SD1
The cars : Rover SD1 development history
Featuring five-door supercar styling, and some of the nicest engine notes to grace an executive car, the Rover SD1 has a place in the hearts of many car enthusiasts today. However, when it was new, poor build quality, flaky paint, and the poor image of its builder meant that its sales potential went unfulfilled in [...]
September 25, 2011
· 
Keith Adams · 
17 Comments
Buying guide : Rover SD1
Fancy an SD1? Here’s what to look out for… Availability Years produced: 1976-1986 Body style: Five-door ‘executive’ hatchback Engine options: 1994cc O-Series inline-four 2350cc, 2597cc inline-six 3528cc V8 (155bhp carburettor, 190bhp fuel injected) 2393cc inline-four turbodiesel (VM) Transmission options: 4-speed manual, 5-speed manual & 3-speed automatic, rear wheel drive Brief overview The Rover SD1 can [...]
August 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Concepts and prototypes : Rover SD1, concept 1
Some images from the projects that produced the Rover SD1… Once the decision was made to go with Solihull, instead of Canley design for the new Rover-Triumph car, Bache pressed ahead with his five-door designs. These came down to three basic shapes: First Proposal This version was blessed with a rather formulaic ‘seventies front-end style [...]
August 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · 3 Comments
Concepts and prototypes : Rover SD1, concept 2
Some images from the projects that produced the Rover SD1… Second Proposal A sleeker version of the first idea, this time with a tapered nose and lower bonnet line. The top picture shows the initial scale model in clay, whereas below is the full-size version. In its own right, this car could have been developed [...]
August 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · One Comment
Concepts and prototypes : Rover SD1, concept 3
Some images from the projects that produced the Rover SD1… The winning proposal The winning proposal – the SD1 as we know it today. This version managed to maintain the five-door layout of the others, but with the extra dimension of genuine style. The character clearly comes from the details: sweeping side indicators, side swage [...]
August 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · 6 Comments
Concepts and prototypes : Rover SD1 // P10 project
Some images from the projects that produced the Rover SD1… Project P10 This drawing was produced by David Bache in the late 1960s, whilst the aborted Rover P8 was still in development. Right from the outset, Bache knew that he wanted a fastback saloon or hatchback. This rendering shows that the basic proportions were already [...]
August 5, 2011
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Essays : P76 vs P8 vs SD1
Oh, so similar under the skin? THE conspiracy theory is a great thing, don’t you think? Usually conjured up by fertile imaginations, conspiracy theories are used to explain away conventional wisdoms, and in doing so, challenge what we hold close to our hearts as solid facts. Take for instance, the Rover 75 – for years [...]
June 24, 2011
· Keith Adams · 11 Comments
Engines : Rover V8
An heroic engine During the late 1950s, the US car industry turned to aluminium as a material to build their engines from. The reasons for this have been well documented, but primarily it was the quest for lighter weight and greater efficiency that led the producers to choose this route. One such manufacturer who embraced [...]
June 20, 2011
· Keith Adams · 12 Comments
Advert of the week : Rover SD1
Keith Adams In 1976, the Rover SD1 was the pride of the British car industry. It was great to look at, excellent value, and stacked up well against all comers. It proved so good that it convinced the panel of the European car of the year to vote it their favourite car – awarding it [...]
October 2, 2010
· Keith Adams · 23 Comments
Car of the month : December 2009
Rover SD1s. Ah the V8, the Vanden Plas, the Vitesse… but what about the more regular models in the range? We celebrate Gareth Hopkins’ award-winning 2300 Series 2 model by giving it Car of the Month status. However, as you’ll see it’s not only in good condition, but Gareth’s not afraid to use the car [...]
December 1, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : May 2009
Being the Events Organiser for the Rover SD1 Owners Club, Sally Sheldon usually needs to transport boxes of club stuff, flags, gazebos, banners, scaffolding poles and all the other bits needed to set up a proper club-stand. Good call that the SD1 does not only look good, but offers a very practical, huge load space… [...]
May 1, 2009
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : December 2006
We believe in value for money at austin-rover.co.uk, and where better to get it than in this month’s CoTM – a Rover SD1 with twice as many cylinders as your common or garden road car. And this one’s a little bit special. The article, due to appear in the late-lamented Retro Cars magazine, focuses on [...]
December 1, 2006
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : July 2006
Back to form, austin-rover.co.uk goes back to what it knows best – thumping great V8 engines driving the rear wheels, and a fine-looking package. Here, we take a look at Keith Nicholls’ fine-looking example and wonder what more you could possibly want? Back on form… David Bache’s finest? THIS rare Rover SD1 Vitesse is owned [...]
July 1, 2006
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : June 2005
It sounds better than a Guns ‘N’ Roses concert, and looks better than Natalie Imbruglia behind the wheel of a Citroen CX. So I make no apologies for austin-rover.co.uk featuring another Rover SD1 as its Car of the Month. Owned by Rover SD1 Club Vice Chairman and Activities Organiser, Dave Puzey, this Vitesse Twin Plenum [...]
June 1, 2005
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Why we love the… Rover SD1
Dylan Jones explains why the SD1 is the car for him. Since before I was born, my parents have always had BLMC cars and still do, running a Rover 416GTi for the past 9 years. The running list goes something like this: an Austin 1100 which my mother donated to a local mechanic in North [...]
August 17, 2004
· admin · No Comments
2nd (14.4%): Rover SD1
Launched in the 1970s, it looked set for a long run into the 1980s. Perfect in almost every way… If ever there was a case of selective amnesia, here it is. The SD1 is loved by many, many people – particularly for its looks and the V8 rumble. Wonder if they’d feel the same if [...]
July 25, 2004
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : December 2003
David Price recently picked-up what must surely be the nicest Series 1 Rover SD1 in the country. This mint 15,000-mile car has obviously been garaged just about all of its its life, and it shows… Here, David tells the story of his remarkable SD1… THE Platinum silver Rover 3500 you see here is, frankly, the [...]
December 1, 2003
· Keith Adams · 2 Comments
Car of the month : October 2003
October marks the third occasion on which an SD1 takes the CotM honour. This 3528cc Series 2 Vanden Plas, as owned by John Capon continues his unerring ability of seeking out the nicest examples of any given car. After driving this superb example, Keith Adams tries to explain what it is that marks out the [...]
October 1, 2003
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Car of the month : October 2002
In the course of this website, I have described the Rover SD1 as the finest car to emerge from the BL stable during the 1970s. I do not apologise for taking this standpoint; given the car’s mix of smart David Bache design and Spen King inspired practical packaging. At the time of its launch in [...]
October 1, 2002
· Keith Adams · No Comments
Archive : Rover SD1 launch in British Leyland Mirror
To celebrate the launch of the Rover 3500 SD1, the British Leyland Mirror turned over its entire editorial content to this vitally important new car. Enjoy all 32 pages. Images scanned by Alex Sebbinger. (Click on thumbnail below to see full sized image)
June 30, 1976
· Keith Adams · 22 Comments
