Rover 2000 Winter drive, P6 in the sunshine

Its been miserable and the roads salty all the last few weeks and the forecast is for rain and snow tomorrow but today is sunny so the P6 is coming out for a drive!
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[@coopdivi]

Oh, the memories your video has evoked! My father had one of the very first Rover P6's, having placed his order immediately after seeing it at the Earls Court Motor Show in October 1963. Much to his chagrin he had to wait until January 1964 before he could drive it out of the showroom, as there was an embargo on it apparently. It was white with black upholstery, and not only looked smart but was very advanced for its time in terms of ride quality and safety. I remember my dad saying that when he pulled up at traffic signals, other drivers would look across at this new, smart car and try to out-accelerate him when the lights changed. Naturally, being one of the first cars off the assembly line it had its fair share of teething troubles. Things I can remember are several replacement clutch thrust bearings, and the silver release button on top of the handbrake would pop off occasionally. My lasting impression of it though is how smooth and quiet it was inside, and also how quiet the gearbox was. I recall driving it quite a long way in 3rd gear once, before realising I should have been in 4th, it was that quiet. Some years later, and having migrated to Australia, I bought a 1971 P6B (with the V8 engine). What a car! Mine was white with red upholstery, like yours. It served me well for many years. I can only recall three real problems with it -- it had a tendency to chew up the no. 5 plug lead for some reason; on very hot days the AC mechanical fuel pump couldn't cope, leading to vapour locking (cured by adding an electric fuel pump pushing fuel through from the rear, rather than trying to suck it from the front); and the Borg-Warner Type 35 gearbox failed at 80,000 km (50,000 miles) due to a broken tooth on the diaphragm spring plate. This latter fault was very common apparently, although consistently denied by B-W; however, when they brought out the Type 65 box it had a beefed-up diaphragm spring plate and the new box was a lot more reliable. I sold the Rover to buy a car with integrated air-conditioning to better cope with the hot climate, and while I've never regretted doing that I'll always remember the P6 and the P6B as very special cars. Long may you drive yours!

[@furiousdriving]

Great memories, I think the delays were just that they couldnt keep up! That vapour lock issue was always a problem, must have been the worst in Australia

[@coopdivi]

@@furiousdriving No, it was a definite embargo -- I don't know the reason. The car was in the dealer's showroom but they weren't allowed to sell it to Dad until January. He would stand outside the showroom at night after work with his nose pressed against the glass, just ogling it! The Rover replaced Dad's Humber Hawk, which itself was a nice vehicle, but very much "an old man's car" -- the Rover P6 was intended for a much younger demographic. Nowadays both cars would be deemed classics, particularly the later (and very rare) Imperial version of the Humber Super Snipe. They just don't build 'em like that any more!

[@paulbennell3313]

Love these cars, a bloke who lived opposite us when I was a kid had a 2200 in Mexico brown. I used to get the occasional spin in it and I've loved them ever since. I remember seeing them everywhere in the 70's and 80's.

[@johnytun]

Family car for 12 years the old man loved it was a 2000 TC manual dark blue GEG 353L it had big leather ish sun roof gone to rover heaven

[@danieleregoli812]

Yep, I do use my P6 throughout the winter. Never mind if it gets a bit dirty. The thing is just too much fun to sit quietly in a garage!

[@peterbroad1772]

Always enjoy your P6 videos, it's clear you love the car. Actually, the camera angle along the flank of the car clearly shows why it is so good today - ride quality. Road surfaces aren't maintained as well as before and many modern cars are simply too uncomfortable. The smart approach would be cars with tyres and suspension to cope, like the P6 - the idiotic approach we seem to have taken is to take to offroad and hybrid vehicles. BTW who did your upholstery? - want to get mine done one day.

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks, glad people are liking them. The interior was done by MK Auto Upholstery in Kent about 10 years ago, done about 10,000 miles on them and holding up beautifully. www.mk-autoupholstery.com

[@petergouldbourn2312]

I enjoy going out for a drive out with you furious. I’m in hospital right now - nothing serious.. I felt like I was out of this hospital ward LOL

[@nigelcharlton-wright1747]

Pure class! A lovely example of a wonderful car.

[@TheRealBandit69]

Love the videos mate, reminds me a little bit of a mix between the HubNut channel with Ian Seabrook, and topgear 👌

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks, really glad you're enjoying them. I know Ian quite well as we work together despite living an opposite sides of the country (I was driving the Mercedes in the video when he went to Holland in the Autumn), Im actually trying not to be too much like him, but we do share a love of silly cars so I guess there will be similarities, and Top Gear is something decent to aim for!

[@MichaelThomas-be7gq]

Your speedo, I had similar problems with mine. You should be able to reach the speedo drive through a rubber plug under the passenger side carpet near the centre console. Unscrew the cable, put down some towels, make up a funnel using some plumbers mait and a cut up squash bottle and pour in some 3-in-1. Try and work it up the cable. Do the same from behind the speedo. If that does not solve it, the speedo drive might be on the way out, they used plastic gears in the Series 2 and they do wear out. Failing that, the reduction gear in the speedo is worn. I have the same speedo in my Series 1 - they should be bang on accurate with GPS.

[@furiousdriving]

It used to be good but has got worse over time. Ill give the oil trick a try but it will probably be the gear!

[@jinxed_jinxed_3443]

I remember changing the clutch on a 1968 Rover 2000 on bloody axle stands in the winter, oh what ecstasy :D but it was a waste of pain and time though, as i was young and stupid and had been over revving the engine like an F1 car to get some drive from the already worn and slipping hydraulic clutch, you guessed it a small knock soon developed into a BIG knock and then into an ALMIGHTY fkn banging and total seizure :D lol ah a grand time was had.

[@furiousdriving]

Engine out in the street? Good times! Changing clutches cylinders in the street in the rain, how I miss those days...

[@jinxed_jinxed_3443]

@@furiousdriving no engine out, just drop the gearbox.

[@davidhawkins120]

You may find it interesting to watch a channel called The Workshop regarding Evans coolant!

[@henryhol8538]

Brilliant video! I would love to see you review a Rover P5B Coupe. Be Roger Moore (Mr Pelham) for the day.

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks, I’m waiting for a P5 to show up that I can drive. Eyebrows already warming up..