Rover 3500, 1977
Chassis No.: 45131375E Engine No.: 45122839D Registration: RUL 968R The P6 was announced on 9 October 1963, just before the Earls Court Motor Show. The vehicle was marketed first as the Rover 2000 and was a complete ‘clean sheet’ design intended to appeal to a larger number of buyers than earlier models such as the P4 it replaced. The 3500 was introduced in April 1968 (one year after the Rover company was purchased by Triumph's owner, Leyland) and continued to be offered until 1977. The manufacturer asserted that the light metal V8 engine weighed the same as the four-cylinder unit of the Rover 2000, and the more powerful car's maximum speed of 114 mph as well as its 10.5-second acceleration time from 0-60 mph were considered impressive, and usefully faster than most of the cars of this price and specifications. In comparison, tested by Motor magazine in the issue published on 20 April 1968, it achieved a maximum speed of 117 mph, 0-60 mph in 9.5secs, with a standing quarter mile in 17.6 seconds. We are informed that this late example was used by the diplomatic protection wing of the Metropolitan Police force and retains its two-tone sirens, lights and switches as well as being presented with various Police paperwork including incident notebooks and even the Radio Telephone instruction book. This rare example is in good order throughout and has been dry stored during our vendors tenure. Offered to auction with a V5c registration document and various bills and receipts this piece of automotive history deserves further inspection https://www.historics.co.uk/auction/lot/?lot=3343&au=71