Rover SD1 - Why did this Ferrari-inspired Rover fail?

The Rover SD1 or 3500 was one of the coolest cars of my childhood. The design looked like it had fallen through a time portal from the 21st century. Sitting in one when it was launched, I imagined driving it down to Saint-Tropez to hob-nob with all the coolest stars like Cilla Black or Sasha Distel. Well, I was 8 and naive. I was wowed by the space-age dashboard that looked like it had come right off the set of Blakes 7. And this came out of old, stodgy, British Leyland - the company that had brought us the Morris Marina and Austin Allegro! So why was this amazing car do so badly? The Rover SD1 was also known as the Rover 2000, Rover 2300, Rover 2600, Rover V8 and Rover 3500. Whew!
Correction: when I mention "V6" I mean "straight 6". Much credit for this video has to go to aronline.co.uk for their excellent articles on the Rover.
Many thanks to BLACKTOPFIEBER for amazing shots of the SD1. Check out the channel here: www.youtube.co....
Also thanks to Paul Woodford for great shots of the Rover P6. Check out his channel here: / paulwood. .
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#bigcar #RoverSD1

[@BigCar2]

Errata: It's not a V6 but an inline 6. Thanks to everyone for your corrections!

[@TheMentalblockrock]

I was just about to say the same! Thanks for correcting it, kzbin.info/www/bejne/hGqvaKCois9mo6c.

[@rsmit2797]

Glad about that! I thought I was going Mad?

[@alecbrown66]

You werent totally Errata! Same old basic GM 251 cu" block, but typical arguments over some using v8, some "hemi" engines-- the inline v8! Also they did the a series trick of taking the 2600 and shortening piston rods, and a bit of boring out to give a 3500 inline unit. It was stupidity on spending money on this instead of fixing the rolling holey umbrella fit and trim more important problems.

[@commodore665]

@@rsmit2797 I thought........... hang on

[@TheMentalblockrock]

@Gappie Al Kebabi Eh??? I don't know what links your preference leads you to have on your computer, I linked to the time where Big car confuses a V6 with a straight 6. I guess you prefer them bent where I prefer them straight.

[@spudgunn8695]

There was only one reason the SD1 didn't do to well. It was made by Leyland! I had one for a while, and after it had been totally re-wired it was bloody marvellous!

[@Essydyk]

Wow this takes me back. My father had the V8 version - what a car that was. That engine was absolutely unreal when let loose. This should have taken Rover to the next level but those strikes and production issues killed it dead - along with most of big British manufacturing.

[@williamwilliam5066]

I agree with your idea that evil leftists should be slaughtered as soon as they come out/identify. Has leftism ever created anything but hate and violence and mass murder?

[@bluemango7112]

My brother had the V8 , great motor , huge issues with electrics , more Lord Lucas junk , the V8 only came to Australia was quite popular till the word got around about build quality.

[@wearetomorrowspast.5617]

My primary school headteacher had a P5. All us kids loved it so much he used to let us wash it. Mr. Hughes, smart bloke.

[@stuartyoung4182]

"Lucas Electronics was pressured by Leyland management to cut corners..."!!! Making the "Prince of Darkness" even...darker. ;-)

[@syxepop]

Stuart Young, pair the WORST OEM IN HISTORY with probably THE WORST MANAGEMENT IN HISTORY and you have FECES FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE...

[@JClark-34695]

Pressuring Lucas to cut corners? Is that even possible?! 😉

[@syxepop]

J. Clark, well... The way Lucas cut corners on their own, anything's possible.

[@mikemapson7281]

possibly a close second to Magneti Marelli

[@shebbs1]

Most people forget that Lucas was originally a maker of quality components, trouble is the BL-era cheapening has led people to ignore this. Classic Lucas stuff was certainly a cut above the standards of the 50's and 60's, not reliable by modern standards, but better than average for the time...until BL buggered things.

[@niallpenny1635]

Correction - neither Triumph or Rover ever used a V6. They used straight 6 engines.

[@davidmccarron4832]

the 1 in vid is straight 6 did he even look at it

[@martyn_g]

Are we including the Honda powered 825i?;) sorry - had to be a smart ass;)

[@davidmccarron4832]

@@martyn_g i i believe its the 827 :( sorry had to be a smart ass;) dumm ass lol just joking :P

[@nigeh5326]

@@davidmccarron4832 both are correct. The 800 started with a 2.5 V6 then it was expanded to a 2.7 basically it was a Honda engine

[@jeremyrigden9200]

@@martyn_g Martyn I sold those and had a Stirling demo loved it, friend had the Turbo as a company did 65k never missed a beat Unbelievable ! but true.

