Yet he claims the Renault and Austin were the first 5 door hatches, completely ignoring the Kaiser Traveler from over a decade earlier. Audience knows more about obscure cars than Jason
My dad was a pursuit drive for the Metropolitan Police in the 80's and 90's - these cars always arrived in 'poverty spec' for interior, but the engines were far from normal. This was at a time the police had their own mechanics and garages and BOUGHT rather than leased vehicles. The mechanics always fitted uprated suspension and brakes, the engines came as a 3.5Litre twin plenum EFi from the factory but they'd all get bored out, higher lift cams and custom exhausts fitted, at least for vehicles doing pursuit jobs. They were so popular that in 1986 when Rover announced they were discontinuing the SD1's, Police forces all over the UK placed MASSIVE orders to keep their fleets going for a few more years. Even in the 90's, these cars were still around. They have legendary status here for sure :)
Hi , also the Met bought up , I did see 15 of those sun a lock up whilst I worked for the Met, also they bought up van den plas models , the public complained so our work shop removed the badges . Regards mark
@@marcusjosefsson4998 they went from the SD1 to the twin cam Sierra sapphires - ford was very large supplier to the force. Then it became a "service" and the volvo t5 came in.
Utterly marvelous video and story telling. I was glued to my seat with a big smile across my face. In around 1978/9 I had a pal who worked for Leyland who visited me one lunchtime and said, 'Come outside, I've got something to show you, but you can't tell anyone.' It was a Rover SD1 with a prototype DIGITAL dashboard. There were admittedly wires everywhere, but it was like looking at spaceship technology.
Great review. I was the Technical Editor of Motor magazine in the UK when the SD1 was launched. We had high hopes but low expectations, a skepticism only enforced when I wound down the driver's window at the press launch and the glass dropped out of its channel and disappeared. But it was powerful, remarkably light and spacious and, by the standards of the time, exemplary handling. So when I was invited to be one of the factory drivers of the racing versions of the SD1 in the 1980 British Saloon Car Championship I jumped at the chance. It was a challenging year developing the car as was 1981 too. The Vitesse resulted from lessons learned in those two years, including the massive rear spoiler and the fuel injected engine: this is the one to get (if you can). The irony is that I now have a 1992 Morgan Plus 8 with that same V8 and gearbox. And there is a cottage industry in the UK with all sorts of solutions to liberate horsepower and better drivability from the Rover V8, including the Range Rover and all the Land Rover variants.
…and you raced it well too Rex in the British Touring Car Championship! Great to see you adding insights from someone who has such experiences! My father bought a Vitesse. Win on Sunday sell on Monday…not least as it replaced a 2.8 Capri!
My dad had one of these. It was his dream car. After a couple of years it was his nightmare car. It spent most weeks at the garage. In the end they told him that they were not able to completely fix all of it's problems, despite years of trying.
The Vitesse may be the one to get but by now impossible to find a nice one for sale. When I sold mine early 2022 from the Netherlands I literally got people from Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Austria, The United States, Spain and even England that were interested. Eventually someone from the UK bought it even though mine was Left hand Drive since there's aren't any available anymore, even in the UK.
Funny, the same lad also said it's like Land Rover making a sports car (in response to the introduction of the Porsche Cayenne) when Land Rover did in fact make a sports car the 3500/SD1.
A friend accidentally bought a second (or third, or fourth) hand Vitesse Twin Plenum (as we called the race homologation version). They were unbadged on the outside, and he thought he was just buying a regular Vitesse, until he came to service it and the air filter he bought didn't fit. He drove back to the garage and said "Oiy, that's the wrong air filter"... Confused parts guys comes out to look at the car and my friend said the guys jaw basically hit the floor, as he'd never seen a TP in the flesh, and then explained to my friend what he had. And so began that SD1's journey from sensible car, to stealth hooligan. Much fun was had. It did sound amazing with the straight through exhaust system 😁
My dad owned a series of these. At one point he was tired of the electrical failures and took it back to the dealer, who simply took his car in and gave him a brand new replacement SD1. That car actually ran well, it was one of the last ones made.
@@Luton-Mick This still happens to this day, in a way. Manufacturers finally get things perfect in the last model or release final models with topped specs that are actually lust-worthy. A real shame.
Living in the uk and owning a 1968 triumph vitesse the British motoring industry created some fantastic cars. It still makes me sad how this was destroyed by short sighted management and workers. SD is iconic and this video excellent.
My dad had the gold vitesse UK X-reg from 1983-4. It was fast! I remember the comfy but quite sporty biege velvety seats with built-in ashtrays in the door covered in the same velvety trim. I was 7 and loved it because it was huge - It was great getting to "sit in the front" over my older sister, and my father would always put his foot down on straight stretches of open road. It was breathtakingly quick, and I used to talk about this car a lot at primary school. It left a lasting impression on me! Happy days & a great video. Thank you.
In 1988, I bought an 5 year old ex-Kent Police 3500 SD1 which had been maintained very well despite the 84000 miles on the clock at the time. The motorway divisions upgraded the brakes, modified the unreliable brake master and slave cylinders and the usual rust issue had just about started on the rear tail gate door. Despite all its pitfuls, to this day it was one of the most memorable cars in terms of enjoyment I ever owned. Just the sound of the V8 and its styling always managed to make you smile despite the damp patches on the floor, poor ventilation and its temperamental electrics. It was a joy to see that mint example you shown off in the video. Great memories and still one of my favourite cars of all time!
I had an ex Kent police Rover p6 3.5litre. Very nice. Pulled up to Brands Hatch one time and saw the police heading my way. V nervous until they said " I remember this car"
I had a 2600 SD1 for a couple of years and loved it. Let it go too early. It's the only car I remember with any real fondness. I don't remember having any issues with it at all and there's very few cars I can say that about, but on the other hand most cars back then had their gremlins and just about every classic car ever talked about has a list of known issues. Fantastic car, felt very luxurious, superb design that I don't think looks particularly dated even now, and very underrated. I particularly liked the design of the 5 "spoke" black and chrome wheels, still look great today amidst the sea of boring "me too" lookalike alloy wheel designs you get these days.
Great video highlighting all that was good and sadly what was bad with the SD1. They were around when I was about 10 in the uk and were iconic back in the day for about 10 minutes until the build quality was seen. Still if I had the cash and came across a barn find I’d like to restore one.
Back in 1998, this was my first car - in this exact color (aquamarine). Paid the equivalent of $400 for it at the time - absolutely loved it. About 15 years ago I spotted it parked up on the street, fully restored and repainted.
@@blankname8553 in the UK the number plate stays with the car for life. You can replace it with a "private" plate, but few people do, so it's common for a vehicle to keep its number forever, and as a driver you're generally expected to know your number plate, and it's one of the common things the cops ask you if they pull you over. I remember several of mine, despite the vehicles having been scrapped 20 years ago!
I love these cars. My dad had 3 of these in 1984 when I was 5, a 2.0 manual, a 2.6 auto vitesse and a 3.5 vanden plas. I remember he took the 2.6 engine to work at Michelin, borrowed a few machines and made it a 2.72 litre. He then put twin exhausts down the side like the AC Cobra. Burnt your leg every time you got out but man did it sound good. He also taught me to drive in an Austin Mini at the age of 10. I miss that man every day.
I saw a Rover 3500 for the first time in Amsterdam last week, guy owns it 23 years now, looked in perfect condition, I was stunned when I saw it. What a beautiful design!
I was a 19 year old American stationed in England back in 1988 and 89. Bought a used ‘85 model and it was one of my favorite vehicles ever! Never had a single fault with it, had no idea how lucky that apparently was, lol!
@@davidfarmer2049 There was a Geico office on the USAF base I was stationed at, the policy was pretty expensive, but much cheaper than the quote for the left hand drive, 6.6 liter, 77 Trans Am I wanted to ship over from the US!!! Lol, the insurance premiums on that per year would have been more than I paid for the car, hahaha.
The unreliable part was mostly Chinese whispers, I owned 2, my dad owned one , one of his mates had one and my uncle had one, all were reliable, only real weak point was the lucas points and coil for the engine but they were cheap and easy to replace if they did fail.
@@davidfarmer2049 when i was 18 back in same year (1988) had ford capri 2.0s as 1st car insurance was about £280 a year TPF&T was affordable then ( even though it was prob 2 weeks pay ) ... if you didnt have the money to insure a "bent hand written 30 day cover note " was only a £10 so you could get the tax disc... you could even produce to the police on a 7 day wonder .. this will only make sense to those same age as me
@@bespincustompropsbombarta8300 Pretty sure the engines were bulletproof, weren't they fitted with the rover V8 that is one of the best engines ever built? Agree on the electrics side, think thats what let the uk car industry down. Still does if my 2007 defender is anything to go by, and perhaps build quality and an unwillingness to make them better ha ha.
