
Rover P6 3.5 V8 1971
Heidi’s granddad had a Rover P6 from new and she said that she would like one by the time she was 50. We saw the car advertised on eBay but we had the Cortina 1600E and the Austin 1100 Vanden Plas to sell first. Heidi sold the Austin, but the Rover wasn’t sold.
The Rover came up for a second time but we still hadn’t sold the Cortina, and when it came up for the third time, Heidi told me to buy it even though we still had the Cortina - who would argue with her? We bought it, sight unseen, then drove to North Torrington in Devon to collect it. Heidi loved her car and let me drive it occasionally, if I’d been good!
The car had the Rover V8 3.5litre, with a 390 Holley carburettor fitted with a bug-catcher scoop. It also had spiders and webs in the paintwork. It was designed by Spen King, Gordon Bashford and David Bache.
LIFE ON MARS
This 1971 Rover P6 SDX 119J was used in Life on Mars, Series 2 Episode 4 'Suburban Swingers'.
John Simm (Sam Tyler) and Liz White (Annie Cartwright) are seen driving up to a party posing as Tony and Cherie Blair.
Engine
Aluminium block
8 cylinders OHV
Bore: 88.9mm, Stroke: 71.12mm
Displacement: 3,528cc
Valves:OH 16, hydraulic lifters
Compression ratio: 10.0 to 1
Carburettors: Two SU HS6 1.75in
Power output: 160.5bhp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 203 lb/ft at 2,600rpm
Construction
Non-stressed steel outer panels bolted on unitary steel body with safety cage
Transmission
3-speed automatic B/W 35 and
later B/W 65
Brakes
Power assisted
Front: discs, Rear: inboard disc
Steering
Rack and pinion
Suspension
Front: Independent coil,
anti-roll bar
Rear: de Dion tube suspension
Wheels
5 stud, 16in pressed steel
6.50 x 14in radial tyres
Dimensions & Weight
Wheelbase: 103.3in
Track - front: 53.4in
Track - rear: 51.7in
Overall length: 179.8in
Overall width: 66in
Overall height: 55.7in
Ground clearance: 6.1in
Turning circle: 35.8 ft
Fuel tank: 15gals
Kerb weight: 26.3cwt
Production 1968-77
81,057
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