Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ellis]

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I arrived home from school on the bus one Thursday afternoon in November 1967 and saw parked in front of my father's chemist shop a new Rover 2000, FJC 27F in white.

I scowled. He had part exchanged the dark blue Triumph 2000, EEY 987D, against it and I was not impressed. I had liked the Triumph with it's light blue leather interior and the lovely engine note. At the time I had to concede that the rear seat of the Triumph was a little cramped but the wood trim was nice and classy, lacquered elm veneer IIRC.
I scowled again when I saw the Formica wood imitation trim of the Rover. The red leather seats were a redeeming feature.

I was frankly disappointed at my father's new car. The FD Vauxhall Victor had just been introduced with the promise of the 6 cylinder Ventora in the Spring of 1968 and it was one of those I had tried all ways for him to wait for.

The first thing I remembered about the Rover 2000 was the smell of the new interior, not a BMC "smell" but different, rich and plush. Over the next few months my opinion changed. The rear seat was more comfortable, the doors closed with a deep "thunk" and I liked the strip speedo - just like the one in a previous Vauxhall Velox. I remember the car's tendency to "roll" on corners and objects sliding on the dashboard shelf. An aftermarket tailored rubber mat from the Exchange and Mart cured that.

That was forty six years ago.

The first Rover 2000 in the area in November 1963 had been bought by a doctor friend of my parents. It was a dark grey car with a red interior with a non suffix JFF registration number which he later traded in against a new 2000TC in early 1967.

I drove my father's Rover 2000 a few times around a local caravan park but it was not until 1979 that I had a "proper" drive in one. A local farmer had passed away leaving his 1968 2000 automatic - a dark green example with a beige interior. 42000 miles and cherished which a friend of mine bought for £250!

What intrigues me today is why all P6s are so modestly priced. An acquaintance de-entombed his father's very early, one owner P6 3500 two years ago. A January 1968 model in green with a black interior with 56k miles, he had the devil's own job to sell it. It eventually ended up on Ebay and took several attempts to sell. Less than £400 eventually.

The P6 is a magnificent car but why is it not valued more highly?

I find it puzzling that a Mark 1 Ford Escort or Mark 1/2 Cortina reach more money.

Why?[/img]
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1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
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[Rick]

I'm surprised how little they go for too, I imagine an early 3500S would be a fun (if slightly thirsty) buy.

RJ
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[mikeC]

I think you'll find current prices for the Triumph 2000 and Rover 2000 are very similar. The silly prices paid for Escorts and Cortinas is solely because they are popular for historic rallying where people are prepared to spend vast amounts on a competitive car - fine by me, I'd sooner spend my money on a decent car!

[badhuis]

Isn't that the case with all postwar Rovers? P4 P5 P6 SD1 - all advertised for silly little money, even in good condition.
The same can be said for all Triumph Saloons.
Maybe it is the fate of being a Saloon. For a second, hobby classic car, people want something sporty I think. Not something practical with four doors.

[JC T ONE]

Very nice story

my Father did what you would have wanted yours to do = he had the Triumph 2.5 PI.
later he bought the Ventora 3.3 L with manual & overdrive.
Both were very fast cars

I agree on the P6 price, those are nice cars, and cheap compaered to other classic,s


Jens Christian
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[BigJohn]

I first drove a 2200tc P6 in 1977 and swore I would never own one. 4 Bobbies in a P6, the shortest being 6'1", there was no room in the back and I had to drive it with legs like a cellist. We also had a Triumph 2500tc and a Holbay Hunter Gt driven over a 4 week course. The Triumph was far better four up through Snowdonia, the Hunter was better in town and urban areas as it had lower gearing, the Rover seemed best cruising on the motorway. Overall I much preferred the Triumph.
So what did I buy 3 yrs. ago? A P6b, I now need an auto with PAS. As a 2+2 I find the front seats sublimely comfortable, and only the cost of fuel stops me driving it daily. The club support is excellent, any part is available, and as long as you buy a good base unit everything is bolted on. I bought the car on it's condition, I was looking for a Triumph. Do I regret buying it? No, it's a car that can just bimble along in comfort, or, if you are aware of its body roll, a real hooligan if the mood takes you. I am mystified by its cheapness to buy, but that as said earlier, seems to be a Rover thing. P4/5's are a bargain at the moment.
Possibly with the P6 is it's non conventional engineering frightens people off. If I ever find the man that designed the back brakes I will snap his pencils! But that is only because my disability makes working on them nearly impossible, and trying to explain the front suspension to someone who is not an engineer is difficult.