In India, we got this SD1 rebadged as Standard 2000, with a paltry 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 83 hp and was mated to a 4-speed gearbox. It was in production for only 3 years (1985-88) before the Indian government caught them lying about the car's fuel consumption and kicked them out of the country. It rusted so badly that you can't find one now. With all its flaws, when I first saw this car somewhere in the mid-90's, it was love at first sight, and it still is! ❤
I dunno... for me, he comes off as a bit smug, with an inflated opinion of his own sense of humor. Did you see the recent thing he did with Jay Leno on the Sciroco II? He was trying SO HARD to show Leno that he was funny that it was uncomfortable to watch. I think Catchpole, Harris, Metcalf, the Number 27 guy, and their ilk are all much better than Camisa.
My dear old Dad always had a Rover. The 2000 series and the 3500 series. I still remember how proud he was of them when I was a kid. And I have to admit the nostalgia and love of the car is still with me now.
I bought a 1980 SD1 in Santa Barbara California about three years ago after spotting it rotting in someone’s driveway. Had to have it. Got it back on the road basically and then had to sell it but sold it to someone who drove it all the way across the country successfully and is planning to ship it back to England soon. check out the magazine Practical Classics for the whole story about that drive which happened about a year ago. I could tell this was special. I was working on it and hope that it gets the full restoration. It deserves. Not enough of these kicking around.
So nearly bought one of these a couple of decades ago. Always loved the look of them. I was doing the walk-around when I went to check under the front wing arch for rust and a chunk of it and the paint came away in my hand. Looked at the dealer with an, "I'm not paying for it," look and went on my way. I now own a 3500 in full Triplex racing livery. Beautiful thing. Sits on a shelf next to my James Bond Lotus Esprit.
Superb and fair insight into SD1. My father had the 2600S here in the UK. Great to look at, quite fast and good to drive but atrocious build quality. The car of shattered dreams. Showed car buyers the dire state of UK motor manufacturing under Leyland and why Japanese mgmt & tech, which came via Honda, was so badly needed.
We had one, quite reliable too, effortless cruising in it, sitting at 110mph on the A9 heading north with another SD1 3500 in front and a Jag XJS in front of that. We had been getting a load of stuff in Glasgow and were on our way back to near John o' Groats, rear seats were folded flat and loaded up with lots of tinned goods from the cash n carry. As one the 3 cars pulled out to overtake a MGBGT on a dual carriageway section and went past it like it was sitting still, I as passenger and my father driving I looked round and seen the driver of the MG hunkering down and then catching up with us, he stuck glued to our tail for a couple of minutes and then slowly drifted back, we were cruising at the top speed of the MG, made me smile and the SD1 was so smooth you would hardly know you were moving at warp speed. Later we went to trade it in for a SD1 2600, dad drove the 2600 about 100meters to the nearest roundabout and was going to take it back to the garage as it really was not in the same league as the 3500, but I persuaded him to let me drive it too and sure enough it really was not the same car, the dealer was standing on the forecourt with the keys ready to hand back to dad and he said "As soon as I seen you had a 3500, I knew you would not take the 2600" Edit: I now have a MG ZT 260, basically a Rover 75 with a Mustang V8 engine and rear wheel drive, it has been supercharged to 400bhp :)
@@ridefast0 It was not that the 2600 is gutless, it was so unrefined compared with the 3500. The 2000 to 2600 had a completely different suspension set up than the 3500, it was harsh and fatiguing in the 2600, the couple of miles we drove the 2600 took a lot more effort than the 300 miles we had just driven in the 3500. The 3500 was an easy car to drive and to drive fast too, it kept it's composure no matter how hard you pushed it.
@@davidfarmer2049 I've nothing against MGBs or even the MGBGT. I had a MGA a very long time ago and I used to get a MG TF135 as a loaner when my MG ZT 260 went in for servicing 🚗
Back in the late 80's, while I was stationed in Germany, I had a 1978 model. Absolutely loved it. Never had a mechanical break down. The rust was a big problem.
Saw my first SD1 on its launch day in 1976. It looked like something from the future and I instantly fell in love with it. When I rented one I couldn't believe how brilliant it was. Eventually I bought my own. Such a lovely car to drive. The 3500 was exquisite and the 2600 was wonderful too.
My first car too. Bought a '77 3500 in 1982; cheap because of the poor quality reputation. Wonderful car to drive and had some great times in UK and Europe. Quality was pretty bad and I learned a lot about repairing cars in a short time. Later changed it for an '82 model which was better quality although still needed work from time to time. Great driving experience and loved the V8.
There was a guy racing one of these at the end of year meeting at Aldo Sribante circuit in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1987 abouts. It was entered into the days racing pamphlet as a Chevro. Like as in stick proper 7.3 Liter V8 motor into the Rover to make it go a bit faster. It did very well in the modified saloon class coming first in two heats. In the afternoon and a few spectator beers later race managements opened the track to all comers class. Now here was the 7.3L Chevro racing a 1.6L open wheeler (think they were formula Ford or VW) Chevro would take about 10 car lengths down the main straight and still end up getting smoked by the 1.6L open wheeler in lap times. It was just beautiful to watch - epic day
My Dad was marketing lead on this car, (and the later Sterling). Informative as ever content... He had the Vitesse prototype for a number of months. Good memories all round.
Revelations is such a good series, and Jason is one the best out there. Only he could make a 20 minute video about the SD1 so watchable.. This was so well put together.
Half of the Jason’s audience here to enjoy his sound engineers amazing work at the end. Look at those equipments in the car and top class sound that you can hear every bit of engine rumbles and shifter clicks. Amazing work. Big kudos!
I've never smiled ear to ear through an entire video before, let alone for a car I've literally never heard about. Thank you Jason, ans the team that made this video possible. You are all national treasures!
I bought a six year old used model the experience was both the best and the worst. The car drove fantastic on a long run did surprisingly good MPG and you could load it up to the hild which I did and it drove and braked superbly. Unrivaled comfort and a huge semi-shooting wagon estate, and it was reliable but the car simply fell to pieces with rust and I had to scrap it after only a few years. Yet I still love this car. Thanks for the comments from other viewers and a cracking you tube video very well done and so entertaining! and for me so nostalgic.
Great video. I had an SDX, as they were called in South Africa. It was a 1978 model 2600. I got it for my 21st birthday. I loved it. However, it rusted like crazy, especially in Cape Town, where I grew up. Unfortunately, it blew a conrod out the side of the engine one Friday night. Luckily I found a new engine at a mechanic right next door to where I worked at the time and fixed it myself. I then resprayed the whole car and sold it the day before I left Cape Town, bound for London. I then bought a Rover 820e which I loved as well. I went all over Europe in it. I only had to sell it as a Rover dealer messed it up during a service which allowed water to leak in through the airvents! Great video, brought back many memories.
😂😂😂 you valve bouncer 😂😂😂.... Yeah those Leyland RSA cars used such poor quality sheet metal due to the embargo on RSA'S Govt they would rust to nothing within a year
My Mom had a Silver Van Den Plus manual and she diced every available dude at every traffic light that was willing. She was in her mid 50's then.... good memories. But, the electric sunroof was impossable to open or close when the headlights was on. Power steering pump to be replaced every year basically.
I desperately wanted this car, and went into a Jaguar dealer that had listed a used one, that sold the week before. The salesman correctly diagnosed me as a penniless tire-kicker -- at first. But something I said came across as "well, maybe a Jaguar would do" and he sat up straight and started answering my questions. He was right the first time.
Fantastic footage at the end of Jason ragging on his own car, love it. Legendary engine that served in many cars over the years, and the default hot rod engine of choice for english car enthusiasts for many years.
Somehow, one or two must have slipped by without any of the issues mentioned in this video. My father was so fortunate. His SD1 (we just called it Rover 3500 in Holland) ran fine for years. Only the rear window developed a bit of leaking, inherited from the Range Rover because they used the same glue or something. And after 7 years, the fuel pump had to be replaced.
I had a 1980 Rover 3500. It had a 5 speed. I thoroughly enjoyed driving it. I enjoyed everything about it. I also had a Sterling 827SLi. 5 speed hatchback. Bought it new. Drove it. Loved it. Piled miles on it. Enjoyed everything about it. Likely the best driving car I’ve ever owned. (Owned and own many) The SLi had sooo many cool features too.
God, I drove an 820 across Belgium in a nightmare run in heavy rain, fully-loaded (with passengers and luggage). Thought I'd die before getting to Germany. Fast, OK i a straight line, but long as a train and just as manouverable. Front-wheel drive, wasn't it ? Just had to twitch the steering wheel with the power on and it lost the rear end.