[@nobb1euk1]

My old Snap On tools rep used to work at British Leyland removing the rust from these before they even left production line.

[@NorthernsoulBoy63]

My first sdi was 2600 gold colour. Amazing drive .The smell and feel of the interior felt luxurious. 3500 was even better The big v8 was GREAT

[@nomdeplume798]

My late mother in law was a union representative at the GEC factory in Middlesbrough in the late '70s and (possibly) the early '80s. She attended a meeting where the workforce was urged to go on strike. The two speakers were Arthur Scargill and Ken Livingston.

[@johnkeepin7527]

An interesting review. In particular, some of the footage of the production lines reminded me that it’s an easy mistake to compare older products with modern ones, in as much as there is lot more automation/assembly accuracy now. Most of the major companies are better than they were in the 1970s, from a customer's point of view.

[@BigCar2]

True, but customers in the 70's were comparing the SD1 to the competition and it didn't make the grade. But yes, car manufacturing has come on leaps and bounds since then.

[@DjouMaSeEpos]

I recall John Steed from The New Avengers TV series from 1976 & 77 drove a 3.5. And the TV ad for it in South Africa where they said "Suddenly you are there" When I visited Leyland South Africa in 1980 as a youngster they gave me a lift in one, I couldn't stop staring at all the gadgets like the remote control mirrors and adjustable steering wheel which I thought was too cool!

[@originalkk882]

My first job after university was with BL Cars in Longbridge. I still remember being in the office block by the roundabout on Lickey Road, when there was a squealing noise moving all around the building. Looked out the window and saw continuous black tyre marks round 3 sides of the building. Turns out a supplier had parked his SD1 in the Powertrain Plant Director's spot, and the Director had told the Trasnport Dept to tow it away. Of course, it was an automatic left in park with the handbrake on.

[@yossiallen3316]

I knew an American teacher in Berne, Switzerland in the 1980s who had one. I sat in it a number times and it was truly impressive.

[@dukeofaaghisle7324]

I rode in some of the prototypes, courtesy of a school friend’s dad. The cars were always ‘masked’ with wood (and hardboard?) contoured to suggest an estate car shape and a central radiator at the front, a bit like the Rover P5. It was always exciting to travel in a prototype.

[@carguyuk3613]

I had 5 rover sd1 vitesse's. Great design but poor execution. So unreliable and rotted quickly. Easy to repair and the v8 sounded great. My last one rusted and I took the engine out and put it in a Westfield kit car. Great video.

[@voya8480]

Same story here. I had 3.

[@brobno9]

Carguy UK 5 Vitesse`s really?? I couldn`t find one, they became almost Unicorn-like, the 3.9i must have been so much better than the 3500 twin S-U carb!.... Had a V8-S, & two other lower spec V8`s... rot killed 2 & the S caught me out on a country bend & wrapped itself round a tree : ( ........ Straight pipe on the S sounded great!... For some reason I didn`t like the facelifted SD2, too much chrome trim & extra bits that just didn`t look right... still this video brought back memories.

[@richy69ify]

@Oggy - The next generation of European cars beat yours though and you had to ban them from Touring cars. British talent was all in Motorsport

[@diecast-madness4645]

@@brobno9 SD2, that car never progressed past the prototype stage, it was a brilliant car and with fettling would have been a massive seller, but the MK II SD1 was a better looking car, entirely, they threw funds at it to get it right, and it was, so much so, that it sold well right to the end, and considering at the time, there were many cars added to that particular market, it is surprising that sales held up as well as they did, especially with the Grandad and various rusty Vauxhalls.

[@brobno9]

@@diecast-madness4645 No mystery or surprise there lol.... nobody else offered a V8...simple as that.... Interesting statement seeing as even the old Rover dealership in my town referred to the face-lift SD1 as the SD2. (When visiting for service items) But I guess you know better than Rover........

[@applejuice5272]

"The design looked as though it had fallen through a time portal from the 21st Century." *Jaguar XF has left the chat*

[@sandersson2813]

That makes no sense when the XF DID come from the 21st century.

[@richardwebb9532]

I owned a 2600 SDX that I inherited from my dad in the mid 1980's, had a few small problems, but one of the nicest driving cars I have ever driven.

[@paullovesey4863]

My uncle had a 3500 Vanden Plas - For the time, behind the wheel was like a pilots cockpit. Loved the weekend trips to the Norfolk broads.

