In the post-war years, Rover’s image changed considerably. First they built staid and dignified saloons, then Land Rover 4x4s were added to the range, they dabbled with gas-turbine powered cars, and finally turned to the technically advanced Rover 2000 range.
Taken over by Leyland in 1967, Rover carried the process a stage further and the launch of the 3500 confirmed an attempt to satisfy the mass market. Designed under the guidance of Spen King, the new ‘SD1’ (the acronym stood for ‘Specialist Division, Project 1’) was a big five-door hatchback which effectively took the place of two older cars – the Rover 2200/3500 range, and the Triumph 2000/2500.
Although the cabin was laid out as a five-seater, with a bench rear seat, in traditional Rover fashion it was really more comfortable as a four-seater.
Simpler than originally expected, the original car mated the well known light-alloy V8, in a front engine/rear-drive layout, with a well located beam rear axle. Faster and easier to handle than previous Rovers, the new 3500 made many friends as a sports saloon, but it also began to make enemies because of the quality problems which afflicted many British Leyland models of the period.
As with many modern cars, this Rover was not just one model, but a complete range, and by 1982 the original V8 had been joined by a 2-litre four, 2.3-litre and 2.6-litre six, and a 2.4-litre diesel power unit. |
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By this time, too, final assembly had been moved from the original Rover plant in the Midlands to the British Leyland factory at Cowley, and the car had been treated to a subtle but definite styling facelift. British Leyland also dabbled with an estate car version, but although prototypes were seen in public, they never went on sale.
The Vitesse, the fastest SD1, was introduced at the end of 1982, with a 190 bhp fuel-injected version of the V8 engine. Complete with a vast rear spoiler, the Vitesse had a top speed of 132 mph, and outstanding roadholding to match. Before long, highly-tuned Vitesses were winning Touring Car races all over Europe, and it was not until special turbocharged Fords were introduced that they were regularly defeated.
Over the years, the SD1 built up a real following, especially among the racing fraternity, and V8 examples, particularly Vitesses, are still prized. 300,000 cars of all types were produced before the last were built in 1986.
The style, which was influenced by existing Italian supercars, (the Ferrari Daytona in particular), was smoother and more elongated than any previous Rover, and with no obvious visual links to its predecessors.
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