In the UK the top luxury 800 was called the Rover Sterling and only available in auto as a saloon/sedan, they did a flagship manual hatchback model that was called the "Vitesse" however you could also get a manual 827 in both body styles while less equipped they were slightly faster due to the weight reduction, the UK police forces loved them!
@@Luton-Mick I had an auto 827 Vitesse so Vitesse's weren't manual only, it seems. Although it being LHD and originally registered in Germany might have something to do with it. Was my first car, bought off a mate (who's dad bought it new when stationed in Germany) for £150!! One of the most 'interesting' cars I've owned. Mainly for all it's electrical gremlins 😲and also because it was white, and I drove it like I stole it, so people on the motorway would see me coming up fast and hurriedly get out the way thinking I was the cops. Only to see me waving at them from the 'passenger' seat as I hoofed past 'em K&N filter making loads of noise 🤣🤣
I had a 1989 827SLi. Great riding car. Very much like a Jaguar in that regard. And, at 20 years old, it had also had dodgy electrics, brittle plastics and deteriorating materials. What doomed the car is that very few parts were availble both in the US and in the UK - most of the UK ones had long been scrapped or crushed. It was an awesome looking car.
2:18 POLAND MENTIONED 🇵🇱😮. Also, as a Pole I always thought it's just a conciedence that they sound the same and I never knew the origin of this word, thanks for letting me know!
I've had 6 Rovers, 4 SD1 2x V8 3.5, 1x 2.6, 1x 2.0. Also a 3.5 V8 P6 back in 1981 and in the early 90's we had a Rover 827 SLi. I loved my Rovers, people moaned about them back then, but each of them was pretty reliable, so we have no complaints regards them. A great car that is very much underated.
Certain people with big financial interests on other car industries wanted the british car industry dead. They wanted to kill every british industry & they did. They even came for the empty husk of the entire nation in 2016.
My mate had a P5 - a gentlemen's club on wheels with a V8 motor. I persuaded my father to replace his XJ6 with an SD1 VDP, my boss at the time had one as well. Lovely cars to drive, some electrical quirks but otherwise reliable enough. I even got my own SD1 V8, but it succumbed to rot and was stolen while off the road - banger racing I suspect. The 827 my manager had was terrible. He wouldn't trust it on long distances and would swap it with my 213 (another Honda collaboration) as it was much more reliable.
Nice video. Brought back memories of my dad arriving home in a brand new V8-S in green with gold wheels when I was about 10. It was like a space ship has just turned up 😊😊
First car I drove with L plates at 17 from London to Cornwall with dad . Happy days. Mum had a dolomite sprint at the same time which I did my test in the same year. Ps both fell to pieces in a couple of years.! Great report!
The Rover SD1, an engineering regression from its predecessor, was designed to be made as cheaply as possible, using the cheapest possible parts, and built by workers who couldn't care less. The surprise is how the engineers somehow created a decent car despite all those shortcomings...until they all rotted to bits.
I had a 1980 V8 manual for a couple of years in the UK and it was one of the most fun cars I've had. I loved the interior and still think the dash design and styling is genius and beautiful. To have the airvent between the speedo and rev counter is perfect since it cools your face without freezing your hands. This design has still not been matched even today. In 1990 we drove down to watch the Le Mans 24-hour race and on the way back were doing 120 mph on the autoroute to make our ferry in time. In 30,000 miles the only problems I had were a headlamp relay fail and a power steering seal leak.
1990 Down on my luck, out of work and needing a car. I purchased a 2600 SD1 for GBP 500 pounds. Ran it for two years, did 50,000 miles in it and sold it for GBP 500 pounds. In that time I serviced it personally, which you could do easily back in the day. It never had any real oil pressure on the dash clock. Was the most comfortable car ever, could out drive and handle just about anything on the road and had massive interior capacity, so I use it as a van. The rear boot lid never locked, no one ever gave it a second glance and it was never stolen. I would buy it back tomorrow as a design classic to sit alongside my 1968 Porsche 912 "right hand drive", 2002 Audi TT Quattro "right hand drive" and 1971 DeTomaso Pantera "right hand drive". Rust aside - bottom of the doors only, it was a brilliant car, drove well and due to regular personal servicing, was reliable. Other than basic servicing, tires and two front shock, I never replaced anything. "It's also about that time in my life and nostalgia, we were both down on our luck and lucked after each other"!
You might not have heard of it but in the UK it was a very popular car. I was always quite envious of anyone who owned one as they were doing quite well and my Dad couldn't afford one. The Police like them too!
Man, I just simply love Cammisa's "Revelations" series. You do a concise, complete, and entertaining job. I'd never heard of the SD1. This is fascinating. I wanna find one and resto-mod it!
My uncle had two SD1s and loved them, he drove them for many years without issue. He used to pay me pocket money to clean them every Saturday when I was a kid. They were the smoothes and most comfortable car I've ever travelled in. Still a handsome looking car
I had one ( in Iowa) from 1982 till 1998...it was fairly reliable though of course parts were thin on the ground! Oh, and the only car I've ever driven that got stuck in snow on a flat parking lot! Thanks Jason.
I miss my SD1 . Brilliant car. Had a Borg Warner auto gearbox . Seriously reliable and such fun to drive on the tops of Yorkshire or eating up motorways. Sold it to a rally driver.
I too had heard of the Rover 3500 however styling like a Ferrari its body styling was also similar to the Buick Century 4 door Aeroback of the late 70's, only the Buick was way more successful with its 3.8 litre Turbo V6.
I will never understand what it is with people not understanding that when someone is making a video, they are talking to their *entire* audience, _at once_ . He was not saying that _you_ specifically had never heard of it, he was saying that most of the people that will end up watching the video overall_ , probably haven't heard of it. I'm sure he knows that a lot of his viewers know about it from Top Gear, but this show is meant to be as much for subscribers like us as it is meant to be for any non-car people who simply had a personal connection with this car, or were curious b/c they hadn't head of it before, and decided to watch the video.
I was given my Grandfathers Rover 60 the day I passed my driving test in 1972 age 17 and was still at school. 50,000 miles later in about 1976 I sold the 60 and purchased a Rover 2000TC, and in about 1980 I sold the TC and brought a Rover 3500 SD1 manual 5 speed with those nice wheels featured in this video and drove it until I went overseas in 1983. So, I was a committed 'Rover man' in that period and all 3 I owned were wonderful in their own way, but the SD1 was very special and light years ahead of its predecessors in design and ability. As you could in those days, I enjoyed some excellent driving experiences on UK roads in the SD1 which was at that time seen as an older man's executive car rather than a 20 somethings rapid transport and pride and joy. The SD1 was extremely practical too with five generous seats, great leg room in the rear, a huge boot and was also a great towing vehicle because of the self leveling suspension and good tow bar height. If a manufacturer made the same car again today but with a modern engine, equipment and bodywork, I would buy one....
As a kid in London, those "Jam Sandwiches" were everywhere! The build quality was sketchy, but they were a great car and starting to fetch decent money now.
Here in the UK The Rover SD1 was very popular with Police and was an 80's icon in many films too ! I believe Margret Thatcher had an 1983 Maroon Austin Maestro Vanden Plas with brown interior with walnut wood trim... and that famous Solid State green LCD talking digital dash board !
I get the feeling Jason was a theatre geek who had some kind of awakening the first time he drove a car. As a result, we get one of the best presenters when it comes to car related media. What a great video!
I still lust after a Vitesse, mainly because of the metallic bronze Matchbox one I had, which had the amazing ( for me as a 70’s kid ) addition of a sliding sunroof!
My dad, who was a Canadian living in the UK, loved these (particularly the ashtray in the door). We had 4 when I was growing up. There were few 3.5ltr V8 in the UK.
They shared engines with the Range Rover etc. - albeit a lower comp. ratio in the Rangey. We used to be able to buy an unwanted car cheap, strip it and get cash for the leftovers - so we could collect engines and build a great one out of three for peanuts!
My family are from around Solihull. My cousin used to work there. He once told me "Oi en'arf sin sum crap comin' aata there!" Priceless. And also quite sad at the same time.
What’s funny is my 1999 land rover discovery 2 also was designed with a swappable/symmetric dash board. The windshield cowl even has holes (plugged) for RHD windshield wipers. Rover: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Laughed my ass off immediately, at seeing the start of the video. After watching the podcast, and herring the story of the car. Absolutely or maybe the best one of the revaluation to date. Thanks.
Being an ageing Brit I've seen plenty of SD1s. Watched plenty of them dissolve over a couple of damp salty wet winters. A great design, shame about the poor management of the company and the legendary militant unions. Red Robbo was one of the leading union leaders, as I remember.