[@christopherdean1326]

Did it "fail" ? It was in production for ten years, during which time they built over 300,000 of them, and it was voted "Car of the Year" in 1977. Some "failure"!

[@MrChris1316]

The horizon was car of the year as was the alfasud, see if you can find either one now, car if the year was the most bullshit prize ever

[@MrChris1316]

30000 a year is crap for a car in real terms in the USA that would be one trim level of say a caprice in one year

[@christopherdean1326]

@@MrChris1316 For a slightly upmarket car in the UK, 30,000 a year is pretty good going.

[@davidembacher1682]

The great thing about the SD1 is that as the cars disintegrated, they provided an abundant supply of used 3.5L V8 engines at the breakers’ yards. I picked one up for £50 for my ‘73 Range Rover after blowing up the bodged diesel conversion.

[@l.wayneausbrooks8066]

“He wanted something ahead of its time so took styling cues from the Ferrari 250 M and 365 GTB/4.” Not sure to which car “the Ferrari 250 M” is supposed to refer (250 MM? 250 LM?), but the car shown in the corresponding image is the Ferrari 250 GTE 2+2, designed by Pininfarina in the late 1950s.

[@Calilasseia]

In my case, I've been looking at this, and repeatedly asked myself how Rover avoided being sued for plagiarism, given that many of the lines of the SD1 were blatant rip-offs of the 365 GTB Daytona. Put photos of the two side by side, and you'll understand why I think this :)

[@user-wj5cx2zp7v]

My grandfather owned an SD1 back in the early 80s - he loved it until it started going wrong, and eventually he got tired of fixing it and sold it to a scrapyard. Of all the times I rode in it, I swear it would break down like 20% of the time.

[@garyfinch1025]

I remember the build issues well, as a technician at a BL dealer at that time. Had one that locked 3 doors and unlocked the fourth on the central locking. I had to re-wire it!

[@bigred8438]

The Rover SD1 always reminded me of a Citroen look alike. The P6 was in my book a stunner of a car and I really wanted to own in my forties, but alas you can't everything (or even a little it turned out)!

[@koganinja100]

I’ve had four different SD1’s a 1982 model in series 1 I bought in 1986 $12000 2nd hand , it had the central locking problem which I got fixed over here in Australia they called it debugging. Later got 3 different series 2 models. I had to get rid of my last one in 2005 it was off road at the time and I was living in a flat and dad was selling his house had no where to put it - it had been replaced by a 2006 Tiburon. Now years later Im looking at retiring in 18 months and may replace the Tiburon with another Rover this time to be properly redone and from ground up. Always wanted one in showroom condition if Im not driving it everyday I have a chance to do it. In 1980’s when I first got it my uncle had bought a p6 and at the time I said if I had a chance to buy a modern car with that engine I would so when I went to buy a car after my Holden Tarana was T-boned I had choice of a Datsun 280z or Rover SD1 and took the Rover fell in love with it unfortunately lost it to an engine fire. Always loved Rover v8 hatches - became a bit of an obsession, was considering a KIA Stinger but after watching these videos think I have caught the Rover bug again ….. All the best from down under Happy motoring Lewis Sydney 🇦🇺

[@ErectedGasCan]

Where i grew up a gentleman owns a bright red SD1, one of thw two i have seen live. As a child that car drew attention like any sports car or exotic, we stood five boys in a row and stared at it when it drove past us once, and we all put out a guess if it was a Ferrari or Lamborghini or Porche or whatever marque, but we settled on Ferrari as it was red. It is a later model with some type of bodykit, and looks very sporty. Shame there are not more of them on the roads, it is a good looking car.

[@Nickbaldeagle02]

When I was 20, a guy at work had a 3 litre SD1 with a custom paint job of which I was so jealous.

[@anthonylewis2080]

Strange how Clarkson and others criticize American Cars and British Leyland had to resort to General Motors - on this occasion, a Buick Engine? Short memories come to mind.

[@speakfreeley4473]

Though the MK2 SD1 was an improvement, it was still not a great deal to write home about. Today you see more P6s than SD1s on UK roads.

