Rover P6 History
The advanced Rover 2000 — the very first European Car of the Year, with a base-unit chassis and the 3500 V8.
Photo: “1964 Rover P6 2000.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
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Introduced in 1963 as the Rover 2000, the P6 was a technically advanced compact executive saloon built on a 'base unit' skeleton with bolt-on outer panels, de Dion rear suspension, and disc brakes all round. It won the inaugural European Car of the Year award for 1964.
Sold as the 2000, 2200 and — with the Buick-derived 3.5-litre Rover V8 — the 3500, the P6 ran until 1977, when it was replaced by the SD1. It was built by Rover and, after the 1967 takeover, by British Leyland.
Generations
Series I · 2000 (P6)
Photo: “1964 Rover P6 2000.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The original Rover 2000 — European Car of the Year for 1964; the V8-engined 3500 joined in 1968.
1964 Photo: “1964 Rover P6 2000.jpg” by Calreyn88 / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1966 Photo: “1966 Rover 2000 (32392500176).jpg” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1967 Photo: “1967 Rover P6 2000TC Series I (17699125850).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1968 Photo: “1968 Rover P6 2000 TC (16154841320).jpg” by Charlie from United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1969 Photo: “1969 Rover 2000 (P6 Series I) TC sedan (26399449454).jpg” by Jeremy from Sydney, Australia / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1970 Photo: “1970 Rover 2000 (34241712852).jpg” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Series II · Facelift P6
Photo: “1971 Rover 2000 TC (8536509948).jpg” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Updated grille and interior; the 2200 four-cylinder and continued 3500 V8 ran until the SD1 replaced the line in 1977.
1971 Photo: “1971 Rover 2000 TC (8536509948).jpg” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1972 Photo: “1972 Rover P6 2000 TC (16232724778).jpg” by Charlie from United Kingdom / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1973 Photo: “1973 Rover 2000 TC (34997124293).jpg” by Riley from Christchurch, New Zealand / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1974 Photo: “1974 Rover P6 2000 TC.jpg” by Adam Weston / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Saloon
Notable special editions & performance variants
3500 (V8)
The 3.5-litre Rover V8 P6 — the quick, smooth flagship of the range.
Related models
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