17:06 It was the other way round. The Acura/Honda Legend was basically a Rover 800 - the Legend was the product of a joint venture with Honda, which believed it could overcome its reputation for making econoboxes by teaming up with a company known for performance, style, and luxury - as ridiculous as that might sound now. But it goes to show what Rover could have been with decent build quality.
A friend of mine owned one of these in the UK for many years and never had a problem with it. He was kind enough to allow me to learn to drive in it. That was quite an experience when you consider that many other young drivers over here would have been learning in a 1-litre Ford Fiesta back then. 😄
SD1...YES! Can I have a Vitesse please? Bit of an odd ball by some accounts, and unfortunately famously terrible build quality, but I'd still definitely want one in my "lottery win" garage 😋👌🏼
The Vitesse was built at Cowley Works, they turned Solihull over to Land Rover. Cowley is now home to the Mini. The 1984 onwards SD1's were better manufactured.
Owned a 2600 (straight six) in Madrid, Spain...left hand drive. Stupid fast car. Drove 150-160 Km/h all the way to Paris a few times. I bought it for $700 USD back then (early 90's) from a guy that had overheated it to the point that a valve came un-welded from it's stem (can't make that kind of abuse up) and dropped onto a piston...you can imagine the mess. I dropped in an engine from one that had rolled for $1,000 USD and it worked great for 2 years until I sold it for $7k. Had twin Stromberg carbs that were a pain to balance but other than that...great car...fun to drive and a ride that was ahead of it's time.
@@ej22_gc86 in person the Renault 16 is much shorter and higher than the Rover, yes they are both 5 door hatch/sedans but it's the Pininfarina BMC Aerodynamica from 1967 by Fioravanti that gave birth to the SD1's styling. I think Jason should have mentioned this in the video as it influenced the SD1 via the Daytona which was also designed by Fioravanti while at Pininfarina. The Citroen CX and Lancia Beta/Gamma Berlinas also were of this styling influence. I also think there is something in the side profile of the Ferrari 365 GTC/4 in the SD1s design more so than the Maserati Indy.
We bought a used 3500 Van den Plas with about 70000 km on it for about $13000 back in 1987/88 from a 'friend' who was a Jaguar mechanic. Never rely on someone to permanently fix your problem if their livelihood depends on you having a problem. Lots of power and presence, handled like a dream, but it had nothing but trouble with overheating on even mild Spring days in Melbourne (Australia) - think 20 Celsius / 75 F.. Sold it 12 months later after having spent thousands on cooling repairs, radiators etc. for about $2K. Wouldn't touch another one if you paid me. Fantastic to drive, and so desirable (if/when it worked) but I think I'll stick to my Lexus. You have been warned. (Might work totally fine in Scotland/Norway/Gulag Archipelago).
That was brilliant! It brought a tear to my eye. I'm gravely missing my '79 and '80 3500's. In Ireland after the petrol price went crazy you could buy them for peanuts. Most brilliant car I've ever owned. That 5th gear, and the torque!! Did you know that here in UK & Ireland it had a very interesting eliptical steering wheel. If you could keep the lights on and the doorcards from leaving, it ws great! Thank you for an incredibly comprehensive video.
I had the Rover SD 1 1979 model. Electric windows all round. Never let me down and always started. Was finished in Turmeric (Yellow) well maintained and reliable. I’d have another one tomorrow.
Jason & team: thank you ever so much for such a brilliant, brilliant video - brought back so many wonderful memories for me. My Dad was a track worker/foreman at the Lode Lane Solihull factory for many years, first on the P6, then on the SD1; the anecdotes he could add to this video would make your toes curl. He probably put the fuel tank into the example you showcased in the video. He could surely write a whole chapter on the drama that ensued when Rover management decided a sunroof was needed; bought in from Britax, it was a nightmare to fit and subsequently leaked like a sieve. He was good a quality control though; he totalled 3 brand new SD1s on the back storage yard of the new facility when the brakes failed on the car he was driving back towards the assembly hall for "Rectification" - that was 3 less vehicles that left the factory that month. Thanks again for a tremendous video - absolutely loved it ❤❤❤
"Never heard of" is a very bold statement given 90%+ of Hagerty's audience has seen Top Gear's British Leyland challenge back in the day.
Somehow the V8 Rover SD1 with supposed racing pedigree was beaten around a track by a poxy little Datsun 120y
So that means Road and Track's review was BS which it very well may have been@@DumbAccordionTricks
Still waiting for a Princess Icons video 😂
Exactly this. We are mostly car nerds and most of us know the SD1. Doug DeMuro does this too sometimes and it is maddening 😄😄
Yet he claims the Renault and Austin were the first 5 door hatches, completely ignoring the Kaiser Traveler from over a decade earlier. Audience knows more about obscure cars than Jason
My dad was a pursuit drive for the Metropolitan Police in the 80's and 90's - these cars always arrived in 'poverty spec' for interior, but the engines were far from normal. This was at a time the police had their own mechanics and garages and BOUGHT rather than leased vehicles. The mechanics always fitted uprated suspension and brakes, the engines came as a 3.5Litre twin plenum EFi from the factory but they'd all get bored out, higher lift cams and custom exhausts fitted, at least for vehicles doing pursuit jobs.
They were so popular that in 1986 when Rover announced they were discontinuing the SD1's, Police forces all over the UK placed MASSIVE orders to keep their fleets going for a few more years. Even in the 90's, these cars were still around. They have legendary status here for sure :)
And a decade later British motorway cops forgot all about it when they all had Volvo T5's...
@@marcusjosefsson4998 Or Vauxhall Astras...
@marcusjosefsson4998 these days I bet the long for the T5's again. BMWs seem to spontaneously catch fire...
Hi , also the Met bought up , I did see 15 of those sun a lock up whilst I worked for the Met, also they bought up van den plas models , the public complained so our work shop removed the badges . Regards mark
@@marcusjosefsson4998 they went from the SD1 to the twin cam Sierra sapphires - ford was very large supplier to the force. Then it became a "service" and the volvo t5 came in.
Utterly marvelous video and story telling. I was glued to my seat with a big smile across my face. In around 1978/9 I had a pal who worked for Leyland who visited me one lunchtime and said, 'Come outside, I've got something to show you, but you can't tell anyone.' It was a Rover SD1 with a prototype DIGITAL dashboard. There were admittedly wires everywhere, but it was like looking at spaceship technology.
Wow!!
I think the modern Mercedes wide digital dash now used on so many models - is a copy of the Rover SD1 instrument pod. I adore the SD1.
Great review. I was the Technical Editor of Motor magazine in the UK when the SD1 was launched. We had high hopes but low expectations, a skepticism only enforced when I wound down the driver's window at the press launch and the glass dropped out of its channel and disappeared. But it was powerful, remarkably light and spacious and, by the standards of the time, exemplary handling. So when I was invited to be one of the factory drivers of the racing versions of the SD1 in the 1980 British Saloon Car Championship I jumped at the chance. It was a challenging year developing the car as was 1981 too. The Vitesse resulted from lessons learned in those two years, including the massive rear spoiler and the fuel injected engine: this is the one to get (if you can). The irony is that I now have a 1992 Morgan Plus 8 with that same V8 and gearbox. And there is a cottage industry in the UK with all sorts of solutions to liberate horsepower and better drivability from the Rover V8, including the Range Rover and all the Land Rover variants.
…and you raced it well too Rex in the British Touring Car Championship! Great to see you adding insights from someone who has such experiences! My father bought a Vitesse. Win on Sunday sell on Monday…not least as it replaced a 2.8 Capri!
Thanks for commenting! I love when people in the industry share bits like this in the comments!
@@houseyUK The Capri 2.8. That was a tough little German import that we, as young drivers in the mid 70s, could thrash around with abandon. Fun stuff.
My dad had one of these. It was his dream car. After a couple of years it was his nightmare car. It spent most weeks at the garage. In the end they told him that they were not able to completely fix all of it's problems, despite years of trying.
The Vitesse may be the one to get but by now impossible to find a nice one for sale. When I sold mine early 2022 from the Netherlands I literally got people from Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Austria, The United States, Spain and even England that were interested. Eventually someone from the UK bought it even though mine was Left hand Drive since there's aren't any available anymore, even in the UK.
"The Rover SD1. Styled to look like a Ferrari Daytona, and it does!" ~ Jeremy Clarkson
"And inside you will find plum colored, vulgalore upholstery"
"The damn door's come off!"
Funny, the same lad also said it's like Land Rover making a sports car (in response to the introduction of the Porsche Cayenne) when Land Rover did in fact make a sports car the 3500/SD1.
You can consider the Range Rover Supercharged series a response to the Cayenne.