[@AryanKumar-fz2dm]

at 10:05, From 1985 to 1988 the company manufactured the Standard 2000, powered by a 2 L (2,061 cc) Standard four-cylinder engine borrowed from an old Standard Vanguard model (as also used in the Standard 20 commercial vehicle, based on standard atlas). Power was a mere 83 hp (62 kW) at 4,250 rpm. With a kerb weight of 1,335 kg (2,940 lb) and a four-speed manual transmission (it, too, from the Standard 20), top speed was a lowly 145 km/h (90 mph). Standard had not been able to acquire a license for the Rover SD1's more modern engines and thus had to rely on their existing technology. The 2000 featured higher ground clearance for the Indian market; but low quality, high price (118,717.61 pound sterling = £383,279.28), and low performance combined to end the car after only about three years.To top it all, a supposedly false claim about the fuel average of the car attributed to the company from the then Government caused an inquiry and resulted in the company getting into long-winding legal tangles. India had recently introduced fuel-efficiency standards, which Standard Motors were unable to meet. Most, if not all, of the Rover SD1 parts were bought up by a British classic car parts specialist supplier Rimmer Brothers in 2006 and shipped back to Britain.

[@Falconconcerts]

The 6 cylinder engines mentioned in the video are not V6s but 6 cyl. “In line”

[@billolsen4360]

Inline 6 is the best engine design

[@rustybearden1800]

Being a admirer of all British cars while growing up in America during the 70's, it was a tough row to hoe. There were scant glimpses of the occasional TRs, MGs, Austin Healys, Jags, Minis and Land Rover/Range Rovers but the admirable (and reliable) ones were fleeting. I was a Jag and Triumph/MG fan and eventually bought the ill fated 1980 Triumph TR8 convertible and I loved it - sure there were a few niggles here and there (mostly electronic) but overall a brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable car. I saw the Rover 3500 SDI in a local showroom while having my car serviced and I was smitten. There was nothing else even remotely like it, even in the crazy automotive world of the 70s. I've always lusted after one, especially the posh Vitesse and Vanden Plas models with the jewel like 3.5 litre V8 and gobs of futuristic space, comfort and luxury. They are rare as hen's teeth today and well preserved models in the US are far and few between. Great post as usual - you do an excellent job of telling the stories behind the cars!

[@spencerwilton5831]

Imagine what rover could have achieved if they weren't thwarted by the unions at every turn.

[@mike65ie]

Chronic unions and worse management. BLMC was an object lesson in dysfunction and chaos.

[@brit1066]

Spencer Wilton I had a brother in law ho worked for BMC during this period. Believe me it was NOT ALL THE FAULT OF THE UNIONS. But everyone loved the car it was fabulous but sadly out of my price range.

[@mistermatix8241]

As soon as I see the SD1, I immediately think of 2 things: 1. Rita, Sue and Bob too (watch the movie!) 2. Don't You Want Me music video by Human League. To be fair, it was a good looking car, no wonder the Police loved them

[@Myboxter98]

I owned this model in the US. I think it was 1980 a 3500 w Buick aluminum engine. Absolutely beautiful and very practical. However I don’t have the patience to list the problems. Windshield leaked. Lucas electric system would fail on the highway and car would stop. Headlights would simply go out along w wipers. I sold it to my mechanic because it spent half it’s life in his shop.

[@albertseabra9226]

In the middle 80s I wa studying in Boston. One day driving through Mass. Ave. nearby MIT a fabulous-looking Car was heading towards me -- it was the super Rover featured in this Vídeo. She appeared to be a 4 door Ferrari and the driver happened to be a Diplomat (the CC license plates were a give away). The vehicle was highly visible in that crowded Avenue. Beautiful, posh, looked extremely desirable, fascinating, covetable! A few days later I met the owner in a University party and mentioned the gorgeous looking CAR. Well, she is back in the shop once again. Great looking vehicle, but poorly put together. Problems are often taking place, this time the driver's window didn't close. I had to drive 100 miles at night with the window all the way down. And the temperature was below freezing! The car is brand-new, I can't wait to get rid of her -- however, the trade-value is very low. And the Range-Rover features the same type of problems. British cars are no longer reliable! Well, for a Diplomat he didn't mince his words... In sum, this story reflects the essence of your Vídeo. 1.000 thanks and warm regards Your subscriber and admirer, A,

[@allan1951]

I owned one of these, straight 6 version but, It was plagued with rust and reliability issues. If it had better built quality it would have been a winner.

[@rohitballal7819]

Back in India then this car was a very expensive and only elite could own this. I still remember I used to see this car with my mouth and eyes wide open. Truly amazing design today also it’s my favorite

[@OffGridInvestor]

My school principal had one. Vanderplas. I missed the bus a few times so he drove me to the bus exchange. It was BEAUTIFUL inside, very plush leather seats. I was surprised by the auto shifter. Big chrome button ON TOP the change. I think it was an 1980 or 1981.

