6-racing-car.html
Ttfn Glenn
Found a works replica, and its for sale!
www.motorsportauctions.com/index.php?a=2&b=34646

Both of those are awesome. Seen the blue one in the flesh and it's superb.

[alex]

Feb 13, 2016 11:29:16 GMT dbdb said:

To my eyes, the Rover P6 3500 is one of those cars that almost always looks better standard, or close to standard.

I think they look brilliant standard too. But modifying is simply too tempting for some (including me!)

[madrover]

Couldn't resist.

[sowen]

Is there a story behind that one madrover?

What to look out for? Rust, rust, and lots of rust hidden under the bodywork! Generally the sills are the main areas to go, lift the rear seat bases and have a look underneath at the back of the sill. Boot floors can rust out, the upper trailing arm can pull off the side of the boot floor in extreme cases, also worth having the elbows properly inspected with a hammer to determine how deep the inevitable rust is on the upper and lower arm mounts by the rear hubs. Those are notorious for failing causing the rear suspension to collapse. Apart from that, rust is the biggest killer. Mechanicals and electrics are standard stuff, nothing particularly special about them.

What potential do they have? You can buy go-faster goodies for the V8 and upgrade with later RV8 variants, all pretty mix'n'match stuff really. Use the extra power and transmission failure either gearbox or axle are far more likely. Uprated dampers and arb's are available at a price, Rover SD1 and Jeep Grand Cherokee alloys are popular, any more than that and you're into bespoke custom stuff and figuring it out for yourself!

[discostew38]

I do like a P6
My dad had one when I was a kid and when I was in my teens there was one two streets up painted orange and lowered on GB alloys
Ever since then I've wanted one and when I sell my M5 in a couple of years il be after a V8 P6

[sonus]

Thanks all for the info, however the car sold quicker than I was able to organise things. Need to move quicker next time on comes up for sale.

[daslandroverman]

I'm another man who appreciates a P6.
The rear arches on Alex's OG machine certainly look distinctive, but not hugely out of place.
Not as extreme as the racing versions either.


Not totally sure on the colour, but it looks pretty good.

A trick 4.6 would be an easy install, although I'd be looking to keep the fuel injection setup.

I want one again...

[sowen]

V8's, pah!

4 pot turbo's are where it's at