I read this in Jeremy clarksons voice lol
A friend accidentally bought a second (or third, or fourth) hand Vitesse Twin Plenum (as we called the race homologation version).
They were unbadged on the outside, and he thought he was just buying a regular Vitesse, until he came to service it and the air filter he bought didn't fit.
He drove back to the garage and said "Oiy, that's the wrong air filter"... Confused parts guys comes out to look at the car and my friend said the guys jaw basically hit the floor, as he'd never seen a TP in the flesh, and then explained to my friend what he had.
And so began that SD1's journey from sensible car, to stealth hooligan. Much fun was had.
It did sound amazing with the straight through exhaust system 😁
We had many of these on the shelf back in the day im sure ive got a video some where of a V8 on the dyno
What a shame Lucas & Leyland ruined so many Wouk’s should have been outstanding cars.
"Revelations" really is the best car series on TH-cam.
Icons is pretty damn good too!
@@K_FI_L_Y_P_S_O Oh yeah, for sure. I should clarify: the series that Jasom Cammisa does are the best.
Agreed. Revelations and Icons make me scream like a child. I don't even care what car it's about.
On ALL TV
@@K_FI_L_Y_P_S_O Correct. I should have said any series with Jason Cammisa.
My dad owned a series of these. At one point he was tired of the electrical failures and took it back to the dealer, who simply took his car in and gave him a brand new replacement SD1. That car actually ran well, it was one of the last ones made.
They had a habit of having electrical fires
It's a shame as the very last one's where pretty much sorted cars just as it was going out of production.
@@Luton-Mick This still happens to this day, in a way. Manufacturers finally get things perfect in the last model or release final models with topped specs that are actually lust-worthy. A real shame.
Well said SD1 not SDi
Living in the uk and owning a 1968 triumph vitesse the British motoring industry created some fantastic cars. It still makes me sad how this was destroyed by short sighted management and workers. SD is iconic and this video excellent.
My dad had the gold vitesse UK X-reg from 1983-4. It was fast! I remember the comfy but quite sporty biege velvety seats with built-in ashtrays in the door covered in the same velvety trim. I was 7 and loved it because it was huge - It was great getting to "sit in the front" over my older sister, and my father would always put his foot down on straight stretches of open road. It was breathtakingly quick, and I used to talk about this car a lot at primary school. It left a lasting impression on me! Happy days & a great video. Thank you.
1983/84 was A reg , X was 81 and as it was gold it was probably a vanden plas or v8s both nice cars
@@paulbainbridge6425 Vitesse started in late 82 and never ever available in Gold.
In 1988, I bought an 5 year old ex-Kent Police 3500 SD1 which had been maintained very well despite the 84000 miles on the clock at the time. The motorway divisions upgraded the brakes, modified the unreliable brake master and slave cylinders and the usual rust issue had just about started on the rear tail gate door. Despite all its pitfuls, to this day it was one of the most memorable cars in terms of enjoyment I ever owned. Just the sound of the V8 and its styling always managed to make you smile despite the damp patches on the floor, poor ventilation and its temperamental electrics. It was a joy to see that mint example you shown off in the video. Great memories and still one of my favourite cars of all time!
I had an ex Kent police Rover p6 3.5litre. Very nice. Pulled up to Brands Hatch one time and saw the police heading my way. V nervous until they said " I remember this car"
I had a 2600 SD1 for a couple of years and loved it. Let it go too early. It's the only car I remember with any real fondness. I don't remember having any issues with it at all and there's very few cars I can say that about, but on the other hand most cars back then had their gremlins and just about every classic car ever talked about has a list of known issues. Fantastic car, felt very luxurious, superb design that I don't think looks particularly dated even now, and very underrated. I particularly liked the design of the 5 "spoke" black and chrome wheels, still look great today amidst the sea of boring "me too" lookalike alloy wheel designs you get these days.
@@composimmonite3918 oh look, it’s my old English Teacher Mr Grummit, still a miserable old git 40 years on I see!
first car I ever learnt to power slide..
Great video highlighting all that was good and sadly what was bad with the SD1. They were around when I was about 10 in the uk and were iconic back in the day for about 10 minutes until the build quality was seen. Still if I had the cash and came across a barn find I’d like to restore one.
Back in 1998, this was my first car - in this exact color (aquamarine). Paid the equivalent of $400 for it at the time - absolutely loved it. About 15 years ago I spotted it parked up on the street, fully restored and repainted.
Was it really yours? Did you track the VIN?
@@blankname8553 in the UK the number plate stays with the car for life.
You can replace it with a "private" plate, but few people do, so it's common for a vehicle to keep its number forever, and as a driver you're generally expected to know your number plate, and it's one of the common things the cops ask you if they pull you over.
I remember several of mine, despite the vehicles having been scrapped 20 years ago!
I love these cars. My dad had 3 of these in 1984 when I was 5, a 2.0 manual, a 2.6 auto vitesse and a 3.5 vanden plas. I remember he took the 2.6 engine to work at Michelin, borrowed a few machines and made it a 2.72 litre. He then put twin exhausts down the side like the AC Cobra. Burnt your leg every time you got out but man did it sound good. He also taught me to drive in an Austin Mini at the age of 10. I miss that man every day.
You're fortunate to have those memories! Hold them and pass on to your children those memories of your father - your father will live on in them.
@@Kysushanz cheers man
Man your dad must've been a badass person back then
Wow, amazing memories! Your dad is a legend!
I saw a Rover 3500 for the first time in Amsterdam last week, guy owns it 23 years now, looked in perfect condition, I was stunned when I saw it. What a beautiful design!
no wonder, if the original been a Ferrari!
I was a 19 year old American stationed in England back in 1988 and 89. Bought a used ‘85 model and it was one of my favorite vehicles ever! Never had a single fault with it, had no idea how lucky that apparently was, lol!
How did youget insurance on that.
@@davidfarmer2049 There was a Geico office on the USAF base I was stationed at, the policy was pretty expensive, but much cheaper than the quote for the left hand drive, 6.6 liter, 77 Trans Am I wanted to ship over from the US!!! Lol, the insurance premiums on that per year would have been more than I paid for the car, hahaha.
The unreliable part was mostly Chinese whispers, I owned 2, my dad owned one , one of his mates had one and my uncle had one, all were reliable, only real weak point was the lucas points and coil for the engine but they were cheap and easy to replace if they did fail.
@@davidfarmer2049 when i was 18 back in same year (1988) had ford capri 2.0s as 1st car insurance was about £280 a year TPF&T was affordable then ( even though it was prob 2 weeks pay ) ... if you didnt have the money to insure a "bent hand written 30 day cover note " was only a £10 so you could get the tax disc... you could even produce to the police on a 7 day wonder .. this will only make sense to those same age as me
@@bespincustompropsbombarta8300 Pretty sure the engines were bulletproof, weren't they fitted with the rover V8 that is one of the best engines ever built? Agree on the electrics side, think thats what let the uk car industry down. Still does if my 2007 defender is anything to go by, and perhaps build quality and an unwillingness to make them better ha ha.
In India, we got this SD1 rebadged as Standard 2000, with a paltry 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 83 hp and was mated to a 4-speed gearbox.
It was in production for only 3 years (1985-88) before the Indian government caught them lying about the car's fuel consumption and kicked them out of the country. It rusted so badly that you can't find one now.
With all its flaws, when I first saw this car somewhere in the mid-90's, it was love at first sight, and it still is! ❤
The edit between the SD1 and the SD1 Rally car @11:55 was absolutely sublime, 20/10
Someone was really good with scissors, back in the day...
Jason is the best car reviewer hands down. No one comes close.
I was thinking the same. So much fun to watch and listen to him.
I'll see your Jason and raise you a Henry Catchpole.....
Yeah Harry Catchpole hands down @@@stuart150
I dunno... for me, he comes off as a bit smug, with an inflated opinion of his own sense of humor. Did you see the recent thing he did with Jay Leno on the Sciroco II? He was trying SO HARD to show Leno that he was funny that it was uncomfortable to watch.
I think Catchpole, Harris, Metcalf, the Number 27 guy, and their ilk are all much better than Camisa.
I couldn't agree more
My dear old Dad always had a Rover. The 2000 series and the 3500 series. I still remember how proud he was of them when I was a kid. And I have to admit the nostalgia and love of the car is still with me now.
I bought a 1980 SD1 in Santa Barbara California about three years ago after spotting it rotting in someone’s driveway. Had to have it. Got it back on the road basically and then had to sell it but sold it to someone who drove it all the way across the country successfully and is planning to ship it back to England soon. check out the magazine Practical Classics for the whole story about that drive which happened about a year ago. I could tell this was special. I was working on it and hope that it gets the full restoration. It deserves. Not enough of these kicking around.