[@RevStickleback]

The 3500 was the first car I ever drove - aged 10, up the runway at RAF Cranwell. It seemed like a good car (it was my Dad's car, obviously) but it rusted away very quickly. I still find it amazing how basic cars back then were, with even top of the range cars having the kind of trim you'd only see on basic models now.

[@AnthonyHandcock]

I had a V8 that was way beyond its life-span and it was an awesome car even if not much more than the engine, drivetrain and brakes worked. The only car I've ever owned that I could assume an average speed of 100mph+ on a long motorway run. This was before speed cameras were everywhere and there wasn't as much traffic but it still impressed the hell out of me.

[@richardhunt1384]

The Metropolitan Police stockpiled them and using into the mid 80's with registration numbers of D/ E. They also "down graded" Vitesse models to more Porper spec so the public did get annoyed that Police were driving round in top of the range models.

[@chef2224]

I drove a 3500 sd1 for 5 years, brilliant good looking car, but as you point out so many problems with finish and the problem of spares meant any garage work took twice as long waiting for spares

[@beatonthedonis]

Britain has some excellent car designers and engineers, but the greediest, most short-sighted and incompetent senior executives in the developed world. It also has a workforce that doesn't take work seriously.

[@covid6924]

True that, why try harder when you’re boss won’t give you a pay rise.

[@keno77]

It's really tragic, I never had a SD1 but I had a two p6 one the 2000TC and the other one a 3500 V8 and I loved them both and I didn't much problem with them,on the contrary they were quite reliable cars. I still miss the V8

[@patrickracer43]

No one: British workers: *checks watch* "would you look at the time, it's time to strike!"

[@alanchase7329]

I owned one for a year. It was a half and half car in that some parts were for a 1981 model and some for a 1982 model. Made ordering spares a pain. Reliability was also an issue. In the winter on icy mornings the central locking would chatter when the car was unlocked I assume due to contacts sticking in the locks.

[@madsteve9]

The SD1 failed for 3 main reasons. 1) The executive market like the 3 box saloon set up. They like a boot. They like to take there briefcase out of the boot. They like to take there Bag of Golf Clubs out of the boot. The designer thought he new best. Ford would later make this same mistake, with sales reps and the Ford Sierra Mk1. 2) After joining the EEC, Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W123)/C-Class (W201) and BMW 5-Series (E12/E28) could be purchased by companies for there execs instead of the only real UK alternatives the Ford Granada Mk2 Ghia or Vauxhall Carlton/Viceroy or larger Royale/Senator. Both the Rover P6 2000/22000/3500 and Triumph 2000/2500 were much loved, and were perfect for distinguishing the British Class system. (Snob Value) 3) It was built by British Leyland. In the post 1975 Ryder report, Austin and Rover executives finally got there chance for revenge, getting together with determination to kill off Triumph marque. Triumph was a sporting marque, championed by the incompetent Lord Stokes. Rover was a Luxury marque (a poor man's Rolls-Royce), which had been castrated by Sir William Lyons of Jaguar. Who along with Stokes had already killed off the Alvis (just behind Bentley in the snob stakes) and Riley (a sporting marque and a real threat to SS Jaguar in the 30's) marques. The internecine warfare amongst the various execs and managers, the lack of money for refinement of the engines and quality of fit. Plant foreman, who wanted an easy life, and just to get to retirement. The National Unions, and local shop stewards, many of them members of various Marxist/Communist/Leninist/Stalinist/Trotskyist groups,who were sympathetic to the USSR and may have engaged in deliberate economic warfare against the British state once British Leyland was nationalised. Walkouts and stopages, and good old fashioned Class Warfare. (Unlike West Germany & Japan, whose managers and workers pulled together in the same direction). The Workers. After Lord Stokes (who was a salesman) scrapped Piece Work, productivity fell dramatically. Over manning was rife. Pilfering was shocking. That's why you had to pay extra for a car in a Black or White paint job. And in the words of a worker at Ford Dagenham, they were "Lazy, Idle, 8@$t@rd$"

[@errcoche]

My dad had company Granadas during this period and I had serious Rover envy because of the looks and the Rover cachet. What a car it would have been if Ford had built it. You could tidy it up and sell it today based on those lines. My dad could have had a straight six version but he stuck with the Granadas - he probably talked with some of the other managers who had the Rovers and decided to pass.

[@crxdelsolsir]

Mismanagement As always workers and their wages were the ones that took the blame and seen as the solution to make the mismanagement better in the books.

[@seantaylor3558]

I was a transport manager in a big company. We had 20 cars including 2 of these. It was all we could do to keep those 2 on the road. Something went wrong every week. Super comfortable but awful gear box and desperate problems with electrics and all the pernickety bits a pieces. Drove me mad.

