Aimed straight at the new market for smaller, lighter, more efficient and generally more nimble executive cars, the P6 – and its BMC bedfellow the Triumph 2000 – created a new so-called ‘2-litre market’ which became so popular and which is still with us today, albeit dominated by German brands. It’s a shame that its maker has perished along the way but the P6 remains a high point of the Rover story and has the distinction of being the last car to be developed by an independent Rover concern.
BACKGROUND
Since its origins in the 1800s, Rover had gained a reputation for producing soundly engineered cars which may have been conservative in style but which displayed great depth of engineering quality. Jump into a P4 or P5 saloon and the quality of the cars shines out immediately, with little features like the chromed ball-and-socket linkage for the P4’s gearshift letting you know that here was a car produced by a company with engineers at the helm. Rovers of this era had a quality which newcomers in the market Jaguar simply couldn’t match – look behind the dash or under the trim on a typical ’50s Jaguar and you’ll see that the money was spent on the bits you could see and feel, whereas Rover made sure the hidden bits were just as nicely finished.
Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Classic Car Mart.
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Denne historien er fra January 2020-utgaven av Classic Car Mart.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
3D Technology To Preserve Classics?
Traditionally, the unavailability of a critical component has had major repercussions for owners of historic vehicles, putting the brakes on a restoration project or even forcing a historic vehicle off the road.
UPCYCLING
Two British-made modern classics which made credible sporting saloons despite their unlikely origins.
NICHE WORK
A crossover model before the term had even been invented, the original Range Rover could well be the perfect multi-purpose classic.
CLASSIC REVIVAL
Fancy an MGB without the welding and SUs? The much modernised RV8 should fit the bill.
1980s FLEET FAVOURITES
We profile a line-up of popular mid-sized '80s company cars ranging from the ubiquitous Sierra and Cavalier repmobiles through to the king of the company car park, the BMW 3-Series.
Solid State
Although a well-preserved Volvo 120 Series ‘Amazon’ makes a good choice as an occasional everyday classic driver, the range can be confusing. We play the numbers game and reveal some of the Amazon’s main foibles.
Round-Up - 1990s Jaguars
Following Ford’s acquisition of an independent Jaguar in 1989, the Coventry-based luxury car maker underwent a transformation that led to the introduction of a range of capable models that today are reasonably affordable as well as being fun to own and drive.
Myth And Rumour
The Stag may have suffered a poor reputation when new, but in the 21st century it’s one of Britain’s most popular classics – and justifiably so. We take a look at the pros and cons of investing in Triumph’s sporting flagship.
The Full English
An English-built Citroën meets English wine as we enter a slightly bizarre parallel universe.
Tailgate Revolving Doors
Paul Guinness looks back at his experiences from 35 years ago, when he helped to arrange a club stand at the first-ever Classic Motor Show at Birmingham’s NEC