So nearly bought one of these a couple of decades ago. Always loved the look of them. I was doing the walk-around when I went to check under the front wing arch for rust and a chunk of it and the paint came away in my hand. Looked at the dealer with an, "I'm not paying for it," look and went on my way.
I now own a 3500 in full Triplex racing livery. Beautiful thing.
Sits on a shelf next to my James Bond Lotus Esprit.
Superb and fair insight into SD1. My father had the 2600S here in the UK. Great to look at, quite fast and good to drive but atrocious build quality. The car of shattered dreams. Showed car buyers the dire state of UK motor manufacturing under Leyland and why Japanese mgmt & tech, which came via Honda, was so badly needed.
We had one, quite reliable too, effortless cruising in it, sitting at 110mph on the A9 heading north with another SD1 3500 in front and a Jag XJS in front of that. We had been getting a load of stuff in Glasgow and were on our way back to near John o' Groats, rear seats were folded flat and loaded up with lots of tinned goods from the cash n carry. As one the 3 cars pulled out to overtake a MGBGT on a dual carriageway section and went past it like it was sitting still, I as passenger and my father driving I looked round and seen the driver of the MG hunkering down and then catching up with us, he stuck glued to our tail for a couple of minutes and then slowly drifted back, we were cruising at the top speed of the MG, made me smile and the SD1 was so smooth you would hardly know you were moving at warp speed.
Later we went to trade it in for a SD1 2600, dad drove the 2600 about 100meters to the nearest roundabout and was going to take it back to the garage as it really was not in the same league as the 3500, but I persuaded him to let me drive it too and sure enough it really was not the same car, the dealer was standing on the forecourt with the keys ready to hand back to dad and he said "As soon as I seen you had a 3500, I knew you would not take the 2600"
Edit: I now have a MG ZT 260, basically a Rover 75 with a Mustang V8 engine and rear wheel drive, it has been supercharged to 400bhp :)
If you thought the 2600 was gutless, you should have tried the 2300 !
@@ridefast0 It was not that the 2600 is gutless, it was so unrefined compared with the 3500. The 2000 to 2600 had a completely different suspension set up than the 3500, it was harsh and fatiguing in the 2600, the couple of miles we drove the 2600 took a lot more effort than the 300 miles we had just driven in the 3500. The 3500 was an easy car to drive and to drive fast too, it kept it's composure no matter how hard you pushed it.
@@ridefast0 My boss had the 2000 variant.
Wondered how that worked out.
OK to 50MPH I suppose.
Why talk down about MGBs? they were never meant to be fast. Just fun.
@@davidfarmer2049 I've nothing against MGBs or even the MGBGT. I had a MGA a very long time ago and I used to get a MG TF135 as a loaner when my MG ZT 260 went in for servicing 🚗
Back in the late 80's, while I was stationed in Germany, I had a 1978 model. Absolutely loved it. Never had a mechanical break down. The rust was a big problem.
Saw my first SD1 on its launch day in 1976. It looked like something from the future and I instantly fell in love with it.
When I rented one I couldn't believe how brilliant it was.
Eventually I bought my own. Such a lovely car to drive. The 3500 was exquisite and the 2600 was wonderful too.
My grand mother was a mechanic during WW2, she would always say that Rovers were her favourite cars to work on.
Probably because they were most frequently in the garage!
HM Queen Elisabeth, may she rest in peace.
@@alisdairherd9501 🥱
They definitely made her the most money
Well I highly doubt she worked on an SD1, also did you grandmother happen to be the late Queen Elizabeth who was also a mechanic.
My first car! Bought myself a 1985 SD1 Vitesse in 2005. Sold it in 2022. Mine was bright red and not as troublesome as some will have you believe
I think they'd sorted most of the worst issues out by 1985, the problem then being its reputation was irretreivable.
My first car too. Bought a '77 3500 in 1982; cheap because of the poor quality reputation. Wonderful car to drive and had some great times in UK and Europe. Quality was pretty bad and I learned a lot about repairing cars in a short time. Later changed it for an '82 model which was better quality although still needed work from time to time. Great driving experience and loved the V8.
There was a guy racing one of these at the end of year meeting at Aldo Sribante circuit in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1987 abouts. It was entered into the days racing pamphlet as a Chevro. Like as in stick proper 7.3 Liter V8 motor into the Rover to make it go a bit faster. It did very well in the modified saloon class coming first in two heats. In the afternoon and a few spectator beers later race managements opened the track to all comers class. Now here was the 7.3L Chevro racing a 1.6L open wheeler (think they were formula Ford or VW) Chevro would take about 10 car lengths down the main straight and still end up getting smoked by the 1.6L open wheeler in lap times. It was just beautiful to watch - epic day
My Dad was marketing lead on this car, (and the later Sterling). Informative as ever content... He had the Vitesse prototype for a number of months. Good memories all round.
My Dad conceived me in this car. Good memories all around.
My old boss was the product manager on the Sterling!
@@ChrisBell-ib9em not called David was he?
Funny question...was he Irish by any chance?
Your dad would've known my Dad!
Revelations is such a good series, and Jason is one the best out there. Only he could make a 20 minute video about the SD1 so watchable.. This was so well put together.
Half of the Jason’s audience here to enjoy his sound engineers amazing work at the end. Look at those equipments in the car and top class sound that you can hear every bit of engine rumbles and shifter clicks. Amazing work. Big kudos!
I've never smiled ear to ear through an entire video before, let alone for a car I've literally never heard about. Thank you Jason, ans the team that made this video possible. You are all national treasures!
The only bad thing about Revelations episodes is waiting for the next one!
Here! Here!
Hear Hear....
@@andybroer651
I bought a six year old used model the experience was both the best and the worst. The car drove fantastic on a long run did surprisingly good MPG and you could load it up to the hild which I did and it drove and braked superbly. Unrivaled comfort and a huge semi-shooting wagon estate, and it was reliable but the car simply fell to pieces with rust and I had to scrap it after only a few years. Yet I still love this car. Thanks for the comments from other viewers and a cracking you tube video very well done and so entertaining! and for me so nostalgic.
I once owned a dark blue 2300 , possibly the best , most comfortable practical car I've owned in over 45 years of driving, great video by the way
I had a red 2300 in the late 90's, boy I loved that car.
Great video. I had an SDX, as they were called in South Africa. It was a 1978 model 2600. I got it for my 21st birthday. I loved it. However, it rusted like crazy, especially in Cape Town, where I grew up. Unfortunately, it blew a conrod out the side of the engine one Friday night. Luckily I found a new engine at a mechanic right next door to where I worked at the time and fixed it myself. I then resprayed the whole car and sold it the day before I left Cape Town, bound for London. I then bought a Rover 820e which I loved as well. I went all over Europe in it. I only had to sell it as a Rover dealer messed it up during a service which allowed water to leak in through the airvents! Great video, brought back many memories.
😂😂😂 you valve bouncer 😂😂😂....
Yeah those Leyland RSA cars used such poor quality sheet metal due to the embargo on RSA'S Govt they would rust to nothing within a year
Had a toy car of an SD1 police cruiser as a kid in the 80's, and it's been one of my favourites design-wise ever since. Beautiful car.
My Mom had a Silver Van Den Plus manual and she diced every available dude at every traffic light that was willing. She was in her mid 50's then.... good memories. But, the electric sunroof was impossable to open or close when the headlights was on. Power steering pump to be replaced every year basically.
Vanden Plas.
I've been waiting for the next Revelations, best car history series on YT or cable.
I desperately wanted this car, and went into a Jaguar dealer that had listed a used one, that sold the week before. The salesman correctly diagnosed me as a penniless tire-kicker -- at first. But something I said came across as "well, maybe a Jaguar would do" and he sat up straight and started answering my questions. He was right the first time.
Fantastic footage at the end of Jason ragging on his own car, love it.
Legendary engine that served in many cars over the years, and the default hot rod engine of choice for english car enthusiasts for many years.
I still remember the SD1 police cars during my early childhood. They looked so cool!
There’s an incredible video of an SD1 police car blue lighting a transplant organ across town
@@andreasphotiou1886I’ve just posted it above!
I remember it well @@andreasphotiou1886
It's police camera action. The liver run. It's amazing to watch
Ii still remember Woleseley police cars during my early childhood. LOL.
Somehow, one or two must have slipped by without any of the issues mentioned in this video.
My father was so fortunate. His SD1 (we just called it Rover 3500 in Holland) ran fine for years.
Only the rear window developed a bit of leaking, inherited from the Range Rover because they used the same glue or something.
And after 7 years, the fuel pump had to be replaced.
I had a 1980 Rover 3500. It had a 5 speed. I thoroughly enjoyed driving it. I enjoyed everything about it.