[@rolandburisch9489]

I'm afraid I have to disagree with your title, '...Rover fail?' It didn't fail; it was strikes and bad management that caused sales to fall, not the car itself. It won the International Car of the Year Award twice and it also won the Towing Car of the Year Award as well. Leyland couldn't keep up with the demand. I had the SDE 3500 for eleven years, the longest I've ever owned a car and I loved it endlessly, this in spite of spending every single weekend having to sort out the worst electrical system ever. Fortunately I'm an electronics engineer so I didn't have to spend a lot of money. I often used to say that I wished the electrical system had been made in Taiwan because if it had, it would have been an (even) better car. Otherwise it was fabulous and I had rubbernecks everywhere I went! I towed a caravan over the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, right up to the peaks where caravans are unheard of, 'Champagne Castle' - Google. I towed an 8 ton truck with a 5 ton trailer, fully laden, up a hill when the truck didn't have enough power. I still miss my Rover. I also miss the car I had before that, a Triumph 2500 injection MkII, another fantastic car, and before that a Triumph 2000 MKI. But the Rover 800 was a dud by all accounts. I wonder if we'll ever see an electric Rover....

[@lawrencedoyle9784]

Strikes did not delay the launch, poor management was the problem. When the new factory was opened in 1976 there was no workforce. A completely unskilled workforce was employed, with employees recruited who had never held a spanner and in many instances could not speak English. There was not enough engines and Range Rover production was stopped to a) reallocate engines made for the range rover and b) transfer a semi skilled range rover workforce to train a wholly unsuitable newly recruited workforce for the SD1. The SD1 was doomed from the start, with every car assembled needing hours of re-work after they came off the assembly line. They further extended the waiting list for the Range Rover by ceasing production to support the SD1.

[@keithstudly6071]

Sorry but you had an Oldsmobile photo in place of the Buick you intended to have. You get it half right because the Olds used almost the same V8. That would have been an Oldmosbile F85 and should have been a Buick Special or Skylark. They really had trouble producing good quality block castings in aluminum. In 1964 the engine was changed to an iron block and enlarged to 300 CID. A V6 version was also produced in iron and versions continued in production until 2008. No mention of Princess Grace's death while driving a Rover 3500 which could not have helped, though it was not the Rover's fault.

[@bjs7442]

I had a Rover 2300 . So you can guess I am not young. It was the worst car I have ever owned . After 14 months the engine packed up and had to be replaced even though I had reported excessive oil being burned . It was serviced the week before and I was stranded on Worcester bridge with my pregnant wife. I had to pay for anew engine. Rover refused to cough up as it was out of warranty and a month later the tail gate hinges broke and the tail gate fell off! I worked in the West Midlands and the unions at Rover killed the company . I ditched it and went over to an Opel Ascona . The quality was amazing.

[@geoffreymccarthy250]

Great vid. My grandpa had a yellow one although I rarely saw it. It was almost like a prized possession in the garage. Beautiful car. Suprised you didn’t mention the estate version they produced that ruined most of the amazing styling.

[@robfee2065]

I had a later 3500 SD1 brilliant, wonderful car, never had a problem with it did over 50000 miles, spacious, comfortable and a great ride. The only issue was its ability to go fast and the only time I got points on my driving licence.

[@michael_mouse]

... such a beautifully proportioned car... back in the day it was stunning to look at... even now it still looks great... it was a "nice face, shame about the legs"sort of car!

[@MrPantss]

I desperately wished my parents would have bought a 3500, but alas no. I did go out with my headmasters wife who had a 2600, she drover so fast and us kids loved it!

[@verdeboyo]

I absolutely enjoyed this Sir. My dad had a P6 in 'avocado' green and when the SD1 was released I remember how cool I thought the styling was. I didn't know how bad the production cars were tho. Thanks to the 'striking' British workforce and seriously bad senior management for the state of British made cars back then. As an adult now I drive nothing but German, Audi and Porsche.

[@marvindujardin463]

I hope the workers who sabotaged production are happily driving the competition now.

[@JackF99]

Really enjoyed the informative video. Can't say I was ever a big fan of the car- like all 5-door hatchbacks it has ungainly proportions from the side. I expect it shows up on zero lists of "the most beautiful cars of the 20th century".

[@michaellaforce9153]

I'm not sure they were regarded as a failure by people who owned them ,I owned two , first a V8S and then a 3500 Vanden Plas both of which I adored, and were trouble free...

