1976 Rover P6 3500 Auto

[RoverMike]

Hi,

I thought I would share with you some pictures of my V8 Rover. I have owned the car since July 2010 and since then have completed alot of work to get the car up to the standard it is now, but it still is work in progress as most old cars are as you can't stop fiddling with bits and pieces.

I have recently fitted a full stainless steel exhaust system which really enhances the V8 burble and I'm currently refurbishing some SD1 Vitesse alloys to replace the standard steel wheels; other than that its had a complete new roof to replace a leaking sunroof, new interior, replacement discs and calipers all round, all panels removed to replace splash seals and to check for rot, thankfully none found other than a small area on the drivers A-pillar, and a load of work to cure some overheating issues.


DSC07508 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


DSC07503 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


DSC07509 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


DSC07505 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


DSC07507 by mikeyp78, on Flickr

Mike

[chap foose]

Very nice car mate

[RoverMike]

Very nice car mate

Thanks

[MG Mal]

A Lovely example.

[mach1rob]

A very nice example

[RoverMike]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments

[rich.]

nice car! it looks nice with its original wheels. post a pic when you have the alloys on it

[RoverMike]

nice car! it looks nice with its original wheels. post a pic when you have the alloys on it

Thanks Rich Strictly speaking these wheel trims should be on the 3500S but look much better than the standard ones that cam with it. I really like them but the car doesn't handle great on these tyres (not that it gets driven hard) but upgrading to 15 inch with wider tyres and a lower profile really makes a difference.
I will get some pictures up but I may be a while becase they are being stripped, the rims polished and the centres painted.......all by my fair hand and of course four to do, you could say a winter/spring project

[Willy Eckerslyke]

Strictly speaking these wheel trims should be on the 3500S but look much better than the standard ones that cam with it. I really like them but the car doesn't handle great on these tyres (not that it gets driven hard) but upgrading to 15 inch with wider tyres and a lower profile really makes a difference.

Have to say I'm quite surprised to read this. Are you quite sure the problem isn't down to the actual rubber on your standard rims or some other problem with the suspension setup?
Personally, I wouldn't like the effect that low profile tyres will have on the ride quality (or appearance) of a P6, but that's just me.

[RoverMike]

Hi Willy, we meet again

Im currently running good quality dunlops all round and I have new shocks all round and new rear springs. My comparison is really against my modern car but the Rovers set-up is very advanced, especially for its time but it does squeal like mad round roundabouts and corners, even at 10 mph, which is an indication of losing grip, not great in the dry but even worse in the wet.

My current tyres are 175/80 14 which is slightly smaller diameter than the 185/80 14 that it should have as well as a smaller contact patch. I could of course change the tyres to the correct ones and try a different make but the cost between these and the larger 15 inch tyres is similar and I have a better choice with the makes available. I have spoken to a few of the guys who have fitted the SD1 Vitesses wheels to thier P6's and have said that the handling is improved at no noticable detriment to the ride quality, one of my cars in the past was fitted with 245/35 18 runflat tyres with sports suspension and was very hard but that was expected as it was a sports car but to me the Rover will still feel like its soaking the bumps on the bigger wheels. As far as the look is concered there is only a 5mm profile height difference between the original tyres size and the 205/65 tyres which you hardly notice. I think the larger 15 inch rim is what gives the impression of thin tyres.

Worst case scenario is if I dont like it I will fit the old ones back on

Here are some photos of a fellow owners wheels before fitting and the wheels on his car ( Im sure he wont mind me showing them off). The third is a crude photoshop to give me an impression of what they may look like on my car.


IMG_0597 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


IMG_0596 by mikeyp78, on Flickr


P6 Black vitesse by mikeyp78, on Flickr