I also had a Sterling 827SLi. 5 speed hatchback. Bought it new. Drove it. Loved it. Piled miles on it. Enjoyed everything about it. Likely the best driving car I’ve ever owned. (Owned and own many) The SLi had sooo many cool features too.
God, I drove an 820 across Belgium in a nightmare run in heavy rain, fully-loaded (with passengers and luggage). Thought I'd die before getting to Germany. Fast, OK i a straight line, but long as a train and just as manouverable. Front-wheel drive, wasn't it ? Just had to twitch the steering wheel with the power on and it lost the rear end.
In the UK the top luxury 800 was called the Rover Sterling and only available in auto as a saloon/sedan, they did a flagship manual hatchback model that was called the "Vitesse" however you could also get a manual 827 in both body styles while less equipped they were slightly faster due to the weight reduction, the UK police forces loved them!
@@Luton-Mick I had an auto 827 Vitesse so Vitesse's weren't manual only, it seems. Although it being LHD and originally registered in Germany might have something to do with it.
Was my first car, bought off a mate (who's dad bought it new when stationed in Germany) for £150!!
One of the most 'interesting' cars I've owned. Mainly for all it's electrical gremlins 😲and also because it was white, and I drove it like I stole it, so people on the motorway would see me coming up fast and hurriedly get out the way thinking I was the cops. Only to see me waving at them from the 'passenger' seat as I hoofed past 'em K&N filter making loads of noise 🤣🤣
I had a 1989 827SLi. Great riding car. Very much like a Jaguar in that regard. And, at 20 years old, it had also had dodgy electrics, brittle plastics and deteriorating materials. What doomed the car is that very few parts were availble both in the US and in the UK - most of the UK ones had long been scrapped or crushed. It was an awesome looking car.
I had a 1983 bright red SD1 3500ES when it was quite a new car and it was very reliable. I would go as far as saying it's the best car I ever owned.
My Dad has two of these over the years. As a little boy I was absolutely smitten.
2:18 POLAND MENTIONED 🇵🇱😮. Also, as a Pole I always thought it's just a conciedence that they sound the same and I never knew the origin of this word, thanks for letting me know!
Same
im ukrainian from Rivne region, and me too)
@@vadimsavin2557 З якого району?))
@@vadimsavin2557same, I’m from Rokytne
That transition at 11:58 was worth several replays. Well done!
Say thanks to Russell Nash it's a clip from their archive.
I've had 6 Rovers, 4 SD1 2x V8 3.5, 1x 2.6, 1x 2.0. Also a 3.5 V8 P6 back in 1981 and in the early 90's we had a Rover 827 SLi. I loved my Rovers, people moaned about them back then, but each of them was pretty reliable, so we have no complaints regards them.
A great car that is very much underated.
Certain people with big financial interests on other car industries wanted the british car industry dead. They wanted to kill every british industry & they did.
They even came for the empty husk of the entire nation in 2016.
My mate had a P5 - a gentlemen's club on wheels with a V8 motor. I persuaded my father to replace his XJ6 with an SD1 VDP, my boss at the time had one as well. Lovely cars to drive, some electrical quirks but otherwise reliable enough. I even got my own SD1 V8, but it succumbed to rot and was stolen while off the road - banger racing I suspect. The 827 my manager had was terrible. He wouldn't trust it on long distances and would swap it with my 213 (another Honda collaboration) as it was much more reliable.
i owned VW, Mercedes, Renault, Peugot, Hyundai and BMW... nothing bad to say about them...
i would never buy a UK made car!
All Rovers are underrated. Hello from a 75 V6 owner ❤
@@Arltratloi d rather giveup on my cars passion instead of driving a VW 😂
Nice video. Brought back memories of my dad arriving home in a brand new V8-S in green with gold wheels when I was about 10. It was like a space ship has just turned up 😊😊
First car I drove with L plates at 17 from London to Cornwall with dad . Happy days. Mum had a dolomite sprint at the same time which I did my test in the same year. Ps both fell to pieces in a couple of years.! Great report!
They were also assembled in New Zealand, and they had a pretty good reputation here.
Cammisa and Esposito do it again - Marvelous!
The Rover SD1, an engineering regression from its predecessor, was designed to be made as cheaply as possible, using the cheapest possible parts, and built by workers who couldn't care less. The surprise is how the engineers somehow created a decent car despite all those shortcomings...until they all rotted to bits.
Some years ago, I lived in West Sacramento, CA, and at the time, some maniac in town dailied one of these and it was GLORIOUS.
I had a 1980 V8 manual for a couple of years in the UK and it was one of the most fun cars I've had. I loved the interior and still think the dash design and styling is genius and beautiful. To have the airvent between the speedo and rev counter is perfect since it cools your face without freezing your hands. This design has still not been matched even today. In 1990 we drove down to watch the Le Mans 24-hour race and on the way back were doing 120 mph on the autoroute to make our ferry in time. In 30,000 miles the only problems I had were a headlamp relay fail and a power steering seal leak.
1990 Down on my luck, out of work and needing a car. I purchased a 2600 SD1 for GBP 500 pounds. Ran it for two years, did 50,000 miles in it and sold it for GBP 500 pounds. In that time I serviced it personally, which you could do easily back in the day. It never had any real oil pressure on the dash clock. Was the most comfortable car ever, could out drive and handle just about anything on the road and had massive interior capacity, so I use it as a van. The rear boot lid never locked, no one ever gave it a second glance and it was never stolen. I would buy it back tomorrow as a design classic to sit alongside my 1968 Porsche 912 "right hand drive", 2002 Audi TT Quattro "right hand drive" and 1971 DeTomaso Pantera "right hand drive". Rust aside - bottom of the doors only, it was a brilliant car, drove well and due to regular personal servicing, was reliable. Other than basic servicing, tires and two front shock, I never replaced anything. "It's also about that time in my life and nostalgia, we were both down on our luck and lucked after each other"!
this guy is so f'g good. Webster, give him a raise.
yep!
The joy of a new Cammisa video
I had two and my dad had three. Could not get enough of them in the 1970s to 1980s. The fuel injected Vitesse was fabulous❤.
You might not have heard of it but in the UK it was a very popular car. I was always quite envious of anyone who owned one as they were doing quite well and my Dad couldn't afford one. The Police like them too!
I 100% was not expecting an insurance brand to produce something this beautifully written and produced.
have you been living under a rock... this is hagerty, its what they do best.
You must be new here
Man, I just simply love Cammisa's "Revelations" series. You do a concise, complete, and entertaining job. I'd never heard of the SD1. This is fascinating. I wanna find one and resto-mod it!
My uncle had two SD1s and loved them, he drove them for many years without issue. He used to pay me pocket money to clean them every Saturday when I was a kid. They were the smoothes and most comfortable car I've ever travelled in. Still a handsome looking car
Ok, I’m half way through and this is probably the best Revelations episode yet! So funny
Look at the one on the Lotus Carlton then. In case you haven't. More phoney british accents by Camisa.
I had one ( in Iowa) from 1982 till 1998...it was fairly reliable though of course parts were thin on the ground! Oh, and the only car I've ever driven that got stuck in snow on a flat parking lot! Thanks Jason.
You picked a particularly British day to drive the Rover! Excellent video as always. Jason is the best!
Been WAITING for this one. Jason Cammisa teased this one for Too Long.
I had one when they were quite old. It was a yellow V8. I loved it, It was rusty but fun, with a nice sounding V8.
11:59- that transition was artful.
I miss my SD1 . Brilliant car. Had a Borg Warner auto gearbox . Seriously reliable and such fun to drive on the tops of Yorkshire or eating up motorways. Sold it to a rally driver.
Joke's on you, Jason, I've heard of the car. Not that it helped me in any way in life, but ha, gotcha.
Right? I even know a lot about it. Admittedly a lot of that knowledge comes from the Carmudgeon show though, so...
I too had heard of the Rover 3500 however styling like a Ferrari its body styling was also similar to the Buick Century 4 door Aeroback of the late 70's, only the Buick was way more successful with its 3.8 litre Turbo V6.
I will never understand what it is with people not understanding that when someone is making a video, they are talking to their *entire* audience, _at once_ . He was not saying that _you_ specifically had never heard of it, he was saying that most of the people that will end up watching the video overall_ , probably haven't heard of it. I'm sure he knows that a lot of his viewers know about it from Top Gear, but this show is meant to be as much for subscribers like us as it is meant to be for any non-car people who simply had a personal connection with this car, or were curious b/c they hadn't head of it before, and decided to watch the video.