[@peterjones596]

Ahem! If the SD1 was design cued by any Ferrari (it was), it was the Daytona! Also, the 2.4 litre turbo diesel was surprisingly quick and had an Italian boat engine in it. I know, my dad had one, and I took great delight in teasing him about it.

[@ruuman]

Man i always wanted one, i got the chrome sill plates and put them on my land rover when i was young

[@lorrynortheastguy4787]

I saw one of these in a rally that had about 1 too 2 foot cut out the middle it looked awesome and was I instantly thought they missed a trick here the designers could have done a short wheel version special addition, I never forgot it how well it looked

[@timpskihighbury8161]

I had the mk1 rover v8 and the the mk2 v8 the latter would regularly lock me in the car and none of the doors would open. But to be honest I loved it to bits 😊

[@RobSinner]

I bought a Rover Coupé just before pandemic and the actual crisis. Sold it for half the price I paid for it, I wanted to put some money and use it as a weekend car but that dream never came true. Hard times for young people...

[@stevegale2289]

great video love the sd1 had two 2600s and two 3.5s of which i still have the bonnet and tailgate in the garage just in case one day i can get my hands on one :) also i think rear light cluster 3.5 radiator and a break servo happy days not many left now though especially the vitesse the only one i really wanted:))))))))

[@Mark-jp9dz]

I owned one of these for a few years. Fabulous vehicle that with different efficient quality management would have owned the world. I loved mine, but my auto 3500 was very thristy around town.

[@fatninjafatninja9713]

had an old friend in bham, he had one and it was one of the coolest car i ever been in

[@Skudderable]

I had the 2600 auto model lovely car to drive only problem was the dam boot always filled with water when it rained, never did find where the water was coming in.

[@mattwright2964]

Sorry to be controversial but I thought both the P6 and the SD1 were a bit ugly and I thought that at the time. Maybe sort of futuristic but a bit ungainly, which weirdly reinforced the sense of unreliabelness when the quality was poor. BL just never seemed to think about the range of cars they had as a consistent design and engineering range. All the effort was dissipated and parts multiplied etc.

[@eddieconnor9352]

I used to see these in the showrooms rust everywhere wih zero miles on the clock. Thats why they failed.

[@steveellis6090]

A perfect example on how Unions destroy an industry and in the end closure. The UK once were at the top of the motoring world producing magnificent machinery. The V6 that was toted for the Triumph never happened, but were forced to use the inline version in most of the Leyland cars. At least two experimental V6 engines were made, one being based on a cut-down Rover V8 of about 2.6 L capacity, and another based on the actual P76 V8 motor ... Engine: 2.6 L E-Series I6 (Australia only); 4.4 L ... Designer: Giovanni Michelotti Production: 1973-1975; 18,007 produced Length: 192 in (4,900 mm)

[@CathodeRayTube99]

I think everything you've said is correct. Your message is that the SD1 could have been so much better! I had the 2000 model (it's performance wasn't that bad) but it was plagued with issues you mention. I even had to re-solder joints on one of the PCBs which clearly had not been made properly.

[@EdwinNew]

You mentioned Triumph V6 several times, but of course it was a straight six 😉

[@jamesclarkson3009]

Perhaps a little harsh to say it failed? 10 year production run Over 300000 sold Car of the year Beautiful design and v8 performance All british cars had faults and could have done better apart from possibly the mini.

[@ahmedriyazhaniff2420]

A beautiful video on this car.. Keep it up

[@keithammleter3824]

It's said that when GM sold the Buick alloy V8 tooling to Rover, it improved both brands. I was amused by the claim that Leyland pressured Lucas to cut costs. Lucas was always a shonky manufacturer anyway. Another factor in low sales: The Rover P5 was somewhat distinguished looking as befit its market of executives. The P6 was a pretty car that none the less looked like the more expensive car that it was. But the SD-1 was a plastically hatchback - a style that was becoming common as the ordinary wife's cheap shopping car. Not a style appropriate to a brand that sold pricey cars to executives. They must have been smoking some good weed. But then Leyland switched to selling Hondas (an upmarket version of the cheap & nasty Civic) rebadged as Rovers - which made buying a "Rover" completely pointless. They must have been smoking more good weed to try selling V8's in America - Americans would have been well aware that GM got rid of their Buick alloy V8 due to too many failures - it just didn't meet US durability standards.

[@Niinsa62]

Very nice video, thanks a lot! I really like the looks of the SD1, it looked modern long after it was introduced. Perhaps not the interior, but the outside.