😅
@@moogle68 did you ever hear of.... jokes? 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
I was given my Grandfathers Rover 60 the day I passed my driving test in 1972 age 17 and was still at school. 50,000 miles later in about 1976 I sold the 60 and purchased a Rover 2000TC, and in about 1980 I sold the TC and brought a Rover 3500 SD1 manual 5 speed with those nice wheels featured in this video and drove it until I went overseas in 1983. So, I was a committed 'Rover man' in that period and all 3 I owned were wonderful in their own way, but the SD1 was very special and light years ahead of its predecessors in design and ability. As you could in those days, I enjoyed some excellent driving experiences on UK roads in the SD1 which was at that time seen as an older man's executive car rather than a 20 somethings rapid transport and pride and joy. The SD1 was extremely practical too with five generous seats, great leg room in the rear, a huge boot and was also a great towing vehicle because of the self leveling suspension and good tow bar height. If a manufacturer made the same car again today but with a modern engine, equipment and bodywork, I would buy one....
As a kid in London, those "Jam Sandwiches" were everywhere!
The build quality was sketchy, but they were a great car and starting to fetch decent money now.
There was a great one at the British Invasion at Stowe this year parked between two P6 V8s. Jason should have included the P6 in the revelations.
Here in the UK The Rover SD1 was very popular with Police and was an 80's icon in many films too !
I believe Margret Thatcher had an 1983 Maroon Austin Maestro Vanden Plas with brown interior with walnut wood trim... and that famous Solid State green LCD talking digital dash board !
I get the feeling Jason was a theatre geek who had some kind of awakening the first time he drove a car. As a result, we get one of the best presenters when it comes to car related media. What a great video!
I still lust after a Vitesse, mainly because of the metallic bronze Matchbox one I had, which had the amazing ( for me as a 70’s kid ) addition of a sliding sunroof!
Probably the only moving sunroof of each produced sd-1.
Thanks to Jason, I'm buying more classic cars just to give my business to Hagerty to keep this series going!
Jason to me is automotive royalty, I don’t even watch cad content anymore but come back to watch his
My dad, who was a Canadian living in the UK, loved these (particularly the ashtray in the door). We had 4 when I was growing up. There were few 3.5ltr V8 in the UK.
They shared engines with the Range Rover etc. - albeit a lower comp. ratio in the Rangey. We used to be able to buy an unwanted car cheap, strip it and get cash for the leftovers - so we could collect engines and build a great one out of three for peanuts!
Bollocks, there were loads.
My family are from around Solihull. My cousin used to work there. He once told me "Oi en'arf sin sum crap comin' aata there!" Priceless. And also quite sad at the same time.
I both love and hate that I understood what your cousin said with no effort what-so-ever
Cudda bin a bostin’ car, arr kidd
What’s funny is my 1999 land rover discovery 2 also was designed with a swappable/symmetric dash board. The windshield cowl even has holes (plugged) for RHD windshield wipers.
Rover: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I can never get tired of Jason Camissa Revelations . Best series on youtube 🙌🏽
FINALLY, HE FINALLY UPLOADED.
Jason is on the path to become a legend like Leno or Clarkson
Awesome as always. And btw hello from western Ukraine (we`re really using name Rover for a bicycle sometimes)
Yup, that’s what he said at the beginning of the video. Even showed a map of Western Ukraine where the word is used.
Laughed my ass off immediately, at seeing the start of the video. After watching the podcast, and herring the story of the car. Absolutely or maybe the best one of the revaluation to date. Thanks.
Being an ageing Brit I've seen plenty of SD1s. Watched plenty of them dissolve over a couple of damp salty wet winters.
A great design, shame about the poor management of the company and the legendary militant unions. Red Robbo was one of the leading union leaders, as I remember.
17:06 It was the other way round. The Acura/Honda Legend was basically a Rover 800 - the Legend was the product of a joint venture with Honda, which believed it could overcome its reputation for making econoboxes by teaming up with a company known for performance, style, and luxury - as ridiculous as that might sound now. But it goes to show what Rover could have been with decent build quality.
A friend of mine owned one of these in the UK for many years and never had a problem with it. He was kind enough to allow me to learn to drive in it. That was quite an experience when you consider that many other young drivers over here would have been learning in a 1-litre Ford Fiesta back then. 😄
SD1...YES! Can I have a Vitesse please? Bit of an odd ball by some accounts, and unfortunately famously terrible build quality, but I'd still definitely want one in my "lottery win" garage 😋👌🏼
Lol me to. It would never work though, just be the world's most expensive shed lol!!!Marvellous design though.
@@deanothemanc5281 😆👏🏼
The Vitesse was built at Cowley Works, they turned Solihull over to Land Rover. Cowley is now home to the Mini. The 1984 onwards SD1's were better manufactured.
Owned a 2600 (straight six) in Madrid, Spain...left hand drive. Stupid fast car. Drove 150-160 Km/h all the way to Paris a few times. I bought it for $700 USD back then (early 90's) from a guy that had overheated it to the point that a valve came un-welded from it's stem (can't make that kind of abuse up) and dropped onto a piston...you can imagine the mess. I dropped in an engine from one that had rolled for $1,000 USD and it worked great for 2 years until I sold it for $7k. Had twin Stromberg carbs that were a pain to balance but other than that...great car...fun to drive and a ride that was ahead of it's time.
Hey look, it’s Ferrari Daytona
Absolutely! Front end inspired by the Daytona. Cool 👌🏼
Ferrary Daytoenah
Somewhere a man from Birmingham is swearing with the most difficult to understand voice and accent after reading your comment.
@@CyanRooperhey it was on purpose!
Kirkland brand Daytona
Great video, but why at around 5:10 does it show a Renault 16 production line?🤭
Because that's also a car totally alien to the American who edited this, so it might as well be the same thing!
I was going to write on this! The French guy I am could not let this slip
Same body style as well, they both basically pioneered It
@@ej22_gc86 in person the Renault 16 is much shorter and higher than the Rover, yes they are both 5 door hatch/sedans but it's the Pininfarina BMC Aerodynamica from 1967 by Fioravanti that gave birth to the SD1's styling. I think Jason should have mentioned this in the video as it influenced the SD1 via the Daytona which was also designed by Fioravanti while at Pininfarina. The Citroen CX and Lancia Beta/Gamma Berlinas also were of this styling influence. I also think there is something in the side profile of the Ferrari 365 GTC/4 in the SD1s design more so than the Maserati Indy.
@@Munkenba Ouch. Feel free to request a refund on your way out.
We bought a used 3500 Van den Plas with about 70000 km on it for about $13000 back in 1987/88 from a 'friend' who was a Jaguar mechanic. Never rely on someone to permanently fix your problem if their livelihood depends on you having a problem. Lots of power and presence, handled like a dream, but it had nothing but trouble with overheating on even mild Spring days in Melbourne (Australia) - think 20 Celsius / 75 F.. Sold it 12 months later after having spent thousands on cooling repairs, radiators etc. for about $2K. Wouldn't touch another one if you paid me. Fantastic to drive, and so desirable (if/when it worked) but I think I'll stick to my Lexus. You have been warned. (Might work totally fine in Scotland/Norway/Gulag Archipelago).
Yep, Friday-afternooners were well known back then.
Great video documentary , a lot of history condensed into an entertaining watch, nice to see the SD1 driving at its best at the finale !
I always hit that like button even before watching the video. Already know it's good stuff.
Well, that's not fair. You should at least give it a chance to be crap...
That was brilliant! It brought a tear to my eye. I'm gravely missing my '79 and '80 3500's. In Ireland after the petrol price went crazy you could buy them for peanuts. Most brilliant car I've ever owned. That 5th gear, and the torque!! Did you know that here in UK & Ireland it had a very interesting eliptical steering wheel. If you could keep the lights on and the doorcards from leaving, it ws great! Thank you for an incredibly comprehensive video.
I had the Rover SD 1
1979 model. Electric windows all round. Never let me down and always started. Was finished in Turmeric (Yellow) well maintained and reliable.
I’d have another one tomorrow.
ROVER CONTENT LET'S GOOO
Jason & team: thank you ever so much for such a brilliant, brilliant video - brought back so many wonderful memories for me.
My Dad was a track worker/foreman at the Lode Lane Solihull factory for many years, first on the P6, then on the SD1; the anecdotes he could add to this video would make your toes curl.
He probably put the fuel tank into the example you showcased in the video.
He could surely write a whole chapter on the drama that ensued when Rover management decided a sunroof was needed; bought in from Britax, it was a nightmare to fit and subsequently leaked like a sieve.
He was good a quality control though; he totalled 3 brand new SD1s on the back storage yard of the new facility when the brakes failed on the car he was driving back towards the assembly hall for "Rectification" - that was 3 less vehicles that left the factory that month.
Thanks again for a tremendous video - absolutely loved it
❤❤❤
5:09 - What has the Renault 16 production line got to do with it?