[@Grid56]

As a kid i lusted after a v8 3500 vitesse. Obvs i didn't understand the nuances that shoddy workmanship (no pride in their work) and endless strikes would have on this beautiful car. Still looks good compared to todays computer designed offerings.

[@grahamsibbert2412]

This wasn’t a dream car of my childhood. I owned one, sorry 2. The best of Rover after the P100. It was a disaster when this country allowed the fall of Rover. If I had the money I would buy another SDI and use it, mine was an auto too. Many many wonderful miles driven. I read so many complaints, blown head gaskets, rusty body duff suspension. I never had any of those problems. I always looked after it and being a mechanic I knew what to do or what could be left for a later date. I sold my last one because our dear government were making it very hard to keep our older cars on the road ( rather like today really) I now drive a Fiat that I bought after part Xing my Rover. Still got it but it’s 13 years old now and again I run into the government trying to force older cars off the road. Bring back this Rover.

[@hackdaniels7253]

Confused by the Ferarri images you chose, and how the SD1 has any styling cues from the 250M. The finished article looks a lot like a GTB/4 Daytona (which you didn't show), but the initial renderings you are talking about look more like Harris Mann's wedge Princess.

[@TheKnightstar13]

The design took cues from the FERRARI DAYTONA.

[@severnsea]

A real shame that the constant strikes ruined the British motor industry. I had a used 2600 in the early 80's, great car and I don't remember ever having any issues with it. It's one of the few cars I've had that I can remember with any fondness. And I still think those wheels were the best ever, long before alloys were a thing.

[@RossBayCult]

One of my most favorite cars of all time along with the Citroën CX.

[@kilogolfbravo9567]

The resemblance of the SD1 and Australian Leyland force 7 is no mistake.

[@oscarcatshoe]

When I saw one of these in a rover showroom in Surbition one day I must have one well I bought one what a mistake ,I sold my super Ford Cortina 2000EAuto thinking the change would be O.K. Wrong. As you said there were supply issues right. There were no gaskets on the back light clusters so when it rained at a reasonable speed the water got sucked into the boot could I get the gaskets impossible. That year the summer was very hot went abroad to work.On return the the paintwork on the horizontal surface was like crazy paving wrong paint mix. Had a couple of P6s terrific cars no problems. Also Triumph 2500PI not bad usual metering problems quick car liked it. Shame.

[@MOOSEDOWNUNDER]

I remember we called them Rover fastbacks. Coppers had them.

[@sirrob6017]

I really liked this car. I think you can fit the Rover V8 into a Morris Minor.

[@hallquiche]

"This is a Ferrari Daytona, designed to look like a Rover SD1"

[@pauldodds8312]

That v6 looks very much like a straight 6 to me!

[@jaguar3248]

I had one and yes it was good to look at, but trouble was you looked at it and something either broke or fell off.

[@NGMonocrom]

Yup, a fantastic car that the Public craved in droves. Should have been a future classic and a massive success, were it not for the miserable failure of both Management and the Workers.

[@wordie1111]

The 2.3 and 2.6 engines I am sure were straight 6 ,not v6 ! I maybe wrong but I helped my dad in 1989 engine swap a x reg sdi that was a deffo straight 6 and it was either a 2300 or a 2600 I’m sure they did a 2000 2.0 4cyl as well

[@stuartkseels]

I do not believe that I will ever understand the hate for the Panamera! I think it's a fabulous looking thing! It's lie the 911 has FINALLY grown up.

[@marcg1686]

The Gen 1 Panamera was perhaps not the best looking Porsche. The current generation looks good though.

[@bobeden5027]

Blake 7, I used to dream of Servalan! hahaha

[@blxtothis]

I ran a 3500S in the 80s, a company car which was about two years old when I inherited it. The worst paint I’ve ever seen on any car of any age, the bonnet was not so much orange peel as sandpaper, the vinyl roof was peeling and tatty, it didn’t go down well when I had to swap my glorious Citroën CX for this mutt although I loved the V8 engine which didn’t have the exhaust note it deserved. The design and V8 were the best things about the car and it was as quick as it looked but when driven with gusto on winding ,bumpy and cambered back roads was a bit of a handful. It also rattled and the interior looked like a ten year old car, if only it was built like a BMW, we’d all have one. Triumph V6???. Was that a motorbike engine, as all the 6 cylinder engines were were all inlines, the only V configuration engines used by Triumph were the small V8s in the Stag! Big Error!

[@barryrudge1576]

The Vitesse and Vanden plas models were excellent but by then the rot had set in.